The project development phase took me to Edinburgh last week, a beautiful city full of monuments, sculpture and impressive architecture. In between meetings I spent some time exploring streets that I'd not visited before and discovered some real gems.

This is very much a personal top five list. If there are other public sculptures in Edinburgh that you particularly like, feel free to let us know what they are and why you like them.

5.

The lion is a traditional symbol of Scotland and this huge granite version is carved from a twenty-tonne boulder of pink Corrennie granite from Aberdeenshire. The work took Ronald Rae a year to complete.

The sculpture currently sits in St Andrew Square Garden, having been moved there from Holyrood Park in 2010. The garden was busy on the day I visited, with people relaxing on the grass in the sun, and the sculpture seemed to be a popular attraction. It's currently on loan to Essential Edinburgh, but with the hope of eventually being permanently owned by the city.

4.

 

These giraffes, made of recycled metal, stand outside Edinburgh's Omni Centre. On the day I visited, the giraffes were surrounded by tape and the smaller giraffe had an orange cone on its head, probably as a result of over-enthusiastic visitors to Edinburgh Festival.

3.

Sherlock Holmes, Memorial to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes, Memorial to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1991, sculpture by Gerald Laing (1936–2011). Picardy Place, Edinburgh

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born close to the spot where the statue of his most famous creation now stands. I assume that when it was unveiled it had a commanding view across Picardy Place and could be seen by passing cars. Unfortunately, the vegetation in front of the statue now obscures his view from the road and he has his back to the street behind him. (Editor's note: This sculpture has now been moved.)

2.

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Horse and Rider 1992–1993

Eoghan Bridge, Burleighfield Arts Limited

This striking sculpture sits in a quiet walkway surrounded by office buildings, so probably isn't seen by as many visitors to Edinburgh as other public art in the city. You almost feel that the man and the horse could break out of their strained pose at any moment and gallop off down the road.

1.

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Robert Fergusson (1750–1774) 2004

David Annand, Powderhall Bronze

Edinburgh-born Robert Fergusson (1750–1774) had a short, but influential career as a poet and satirist. He is buried close to the spot of his life-size sculpture, having died in Darien House (Bedlam) in Edinburgh.

Despite the tragedy of his early death, the thing I like about this statue is his jaunty walk and his sense of purpose as he walks along the street.

Katey Goodwin, Art UK Head of Research & Digitisation and Project Manager for Your Sculpture