The two figures of painted metal illustrate Ovid’s story in the Metamorphoses of Apollo, ardently in love for the first time, pursuing Daphne who hates the thought of sexual love. She begs her river god father to save her and he does so by turning her into a laurel tree – the work shows the change happening. Devastated, Apollo vowed that laurel leaves would forever constitute his garlands. The work is based on the marble group by Bernini, but the change to thin metal adds an almost evanescent feel, while the blazing red and prophetic green colours deepen the drama of this exploration of the nature of love.

Stainless steel painted red and green, Ron Costley and Kenny Munro, 1985