[2] The brown bear sculpture was created by Andy Scott, the Scottish sculptor whose other public artworks include The Kelpies in Falkirk and the Beacon of Hope in Belfast.
[4] The brown bear was chosen to symbolise the role that John Muir played in establishing National Parks in the USA.
According to the sculptor, Andy Scott, The Dunbear "is a symbol of the wilderness John Muir was such a passionate advocate of and is testament to his incredible desire to protect the natural environment".
[5] The sculpture forms the centrepiece of Dunbear Park, a proposed low carbon mixed-use development, which aims to include a variety of commercial, community and residential uses.
[7] Located immediately adjacent to the A1, the site for The Dunbear was selected as it is at the primary gateway to the town and is visible from both the A1 and East Coast Main Line.