A HAND painted sculpture depicting the famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall is to go up for auction – three years after the tree was brutally felled.
The tree – which had become a much-loved landmark and unofficial emblem of Northumberland – was vandalised on 28 September 2023.
But a sculpture depicting it has been one of the highlights of the Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne public art trail across Newcastle and North Tyneside in support of St Oswald’s Hospice.
The free, nine-week long trail – which ended on 14 September – marked the Hospice’s 40th anniversary celebrations and the 160th anniversary of Peter Rabbit™ creator Beatrix Potter’s birth.
And one lucky buyer will be able to take home the unique tribute to Sycamore Gap, when some of the 96 sculptures which formed the trail go up for auction on Tuesday 13 October.
The Dream – sponsored by The Green Energy Advice Bureau – is the work of Whitley Bay artist Darren Mundy, who has painted the Sycamore Gap tree many times over his 16-year career.
And, having decorated sculptures for previous St Oswald’s art trails, he wanted to use his Peter Rabbit™ design to pay respect to the tree once again.
“It just generates such emotion among people,” he said. “And, like everyone I felt utter disbelief, when it was hacked down.
“The beauty of it was always that it was unfenced and unprotected and just stood where it had grown. So many people had such a personal attachment to it that when it was felled, we felt a genuine loss.”
Like his more conventional paintings, the sculpture – which is completely weatherproof – is painted in acrylics and he said, “because it’s a rabbit, decorated with a painting of one of the most famous trees in Britain, I can see it in a garden, I suppose.
“But I know that whoever buys it – and wherever they put it – it will look beautiful and serve as a reminder of a very special place indeed.”
The auction will take place at Newcastle Civic Centre and advance bids are now being accepted for anyone hoping to secure one of the 40 individually decorated lots for sale.
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive of St Oswald’s Hospice, said The Dream is “not only exquisitely painted by Darren, but its theme – our much loved and greatly missed Sycamore Gap tree – is likely to touch a lot of hearts.”
Peter Rabbit™: Tales on the Tyne is held in conjunction with creative producers Wild in Art, along with The World of Peter Rabbit™, Headline Trail Partner Newcastle City Council, Trail Partner North Tyneside Council, Learning Programme Partner Northumbrian Water and Community Partner North Standard.
A celebration weekend will be held from 10–11 October, offering visitors one last opportunity to see the sculptures in one place before they are auctioned.
The auction catalogue can be viewed at www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/auction and tickets for both the celebration weekend and the auction are now available at: www.talesonthetyne.co.uk/events. For those who can’t attend in person, there is an option to register and bid online.
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