THE ARTISTS
Laura Kate Chapman’s illustrations and drawings reflect her passion for colour and pattern and her love of animals and wildlife. In addition to creating work for exhibitions she has also had a variety of commissions including illustrating a children’s book and the children’s section of the New Birmingham Library. Laura-Kate also has her own screen print studio in Liverpool – The Paper Moon – along with a shop on Etsy selling her unique products which she also sells in local Arts Markets.
Drawing inspiration from nature, her design celebrates British owls (barn owls, tawny owls, eagle owls and long eared owls) and is a celebration of Knowsley’s nature and green spaces.
For more information visit www.laura-katedraws.co.uk or follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Cherie is a contemporary abstract expressionist artist who was born and raised in Stockbridge Village in Knowsley. Her distinctive work features in collections all over the world and most recently she was selected to be one of the artists showcased in Refractive Pool – Contemporary Painting in Liverpool, an exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery.
Cherie studied Fashion Styling and photography at the University of Arts London and in 2015 returned home and co-foundered 104 Duke Street Studios an Artist studio gallery space in Liverpool city centre. She is a full time Artist and is co-founder and Director of Bold Place Ltd, a woman’s centre for creative businesses and Bold Vision CIC a community-based initiative for women’s creative guidance and workshops. She is represented by Parisian Gallery Singulart.
Cherie returned to Stockbridge Village to work with local young artists to create designs for one of the trail’s amazing owls. After spending time with the young people in a series of community workshops, Cherie translated their ideas and designs onto the finished sculpture.
Cherie is heavily involved in Knowsley’s Borough of Culture celebrations, featuring in 22 Voices - the poem that launched the celebrations - and designing the unique volunteer t-shirts used throughout the year.
For more information visit www.cheriegrist.com or follow her on Instagram or Twitter.
Chris knows the local community well as a Kirkby-based artist who began volunteering in the archives in Knowsley several years ago. Chris has harnessed his creativity to boost his mental health and in turn built his personal and creative confidence. Chris has exhibited his work at Kirkby Gallery and now also works on bespoke commissions.
Midlands based artist Donna Newman is no amateur when it comes to painting massive animal sculptures! In fact, Donna has raised more than £250,000 for charity auctioning off some of her previous commissions.
Since childhood, Donna has loved all things creative which led her to study Fine Art at University and take up a career in retail visual merchandising. It was only after having her children that Donna spent more time painting murals and realised this was what she loved.
She established Eden Designs and hasn’t looked back since with 16 successful years taking on mural commissions. For the last four of those years, she has worked closely with Wild in Art creating designs for many public sculpture trails across the UK.
Donna’s two sculptures were inspired by two cultural greats – both of which have strong links to Knowsley. The Bard himself and Foss the Cat – Edward Lear’s much- loved pet.
For more information visit www.eden-designs.co.uk or follow Eden Designs on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.
Originally from Prescot, Emily is a Community Curator and is part of Prescot’s Makers and Players project that showcases and celebrates the skills, talents and creativity of people connected to the town.
As part of that project, Emily has created a series of black and white sketches which have been replicated on a traditional embroidered tapestry and now hang in the Shakespeare North Playhouse. Taking inspiration from this Elizabethan blackwork embroidery, Emily has designed ‘Lady Kitty’ one of the Pussy-Cats that will feature in the trail.
Emily has recently taken up a post as Project Producer in the Learning and Engagement team at the Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Huyton based Gary McGillivray is a Graphic Designer with extensive industry experience creating artwork for advertising, marketing, exhibitions and much more. Gary is the Design Manager at Knowsley Council – managing a team of creatives who deliver design work to support all Council departments and other projects across the borough.
In his free time Gary is an accomplished artist – taking on commissions, featuring annually in Knowsley’s Open and having his own exhibition at Kirkby Gallery in 2018. His contemporary design for Watchful Wilma celebrates and reflects Prescot’s clock and watch making heritage.
Gary has also designed the logo and the promotional material for the Owl and the Pussy-cat trail itself.
Liverpool based artist Andrea Danisman’s intricate and detailed design is inspired by Knowsley, natural elements and the Owl and the Pussy-cat poem itself.
