Grain Britain! Japanese pays Olympic tribute to the best of Blighty with incredible sand sculptures

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The artists look proud of their work - and it's under-sand-able.

These stunning sand sculptures have been created by a Japanese attraction that's gone against the grain to celebrate the best of British for the Olympics.

Using some of our most famous figures and landmarks, a team 15 artists from around the world created everything from the Tower of London to the inside of a Great British pub at the world's first museum dedicated to sand in Tottori.

To beach or not to beach: A sand replica titled British Literature William Shakespeare at the Sand Museum in Tottori, Japan

Taxi! Leonardo Ugolini finishes a Olympics-inspired sand replica titled Big Ben in Westminster

The sculptures go on show on April 14 until January next year and are inspired by the 2012 Games in London.
Other creations include a rainy London street scene with a black cab, Queen Elizabeth I, the present Queen, William Shakespeare, the Palace of Westminster and Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton.

Italian artist Leonardo Ugolini worked on sculptures of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster using around 3,000 tons of sand.
He said: 'This is my first time creating a sand sculpture indoors, and it's rather nice not have to worry about the weather.'

Grain Britain: UK artist Nicola Wood with her creation Imperial Guards In Front of The Palace

The exhibition hosted by the world's first ever sand museum is focusing on the theme of Great Britain as the nation celebrates it's hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games

Fourteen foreign sculptors have creating structures based on British themes such as the British Empire, Modern London and landmarks of London

Dan Belcher, from the U.S., sculpted the scene of happy sailors drinking at a pub.
He added: 'I hope the visitors can enjoy the sand sculptures as if they’ve travelled to England.'
The sand museum, based near Tottori's spectacular dunes, has previously produced sand replicas of Italian Renaissance icons as well as Asian UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Great Wall of China.
Organisers say the art pieces appear even more spectacular when lit up in the evening.

A team 15 artists from around the world created everything from the Tower of London to the inside of a Great British pub

The sculptors created structures based on British themes such as the British empire, modern London and landmarks of London

The Sand Museum is located in the Tottori Dune and has had four exhibitions before this one

Dan Belcher, who sculpted this scene of happy sailors drinking at a pub, hopes it will give his audience a feel for London

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