A festival of sculpture could be Cheltenham’s next big tourist attraction.

That’s the belief of internationally-renowned sculptor Sophie Ryder, talking to the Echo for its Your Town, Your Future campaign.

Sophie, who lives and works near Cirencester, has already left her mark on Cheltenham’s town centre.

She is the creator of The Hare and The Minotaur statue, which caused huge controversy when it was installed in the Promenade in 1997 but has since become a favourite icon the town’s artistic heritage.

Sophie, 45 said: “We could have a festival once a year or a sculpture trail.

“The sculptures wouldn’t need to be permanent, they could just be there for a month, but I’m sure people would come along to see them.

“It could be another thing that Cheltenham gets a name for, bringing people to town.

“There’s plenty of sculptors who would be glad of the chance to have something shown and would create their work for not much more than the cost of the casting.”

The artist, who has lived in Gloucestershire since she moved from London in 1985, believes people in Cheltenham should be prouder of its public spaces and the art that goes in it.

She said: “We don’t seem to like it here, I don’t know why.

“In France they are really proud of it and they’re always putting something up.

“If Cheltenham is going to have open plazas as part of the Civic Pride plans then some pieces of sculpture are just what’s needed for those spaces.”

Sophie has exhibited her work all around the world, including California and Michigan in the USA, as well as holding exhibitions in Cheltenham.

As well as The Hare and The Minotaur, there was a giant rabbit and a flock of metal sheep in Imperial Gardens.

Chairman of the Cheltenham Art Council, Chris Lammiman, said: “We very much like the idea of having as much public art as possible.

“There is, in fact, a public art trail in Cheltenham which links together more than 30 sculptures.

“I think we should make more of the trail. I’ve asked the council to produce a leaflet or something to be displayed at the tourist office.”