Her use of repeated shapes and patterns visually tells the story of the Owl & the Pussy-cat whilst also giving a nod to local features like the Knowsley Flower Show and Pex Hill observatory.
For more information you can follow Andrea on Instagram (@andrea-catmum)
Liverpool based Debbie, creates beautiful mosaics and finds inspiration from nature. Debbie works sustainably and often sources her art materials from local suppliers and uses methods of recycling, up-cycling or repurposing.
Debbie has used mirror tiles on both sculptures, named Luna and Ray. Luna explores how the owl motif features in the works of Shakespeare with the sound of an owl often used at key points in his stories.
Meanwhile Ray is a vibrant rainbow cat which also reflects beautiful stained-glass windows designed by William Morris which can be found at St. Nicholas Church, Halewood (where Ray was located for the trail).
Debbie has recently left her role working within the Culture team at Knowsley to take up a mosaic conservation role through Historic England and will be working on heritage projects during her 12 month placement, such as at Manchester Town Hall.
Her work will also be displayed in Shakespeare North Playhouse.
Read more about Debbie on her website – debbieryan.co.uk
Manchester based artist, Amanda Quellin is a professional Scenic Artist and Illustrator who runs a creative design studio producing commissioned murals and large-scale artwork. She has also created work for many other sculpture trails across the country and beyond.
Amanda has a degree in painting and printmaking at Sheffield University and a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at the University of Central Lancashire.
Amanda has taken inspiration from Knowsley’s clock and watch making heritage and reflects the iconic Salvador Dali melting clocks.
Amanda is currently working on writing and illustrating a children’s book, ‘The Toy Horse’ which will be out soon. Read more about Amanda on her website - www.amandaquellinart.com/about
Lynne is a contemporary, multi-award winning artist and designer who has painted professionally for over 20 years. She heads the HD Art Creative Studio which delivers a range of creative, inclusive and multi-disciplinary arts projects to a diverse range of clients across the UK.
Lynne’s mantra is ‘everyone is welcome’, reflecting her commitment to inclusion and diversity.
And she has a royal connection – she was invited to exhibit her artwork personally for HRH Prince of Wales!
The design for Lynne’s cat sculpture shows colourful doodle hearts incorporating the colour of pea green as a playful nod to the ‘pea green boat’ in the Owl and the Pussy-Cat poem. The multi-coloured design depicts the love and friendship of the owl and pussy-cat and celebrates the NHS as well as acknowledging a love for Knowsley’s open and green spaces.
Lynne’s design also incorporates the colours and patterns of hearts designed by patients on the children ward at Whiston Hospital.
Find out more about Lynn on her website www.lahollingsworthart.com
Simon is a North West based artist and works throughout the UK. He works closely with community groups, encouraging all generations to get involved in workshops and learning about graffiti. You will find his artwork in skate parks, schools, community allotments, care homes, back gardens and even bedrooms!
Simon’s owl sculpture is decorated in his signature graffiti style and encapsulates important parts of Knowsley while showing a complete contrast between Knowsley’s landscape. The colourful wildlife contrasts with the industrial cable and clockwork sections of the design.
You can follow Simon on social media: www.instagram.com/kingsyzegraffiti www.facebook.com/Kingsyzegraffiti twitter.com/kingsyzegraff
Becky’s artwork uses a surrealist, fantasy style to encourage people to explore stories, possibilities and ways of being and thinking. She intermingles female mythological characters with modern day and historical scenarios. Her artwork also has a strong connection with the natural world, which historically seemed to be a female power base.
Becky’s design for her owl sculpture begins with stories, mythology and fairy-tale, making a connection to William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the great outdoors.
Find out more about Becky on her website beckyatherton.co.uk
Nicola McGovern is a professionally trained visual artist with extensive experience in engaging workshop participants through visual art, design and digital technologies. She develops and delivers bespoke creative learning programmes with schools, community groups and cultural organisations which aim to encourage participants to express their individuality and develop their creativity and confidence. Nicola is also a practising artist and produces work for public art trails and private commissions, specialising in papercut collages under the name Imagine Attic.
