Art on the Moors: Wild Uplands Transform Penistone Hill into Open Air Gallery

Credit: David Lindsey

Bradford’s scenic natural landscapes are getting a fantastic artistic makeover this summer with Wild Uplands, a brand-new series of public artworks transforming Penistone Hill Country Park into an immersive open-air gallery. Wild Uplands will run from the 24th May to the 12th October and will be a major artistic highlight of Bradford 2025’s cultural celebrations.

Set high above the home of the Brontë sisters in Haworth, the picturesque beauty of the Yorkshire moors will be reimagined by four renowned artists from across the world. Each artist’s contribution responds to the area’s unique blend of nature and industrial heritage.

Here’s what to expect as you wander through the hills:

Butterflies in Stone
Working with Peshawar-based Studio Lél, Meherunnisa Asad has created a poetic tribute to Bradford’s migrant histories through this large-scale installation Butterflies in Stone. The artwork features hundreds of intricate butterflies carved from Pakistani pink marble, marking a delicate contrast to the green Yorkshire landscape.

Nature Reimagined
Brazilian-British artist Vanessa da Silva will install vibrant 5-metre-high sculptures inspired by local plants. These bold interactive pieces are designed to invite walkers to pause, reflect and reconnect with nature.

A Nod to the Cottingley Fairies
Monira al Qadiri explores the blurry lines between fantasy and reality through sculptures which make reference to the infamous Cottingley Fairies hoax, encouraging visitors to consider the power of myth and imagination.

A Tower of Wool and Stone
UK artist Steve Messam’s 10-metre-high Tower of Wool and Stone draws on the park’s industrial past. It is built with local stone and covered in wool from local sheep, celebrating the materials that are important to Bradford

Wild Uplands isn’t just a visual exhibition – it combines sound technology to create an immersive sound experience.

Earth & Sky is an enchanting sound walk like no other that invites audiences to ‘use music as our guide’ in order to explore the landscape, using geolocation technology to trigger an evolving musical experience as we journey through the moors. Commissioned alongside Opera North, it features new compositions by Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki and Gwen Siôn, as well as poetry by Nabeelah Hafeez and works by Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius, recorded by the Orchestra of Opera North.

Creative Director of Bradford 2025, Shanaz Gulzar, describes the project as “a deep dialogue between the landscape, the seasons, and the people who experience it.”

“This is where art, nature and Bradford’s heritage converge,” she says. “These pieces respond to everything from migration and myth to geology and wool. As the seasons shift, the artworks will too — encouraging visitors to return again and again.”

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and supported by Yorkshire Water, Natural England, British Council, The Linbury Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and The Delius Trust, Wild Uplands is an unforgettable way to experience Bradford’s art and culture this summer, one footstep at a time.

Wild Uplands runs 24 May – 12 October 2025 at Penistone Hill Country Park, Haworth. You can download the Earth & Sky app here for the full sound walk experience. Can’t make it to Bradford this summer? Check out the digital version of the experience here.

To find out more about events across Bradford this summer, visit It’s On In Bradford and take a look at their social media:Instagram: @bradford_2025
X (Twitter): @Bradford2025
Facebook: @Bradford2025