Making a big impression: Artist creates giant 'crop circles' in the snow by painstakingly walking around for 10 hours at a time



British artist Simon Beck creates the huge patterns on frozen lakes in Les Arcs, France


These snowy 'crop circles' look like they took ages to create.

No chance, then, that the imprints were made by alien lifeforms leaving behind remarkable patterns for us to gaze at.

Instead, they are the work of a lone artist who has spent up to ten hours a day trudging around a French ski resort.

The intricate patterns are huge - some span the equivalent size of six football pitches.

Out of this world: A giant artwork created by British artist Simon Beck on a frozen lake using only his feet in Les Arcs, France

Spectacular: Some of the large designs span the size of six football pitches

Resort: Mr Beck creates the patterns while wearing snowshoes

Huge: Each pattern is crafted by Mr Beck alone in the skiing town of Les Arcs, where he lives during winter

They are created by British artist Simon Beck while wearing snowshoes and come in a range of designs from snowflakes and spirals to cubes and more abstract creations.

Each pattern is crafted by Mr Beck alone in the skiing town of Les Arcs, in the French Alps, where he lives during winter.

And he uses an orienteering compass to create the perfect geometric designs.



Mr Beck, an orienteer leader, has created hundreds of the artworks after ploughing his first at Christmas in 2004.



He uses what he describes as a 'kind of reverse orienteering' to plot his intricate paths before walking along the route in a pair of snowshoes.

He said: 'The main reason for making them was because I can no longer run properly due to problems with my feet, so plodding about on level snow is the least painful way of getting exercise.

'Gradually, the reason has become photographing them, and I am considering buying a better camera.'

Natural shelter: Mr Beck has created hundreds of the artworks after ploughing his first at Christmas in 2004

Doubling up: Mr Beck uses what he describes as a 'kind of reverse orienteering' to plot his intricate paths before walking along the route in a pair of snowshoes

Popular with tourists: More of Mr Beck's work can be seen on his Facebook page

Painstaking: Two admirers are rendered tiny by the vast ice sculpture

More of Mr Beck's work can be seen on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/snowart8848

Mr Beck, who studied Engineering Science at Oxford University, said many of his patterns can equal the effort needed to climb halfway up Mont Blanc, he said.

He added: 'I usually keep at it until I get too tired, using a headlamp if it gets dark first. It takes typically until I can't go on, but that can depend.

'The setting-out serves as the warm-up then the real training is completing the design. Once this second stage is started, I put on my personal stereo.'

Swirling star: Mr Beckl aid many of his patterns can equal the effort needed to climb halfway up Mont Blanc

Unique: The higher the viewpoint, the better the artworks look

Ice cool: Mr Beck's art proves a treat for cable car users

Decorative: Mr Beck's snow art has become an annual treat for locals and holidaymakers

Intricate: The designs are incredibly complicated considering they are created by a man walking around

Unmissable: Many people travel from miles around to get a look at Mr Beck's work

Precise: Mr Beck has honed his unique art over the last eight years