Nicola’s Night Owl design is inspired by Cronton’s Pex Hill Observatory, which is home to the Liverpool Astronomical Society, and includes glow-in-the-dark star constellations against the night sky. Her bright Sparky cat involves a tangled cable design, inspired by the former British Insulated Callender’s Cables factory in Prescot, which at one point was one of the largest cable factories in the world. You can read more about Nicola and her work on her website imagineattic.co.uk
Lois is a versatile community artist, speed-painter and tutor. From intricate scalpel paper-cuts to speed-painting, her artwork balances precision with free-flowing energy. Before Covid, Lois created most of her art live in public, regularly taught workshops and performed live art demonstrations along with commentary and talks. Since March 2020, she has offered free tutorials and demonstrations via her YouTube Channel.
Lois’s Owl design commemorates Blackie the WW1 War Horse, which served alongside its master, the poet Leonard Comer Wall, in several major battles of the First World War. Leonard was killed on 9th June 1917, and Blackie suffered severe shrapnel wounds. The horse lived on until 1942 when he died at the age of 35 at the Horse’s Rest in Halewood. 2022 marks 80 years since the death of Blackie, who was buried with his masters medals and whose grave in Halewood has been listed as Grade II by Historic England.
Read more about Lois on her website www.loiscordelia.com
Amy is a Fine Artist specialising in painting and drawing and specifically in Oil Painting. She has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fine Arts and has been awarded a PhD from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.
Amy has taught for Buckinghamshire Adult Learning, completed domestic and corporate commissions, taken part in exhibitions, worked as artist in residence at Poole Museum and dabbled in illustration. Amy has named her cat sculpture Edward, after Edward Lear who wrote The Owl and the Pussy-Cat and other nonsense poems during his time at Knowsley Hall. Lear’s storytelling takes readers through nonsense worlds and scenes that we can only create in our imaginations. The detail in Amy’s design will encourage people to imagine exciting worlds and adventures, magical places and intriguing characters.
We were thrilled to welcome Amy from the Isle of Man to paint her sculpture during a 2 week residency.
Read more about Amy on her website amybourbon.com
Andy Weston is a Liverpool based artist who has worked with Knowsley’s cultural services for the past 20 years. Andy has delivered many community-based projects in Knowsley, working with schools, groups, children in care and adults with additional needs. He is also has also been the permanent technician in Kirkby Gallery.
Andy painted one of the Superlambanas back in 2008 and was the ‘Pet Vet’ for the Liverpool Penguin parade. For the Knowsley trail Andy has been inspired by Prescot’s Elizabethan Fayre His design features Morris Dancers with Prescot Parish Church in the background. Andy took his cat sculpture to the Elizabethan Fayre this year and invited the passers-by to add to his design - capturing the essence of the Fayre permanently within his work.
Andy was recruited as the Pet Vet for the Owl and Pussycat trail, so you may have seen him whizzing across the borough checking the animals for any minor treatments
Patricia McDonald is an artist, printmaker and educator based in Whiston. Her work reflects on personal memories, using photographs and artefacts as source material for her work. Building and layering these images she creates a sense of time, place and memories.
Patricia has used Cronton, Whiston and Huyton’s coal mining industrial heritage as inspiration and worked with the community of Cronton to develop the design for her sculpture.
You can read more about Patricia on her website - www.art4design.co.uk
Caroline is an artist from Manchester with a background in Theatre Design which she studied at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, graduating in 2005. Her work demonstrates her love for geometric pattern as well as wildlife. Caroline is a socially engaged artist and often works with community groups.
Caroline worked with ‘looked after children’ in Knowsley to bring to life the children’s creative interpretations of the Knowsley Children’s Charter. The children wanted to capture playfulness, happiness, peace and life. The beautiful design called the ‘Quangle Wangle’ is based on the poem ’The Quangle Wangles Hat' by Edward Lear.
Visit Caroline’s website to read more about her work www.carolinedaly.co.uk
Colin is a Prescot based artist who has many strings to his bow. Colin is also a professional singer as has been for the past 21 years, once performing on Stars on your eyes as Nat King Cole and can be heard in Prescot most weekends. Colin is also a professional chef who runs the restaurant at the Watchmaking factory in Prescot. Colin has painted ever since childhood and started working at 16, as a paint sprayer, which suited his artistic interests.
