Other experiments have been similarly challenging, such as putting foraged objects in his mouth and then spitting them out. “As soon as you put a petal or a flower in your mouth, the whole perception of it changes,” he explained, with undisguised glee. “It’s bitter. Is it going to kill me? You know? Until it goes in your mouth, it’s pretty. When it goes in your mouth, it’s ‘Oh, shit.’ I love that.”

The accessibility of his work, and his use of natural materials, means that it is often adopted by elementary-school curricula, and he has learned to smile politely when parents tell him that their kid “made an Andy Goldsworthy” out of sticks, stones, and leaves.

I really enjoyed reading, glad I signed up to read it. I’ve certainly been guilty of encouraging pupils by showing them Andy Goldsworthy’s work. I enjoyed Andy Goldsworthy – Fifty Years in Edinburgh last year.

Goldsworthy is internationally recognised for his work with natural materials such as clay, stones, reeds, branches, leaves, snow and ice

I have seen Mr Goldsworthy’s work online as I used it as inspiration for my classes when outdoor learning. I really enjoyed this exhibit, the bigger pieces were amazing. I also really enjoyed seeing the development of work made over many years using the same places. You also got the impression of his mastery of techniques for using natural materials. Some of the photos of work made with leaves looked as if some camera filtering was going on until you looked really closely. My photos don’t start give an idea. Worth looking at the exhibition page, or visiting. Recommended.

I’d have loved to have a class of pupils roam through the exhibition, and allowed them to touch run about and talk noisily. Then head outside.