The “Tales on the Tyne” art trail has concluded in spectacular fashion, raising a record-breaking £300,000 for St Oswald’s Hospice following a tense and glittering auction at Newcastle Civic Centre.
For nine weeks this summer, the streets, parks, and shops of Newcastle and North Tyneside were brought to life by a series of individually painted, 5ft sculptures of Beatrix Potter’s iconic Peter Rabbit. The campaign proved to be a massive public success, with over 330,000 “unlocks” recorded on the official trail app as families traversed roughly 2,500 miles to find the beloved characters.
The culmination of the project saw 40 of the large-scale sculptures, along with several exclusive pieces, go under the hammer on October 13. The auction, led by Fred Wyrley-Birch of Anderson & Garland, drew global interest as online bidders competed against local supporters to secure the unique pieces of art.
The star of the show was undoubtedly A Love Letter to the British Countryside, a full-size garden bench featuring a Peter Rabbit sculpture. Designed by Newcastle wildlife artist Jina Gelder, the piece was inspired by Beatrix Potter’s own work as a conservationist. After a fierce bidding war, the gavel fell at an extraordinary £52,500. The winning bidder, who opted to remain anonymous, revealed the purchase was a tribute to his wife, a dedicated supporter of the hospice. “We have a friend who gets treated there, and they’re absolutely fantastic,” he said.
Proving that the classics remain unrivaled, the second-highest earner of the night was Peter Rabbit himself. The sculpture, decorated in the character’s traditional style by artist Jodie Silverman, fetched £21,000. It was a fitting result, given that the original design was the most “unlocked” sculpture on the trail app throughout the summer.
Other notable sales included Peter Rabbit and friends by Amanda Quellin, which sold for £11,600, and Wor Peter by Dan Lycett, which went for £10,500. The auction also highlighted local heritage, with pieces like Peter of the Pit—which reimagined the rabbit as a North East miner—selling for £6,000, and The Dream, a tribute to the famous Sycamore Gap tree, fetching £4,200.
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive at St Oswald’s Hospice, expressed her gratitude as the charity celebrates 40 years of care. “Like many hospices, we are operating in a challenging financial environment, but we use every single pound wisely,” she stated. “Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm from communities across the region has been truly special. The response from the public has been overwhelming, and this record-breaking auction has provided a fitting finale to an unforgettable summer.”
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
