Trail with a Tale
This year, we held our first ever art trail which saw 10 sculptures, beautifully designed and decorated by local artists, dotted around Tunbridge Wells for people to find and enjoy.
The two benches and large hare, tortoise, snail and owl figures were all paired with enchanting stories, written by local author Alex Brooks to bring the trail to life for families.
There were also 28 smaller animal sculptures, painted by local school children, which were displayed in shops and businesses across the town.
The trail was a family friendly activity designed to raise awareness of the incredible services Demelza provides to children with serious or life-limiting conditions in the area and across Kent, South East London and East Sussex.
Sales of maps and merchandise, generous donations from supporters and the sale of nine of the sculptures at auction raised a fantastic £75,000 for Demelza.
Artists involved included international-selling abstract artist Tom Payne, who put his unique stamp of textures and colours on small hare sculpture Luna.
East Sussex-based Georgina Luck painted the beautifully intricate Wild Wendy and Bearsted-based artist Helen Alexander-Bristow painted Brassica, which went for the highest auction price of £7,000.
“We’re hugely grateful to everyone that has supported the trail and to all those who donated to Demelza. Your generosity will help us to continue providing extraordinary care to extraordinary children and their families.”
