West Lothian is the home of internationally recognised pieces of Public Art, with over 100 artworks dotted around the region.
Keep up to date with news about current projects, public art walks and strategic plans on this page. The map below highlights the many artworks, as well as walks you can enjoy.
Map Information - Mobile users can navigate within the Google Maps app (if installed), select the icon in the top right corner of the map to open. Numbered markers denote artworks featured on a walk, select a coloured route line for more info.
Visual Arts E-Newsletter
To receive the latest public art & visual art news straight to your inbox and subscribe to our Visual Arts E-Newsletter, send your email address to: arts@westlothian.gov.uk
ARTIST OPPORTUNITY - Winchburgh Marina Bridge Mural Project
Winchburgh Development ltd. (WDL), Winchburgh Community Development Trust (WCDT) and West Lothian Council (WLC) seek to appoint an artist/arts organisation to design and deliver a mural at the new marina bridge 32b.
Deadline - first stage for all applications: By 5pm Thursday 13 June 2024
Grassroots is a grant fund designed to support the creation of new public art in communities across West Lothian. Local groups can apply for a grant to create new public art for their local area which is based on community consultation and engagement and which demonstrates a lasting benefit to the community. The result should make people feel better about themselves and their community and artworks must be sited in communal spaces - especially undervalued, unappreciated, unexpected or under used places.
Grant applications for 2025/26 The deadline for Grassroots 4 is yet to be confirmed, information regarding future opportunities will be posted on this webpage.
The BIG W - Winchburgh Public Art
Building on the work of the The Big W - A Public Art Plan for Winchburgh[6MB], produced by Dallas Pierce Quintero, and funded by Creative Scotland, Winchburgh Development Ltd. and West Lothian Council, there are new developments within the village of Winchburgh.
The new Artist Residency Project, which was outlined in the plan is underway, with artist Gill White appointed in February 2022. This new project called 'Winchburgh ArtWays' includes a series of community engagement workshops.
Latest News (15/12/2022)
The ArtWays project is the result of Winchburgh's artist in residence project lead by artist Gill White. This project is one of five projects to be delivered over the next seven years that are described within the 'Big W' Public Art Plan. The plan seeks to reflect a sense of place, the changing nature of the community as well as the local heritage and the aspirations of the residents for the future.
ArtWays is designed for the community to have fun outdoors exploring and making art together. Gill was inspired by Winchburgh's strong sense of community, the diversity of its landscape and everyones active enthusiasm for their local green spaces. Each workshop was designed for all ages to experiment with different mediums and new creative approaches of looking at your surroundings to experiment with re imagining it artistically through abstraction and how to apply it to different surface design be it on paper, pavements, clay or fabric. Each workshop was designed to encourage collaboration giving everyone an opportunity to work individually, in pairs and as group to have fun supporting, inspiring and appreciating each others creativity.
Over 120 people of all ages took part in ArtWays workshops over a 6-month period between March to October 2022.
Download a copy of the ArtWays Activity Guide[3MB] This ArtWays guide takes you step by step through a series of art workshops following in the creative footsteps of different groups in Winchburgh.
Sustrans, NETs and Community Arts teamed up to transform Almondvale Park. There were four new public art works designed with the input of local people. The murals brightened up four underpasses and under bridges in the area. To see a map of the four locations and to learn a bit more about the imagery used in the murals please see the downloadable Almondvale Park Public Art Map[1MB]
West Lothian Public Art book - 'Out in the Open'
The first comprehensive and fully illustrated book about West Lothian's extensive Public Art collection has been produced. Entitled 'Out in the Open', the 100 page hard cover book traces the history of West Lothian through Art. Copies are now available at all local libraries in West Lothian and is downloadable on this page. We hope you enjoy reading about art in your local area!
Hardback copies of Out in the Open are available for purchase from Howden Park Centre, Linlithgow Burgh Halls, Waterstone's Livingston and National Galleries of Scotland shop on the mound in Edinburgh. Price: £20
'In Full Bloom' - Wester Inch
Artist Martin Heron has completed his inspiring sculptures which are now permanently installed in four locations around Wester Inch Village in Bathgate. Take a look at 'Art on the Edge' past community events at Facebook - Art on the Edge (opens new window).
Download a copy of the commemorative booklet - see Related Links
The natural pebble mosaic by Maggy Howarth that is installed in Livingston Centre's outdoor civic space, is one of the largest in Scotland. The work depicts images of River Almond and the flora and fauna of Livingston. Maggy has been making natural pebble mosaics across the UK for over 25 years.
A big thank you and congratulations to all of our participants in the Grassroots Public Art Grant Scheme. Four West Lothian communities - Boghall, Broxburn and Uphall, Armadale and Dedridge -were awarded Grassroots public art grants totalling £90,300. All four projects have now been successfully realised.
See the downloadable flyer on this page for information on all four projects.