Colin paints in his spare time but saw the opportunity to be part of the sculpture trail and went for it. The idea for Colin’s sculpture Twinkle came to him as the owl and the pussycat sailed under the stars.
Artist Steve Randall grew up in Kirkby throughout the 1970’s and 80’s. He is self-taught and only discovered his passion for painting in 2014. Although Steve moved away from Kirkby in 1985 the town left a lasting impression and has heavily influenced his work.
His Kirkby Chronicles design is based on engagement with the community and celebrates the sense of community and history of the town.
Read more about Steve Randall on his website - liverpool5.artweb.com
Ask people what they know about Knowsley and the Safari Park is sure to get a mention. And that’s where Nicki’s inspiration began for her ‘big cat.’
Etched in the childhood memories of thousands of people, the Safari is now home to more than 750 different animals and continues to be a much-loved day out for local people and families.
Liverpool based artist Nicki, pays homage to Knowsley’s best known visitor attraction and specifically to the Amur Tigers who live in L34.
Rachael and Phillippa are illustrators and twin sisters. They work together as an illustration collective and are based in Derbyshire. Both sisters graduated from the University of Derby with First Class (Hons) Degrees in Illustration, specialising in illustration for children. They love to create whimsical and magical worlds inspired by nature, wildlife and childhood memories.
Their design – ‘Owly Need is Love’ – is a creative celebration of one of most iconic bands of all time – The Beatles. The design takes inspiration from the band’s early links to Knowsley which includes Paul McCartney and his family living in Roach Avenue and the Quarrymen (who later became The Beatles) playing at Prescot Cables Club. Her design also acknowledges the fact that the ‘fifth Beatle’ Stuart Sutcliffe spent his early life in Huyton and is buried in the town.
For more information visit www.corcutt.com or follow PipandRach on Instagram.
Sue Guthrie is a professional artist, based in Birmingham who has produced work for sculpture trails across the county. Sue works as both an artist and an educator, leading art workshops in schools and teacher training events. She also produces her own artwork along with commissions for paintings, murals and digital artwork.
Sue’s design is inspired by Edward Lear’s incredible illustrations of birds from the aviary at Knowsley Hall. Sue was amused by the description of Lear as a ‘teenage parrot-painting prodigy’ and her owl sculpture features illustrations of parrots and other exotic birds housed in a Victorian-style birdcage, which will be finished in opulent imitation gold leaf.
Wirral-based artist Julie brings the detail of nature and climate change to life in her sculpture, which celebrates Knowsley’s green infrastructure whilst also focussing on the impact we (humans) are having on the world.
Julie’s amazingly detailed design is based on the patterns formed by pores in tree cross sections. The rings within a tree’s trunk will appear lighter or darker depending on the density of the pores and the weather that tree has been exposed to. Each tree is different and can tell its own story of climate change over the years. As well as reflecting these wonderful patterns found in nature, Julie’s design also challenges people to consider what story our trees will tell in the future and our own role in climate change.
For more information visit www.juliedodd.co.uk or follow her on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Sarah Jane Richards is a freelance artist that runs regular art classes for children and adults in the North West. Sarah Jane has a deep affinity for nature and conservation, she is passionate about connecting with nature and people through creativity. She works with people to encourage their journey through art, to strengthen their relationship and knowledge of the natural environment and to support mental health and wellbeing.
Sarah Jane’s design is inspired by the iconic works of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. Sunflowers also have significance in Knowsley thanks to Halewood farmer Olly Harrison’s sunflower maze which was launched in 2020 to raise money for the NHS.
Julia Midgley is an internationally recognised and award-winning documentary artist. She is based in Cheshire and has worked on creative projects in Knowsley many times over the years. Her owl references Lear and Shakespeare through the use of their writing implements - a quill pen for Shakespeare and dip pen for Edward Lear while Nature refers to Lear's botanical illustrations for which he was renowned.
Find out more about Julia on her website www.juliamidgley.co.uk