This article examines the public art project One Million Pebbles, which took place in and around Portsmouth, UK, between the mid 1990s and 2010. Conceived and directed by sculptor Pete Codling, the project’s origins, influences and impact are examined from a number of disciplinary perspectives, including history, art and anthropology. An unexpected outcome of the project has been the phenomenon of collecting the individual pebbles that were made, and this is also analysed with attention being paid to its subversive nature when set against the artist’s original aims for the project.