Spiritual Forum

With intricate designs featuring landscapes, temples and even a giant cathedral, you'd think these masterpieces were on display in an art gallery.

But the incredible pieces are all made out of sand and were created on a beach by a master sculptor who painstakingly builds 12ft-high works of art.

Unfortunately for Joo Heng Tan, his detailed designs - some of which require 18 tonnes of sand - only last for hours or days before they are washed away.

Park life: Joos Heng Tan's spectacular sand work replicates a bench, tree and rolling hills in one of his amazing pieces

Ready for launch: A rocket ship and painstakingly-made craters feature in this space-themed effort

Eye catching: An Asian-inspired effort sees musical intstruments being played in this beautiful sculpture

Detailed: Goddesses and statues form a large part of sculptor Joo Heng Tan's work, which he creates on beaches around the world

Grand designs: One of Joo Heng Tan's most spectacular sand artworks is this huge cathedral, complete with windows and turrets

It takes Joo up to 24 hours a time to create his incredible work and he said he doesn't mind that it doesn't last forever.

His spectacular sand sculptures include sand statues, striking mythical creatures or simple street scenes - with his own children sometimes joining the fun to bring the works to life.

Professional sand sculptor Joo, 39, from Singapore, said: ' I always want to show people what is great art and this is my way to show others what is in my mind through sand sculpture.

Something fishy: A giant fishbone, with intricate human faces made on the scales, forms this stunning sand artwork

Enter the dragon: Joos Heng Tan shows off one of his sculptures of a mythical beast made entirely of sand

'I have done various sizes, my biggest has been 12 metres tall and my favourites are the more abstract pieces.

'Sand is a great medium to work with because you can sculpt it to the limits of your own imagination.'

Digging deep: Dinosaur bones form part of this imaginative fossil-themed sand artwork, with a little help from Joo Heng Tan's son

Built on a beach far, far away: Even R2D2 gets the sand treatment in this Star Wars effort, while Joos shows off another stunning sculpture, right

Rival: Joo Heng Tan might've met his match in the sand sculpting stakes in artist Gunilla Klingberg, who uses an elaborate steel cylinder to emboss patterns on to Spanish beaches

Making tracks: This star-themed design may be a flatter artwork than the rest of his pieces, but is likely to have taken just as much effort