Page 54 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 75
P. 54

Keith said, “I was asked to produce a design based on
                                                                                                                 my general style and subject matter. I submitted
                                                                                                                 sketches of a Shaun the Sheep as a pondscene, with
                                                                                                                 10 varieties of Koi Carp, lily pads and flowers for
                                                                                                                 shoes, 5 different British Butterflies and other insects
                                                                                           I WAS ASKED           and wildlife. The overall effect was quite abstract, so I
                                                                                           TO PRODUCE            was a little surprised (and thrilled) that it was
                                                                                                                 accepted!”
                                                                                           A DESIGN              Keith worked on the sculpture over a 2 month period,
                                                                                           BASED ON MY           before its journey to Maidstone. ‘Don’t be Koi, Shaun’

                                                                                           GENERAL               was then placed on a plinth on the walkway by the lake
                                                                                                                 at Maidstone’s Mote Park for public display.
                                                                                           STYLE AND             Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent was an exciting
                                                                                           SUBJECT               free art trail that had over 50 individually decorated
                                                                                                                 large Shaun the Sheep sculptures placed around the
                                                                                           MATTER                parks, town centre and river walks in Maidstone and
                                                                                                                 the surrounding areas from 29th June to 30th August
                                                                                                                 2024. Each Shaun the Sheep sculpture was designed
                                                                                                                 and painted by local and national artists. The trail also
                                                                                                                 included 55 little Shaun sculptures, each designed and
                                                                                                                 painted by local schools, community organisations,
                                                                                                                 charities and care homes from Maidstone and the
       Above:                                                                                                    surrounding areas. One special Shaun had been
       After two months of                                                                                       created by children who are supported by the Hospice.
       hard work Shaun the                                                                                       Little Shaun’s were located in flocks around the trail.
       Sheep is bidding
       farewell to Keith’s                                                                                       During the summer, the trail attracted thousands of
       studio.                                                                                                   visitors who had downloaded the app to find and
                                                                                           DURING THE
       Above Right:                                                                                              collect the 109 big and small sculptures of TV duo,
       Shaun is all set to be                                                                                    Wallace and Gromit’s fleecy friend, Shaun the Sheep.
       loaded onto the van                                                                 SUMMER,
       and excited to start his                                                                                  The sculptures were sited at streets, parks and public
       journey to Maidstone.                                                               THE TRAIL             areas across Maidstone.
       Right:                                                                              ATTRACTED             On Thursday, 26th September 2024, all of the beautiful
       Shaun was carefully                                                                                       Shaun sculptures were auctioned in aid of the Heart of
       set up on a plinth on the                                                           THOUSANDS             Kent Hospice. The sculptures went under the hammer
       walkway by the lake at
       Maidstone’s Mote Park,                                                              OF VISITORS           at the Clive Emson Conference centre, auctioned by
       ready for everyone to                                                                                     Auction Partners Clive Emson Land & Property
       enjoy!                                                                                                    Auctioneers.

                                                                                                                 Keith’s ‘Don’t be Koi, Shaun’ was sold for £3,000 and
                                                                                                                 the Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent trial raised
                                                                                                                 over £265,000 for the Heart of Kent Hospice charity.
                                                                                                                 Sheeptastic!


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