The Tunney, Scarborough
04. THE TUNNEY
North Pier, South Bay, Scarborough. YO11 1SN
What3words - slime.stands.firm
The Tunny is a large outdoor sculpture by Ray Lonsdale sited on the East Pier, South Bay, Scarborough. It forms part of the town’s growing collection of accessible public artworks and is positioned where pier visitors and promenaders can view it against the sea and sky.
The work is fabricated from weathering steel (corten), a material Lonsdale commonly uses for its warm, rust‑red patina and durability in coastal settings. The sculpture represents a tunny (bluefin tuna) rendered at an emphatic scale: a large fish paired visually with a small boat and a single angler, a composition that evokes the old relationship between Scarborough’s fishing past and the sea. A plaque attached to the piece carries a short, evocative inscription: “Big fish, little boat, just a rod, a line, a man. The days when the Tunny were here in the sea not just in a ringpull can.”
Lonsdale’s practice often blends industrial materials with intimate human or maritime narratives; The Tunny follows this pattern by pairing robust fabrication with a quietly nostalgic subject. The sculpture gestures to Scarborough’s coastal heritage—its fishing traditions, changing marine life and the small‑scale labour that once sustained local communities—while also functioning as a contemporary photo‑op and meeting point for visitors.
Since its installation the piece has been widely photographed and shared in local guides and walking routes that highlight Ray Lonsdale’s works across the region. Local walking routes and visitor features often group The Tunny with other nearby Lonsdale sculptures—such as Freddie Gilroy and The Smuggler’s Apprentice—creating an informal trail of steel figures that link Scarborough’s piers, promenades and historic streets. The sculpture’s accessible subject matter and prominent siting have helped it become a familiar landmark for both residents and tourists.
The Tunny is publicly accessible on the East Pier and is best seen on foot as part of a seafront walk that takes in South Bay views. Its corten surface and seaside location mean the work changes subtly with weather and light, rewarding repeat visits and close inspection.
The Tunney, Scarborough
04. THE TUNNEY
North Pier, South Bay, Scarborough. YO11 1SN
What3words - slime.stands.firm
The Tunny is a large outdoor sculpture by Ray Lonsdale sited on the East Pier, South Bay, Scarborough. It forms part of the town’s growing collection of accessible public artworks and is positioned where pier visitors and promenaders can view it against the sea and sky.
The work is fabricated from weathering steel (corten), a material Lonsdale commonly uses for its warm, rust‑red patina and durability in coastal settings. The sculpture represents a tunny (bluefin tuna) rendered at an emphatic scale: a large fish paired visually with a small boat and a single angler, a composition that evokes the old relationship between Scarborough’s fishing past and the sea. A plaque attached to the piece carries a short, evocative inscription: “Big fish, little boat, just a rod, a line, a man. The days when the Tunny were here in the sea not just in a ringpull can.”
Lonsdale’s practice often blends industrial materials with intimate human or maritime narratives; The Tunny follows this pattern by pairing robust fabrication with a quietly nostalgic subject. The sculpture gestures to Scarborough’s coastal heritage—its fishing traditions, changing marine life and the small‑scale labour that once sustained local communities—while also functioning as a contemporary photo‑op and meeting point for visitors.
Since its installation the piece has been widely photographed and shared in local guides and walking routes that highlight Ray Lonsdale’s works across the region. Local walking routes and visitor features often group The Tunny with other nearby Lonsdale sculptures—such as Freddie Gilroy and The Smuggler’s Apprentice—creating an informal trail of steel figures that link Scarborough’s piers, promenades and historic streets. The sculpture’s accessible subject matter and prominent siting have helped it become a familiar landmark for both residents and tourists.
The Tunny is publicly accessible on the East Pier and is best seen on foot as part of a seafront walk that takes in South Bay views. Its corten surface and seaside location mean the work changes subtly with weather and light, rewarding repeat visits and close inspection.