Sacred Heart Dragon



Situated in Sacred Heart Primary School in Middlesbrough, the Sacred Heart Dragon is a sculptural work by art teacher Sue Tatterton, artist in residence Ste Iredale along with pupils at the school.

The children were invited to present ideas for a playground structure, and decided on a climbing and play structure which related to the environment; the dragon representing a guardian of nature. Artwork by ex-pupil Diakola Mvemba, who lived in Middlesbrough with his family of refugees and now returned to Congo, was also a source of inspiration for the sculpture. Drawings, designs, sketchbooks, plans, clay models and wood engravings were all created by the children which was then used by Iredale to carve the sculpture with a chainsaw at Albert Park. The project was developed by Tees Valley Arts and supported by Middlesbrough Council Extended Schools.