Open-air Gallery: The Public Art of Dundee City

By Anna Chan

Being the closest city to St Andrews, Dundee is frequented by St Andrews students all year round. During reading week, I took the opportunity to explore Dundee beyond my usual spots. To my surprise, I stumbled upon some really intriguing public art, so I decided to delve a little deeper into the history of Dundee’s public art after I returned to St Andrews. What I discovered is that these artworks are all part of Scotland’s first and largest ongoing public art programme.

The history of public art began in 1863 when a statue of David Baxter, a linen manufacturer, was unveiled at the opening of Baxter Park of Dundee. It was made by the renowned Scottish sculptor John Steell. This statue kicked off a trend in Dundee of having statues of notable people in public spaces. However, this trend came to an abrupt end due to the World Wars; only a small number of works were commissioned in a period of more than sixty years. Luckily, the trend of public art regained momentum thanks to the momentous establishment of the Blackness Public Art Programme in 1981; it was the first-ever public art initiative in Scotland. The project aimed to use art to revitalise the Blackness area of Dundee. It brought together artists, sculptors, architects, local businesses, and residents to contribute to beautifying the environment.

This programme lasted for 3 years before it was expanded to a city-wide initiative called the Dundee Public Art Programme (DPAP) in 1985, which came to an end in 2003 due to grant funding withdrawals. However, the city later adopted a Percent for Art Policy. The policy stated that for every major building development, the City Council had to spend a percentage of the cost to commission public art. Therefore, there has been a steady growth of public art in Dundee ever since, and here are some of the most iconic works from these projects.

Anthony Morrow and Susie Paterson, Desperate Dan, Dawg and Minnie the Minx, 2001. Bronze sculpture, Dundee, Author’s Photo.

Located on High Street in Dundee, this playful sculpture is probably the most recognisable one. It is by sculptors Anthony Morrow and Susie Paterson made at Powderhall Bronze Foundry. Dundee is famous for being the original home of British comics; this group of sculptures immortalised some of the most iconic characters from long-running comics published by Dundee publishing house DC Thompson & Co Ltd. The man with the dog in front taking long strides is Desperate Dan from the comic strip ‘The Dandy’, and the little girl in the back holding the slingshot is Minnie the Minx from ‘The Beano’. These are not the only sculptures in Dundee featuring famous comic characters; you can also find an adorable sculpture of Oor Wullie facing DC Thomson's headquarters. These sculptures showcase the history of Dundee’s comics industry, and they often attract a lot of tourists taking pictures of the characters or even with them! 

Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion, Catalyst, 2008. Concrete, Dundee. David Oudney / Art UK

The next sculpture left a lasting impression when I first laid eyes on it; the Catalyst is a sculpture commissioned by Dundee City Council as part of the Percent for Art project. The sculpture is shaped like a car covered by cloth. The most special part of the sculpture is that it is made of a special catalytic material that reacts with light and breaks apart harmful pollutants from vehicle exhaust such as nitric oxides and carbon monoxide. It then converts these into harmless nitrates which drain off into the soil when it rains. This is the first time this material had been used in the UK. The sculpture helps raise awareness surrounding environmental issues, as it simultaneously actively improves the environment.

Lee Simmons, The Tay Whale, 2020-21. Steel sculpture, Dundee.

The Tay Whale is one of the newer pieces of public art in Dundee, situated at Waterfront Gardens. This sculpture is inspired by a tragic event that happened in 1883 where a humpback whale swam into the Firth of Tay and was harpooned in a hunt by locals. It managed to escape, but was found dead off Stonehaven a week later. The structure is made of 2,457 individual hollow stainless steel tubes; together they resemble a whale gracefully gliding through water. Near the sculpture the artist installed speakers to play whalesong and ocean ambient sounds, that give visitors an immersive, peaceful experience when walking around the installation. Students and staff of Abertay Univertsity also designed interactive video games for visitors to play. This sculpture commemorates the beloved whale, and most importantly, it prompts viewers to reflect on the threats faced by whale populations, such as climate change, pollution, and commercial whaling.

The artworks mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg; ranging from mural paintings to sculptures, Dundee is currently home to over 600 works of public art. From the early Blackness Programme to the current Percentage to Art Policy, the initiatives pioneered the promotion of community-based art in Scotland. More than just decorations, these works address serious social issues and contribute to the cultural and economic development of the city of Dundee. Next time you visit Dundee, I strongly encourage you to take a closer look at and appreciate the sculptures and murals all over the city that often go unseen.

Bibliography

Batchelor, Andrew. “5 of the Best Public Art Pieces in Dundee.” Medium, February 7, 2024. https://medium.com/the-dundonian/5-of-the-best-public-art-pieces-in-dundee-5089874ae65b. 

“Catalyst.” Public Art Dundee. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://publicartdundee.org/listing/catalyst/. 

“Home.” Public Art Dundee. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://publicartdundee.org/history/. 

Jarron, Matthew. “Desperate Dan to Queen Victoria: Thirteen Public Sculptures in Dundee.” Art UK, May 30, 2019. https://artuk.org/discover/stories/desperate-dan-to-queen-victoria-thirteen-public-sculptures-in-dundee. 

Ogston, Graeme. “Monuments, Murals, and Mosaics on the Dundee Public Art Trail.” BBC News, September 30, 2022. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-62913654.