Time to get moo-ving along a new art trail – Highland Hospice to swap squirrels for Heilin' Coos
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For the last two years, they have sent people nuts in search of squirrels along a colourful art trail.
From next spring, Highland Hospice will be encouraging locals and future visitors to get moo-ving along a brand new route: The Great Heilan’ Coo Art Trail.
The local cancer care and support charity plans to bring its second art installation to the Highlands from April to August 2022.
Summer 2019 saw the launch of the charity’s first art trail, Go Nuts, which encouraged people to collect sightings of brightly decorated 5ft squirrels, scattered across the area.
The Great Heilan Coo Art Trail will see 20 eye-catching cow sculptures located in every town where there is a Highland Hospice shop – Alness, Tain, Wick, Thurso, Portree, Fort William, Aviemore, Beauly, Dornoch, Grantown, Forres and Nairn – including eight in Inverness.
The hospice is currently seeking local businesses to sponsor the creations, with Caley Timber and Building Supplies already enlisted as main sponsor.
The firm is putting its name to the first sculpture.
The coo creations, just as the squirrels were, are the work of Forres artist Scott Gleed.
Each Highland cow sculpture will be 6ft long and 4ft high, with artists invited to submit designs to be considered by the cow sponsors.
Selected artists will then receive the blank sculpture to customise their design.
Mr Gleed said: “I’m so delighted to be working with Highland Hospice again on this project. The squirrels brought a lot of colour and joy to the Highlands and I’m confident this trail has the potential to be even better.”
Jennifer Morrison, of Caley Timber and Building Supplies, said: “We can’t wait until it is up and running, and would urge other businesses to join us in becoming a coo sponsor.
“It is such a great opportunity for companies to get behind such a special charity, in an unusual way.”
Hospice events fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “The squirrels were so beautifully designed and decorated and became loved by many.
“What better animal could we choose for our second art trail than the good old Heilan’ coo?
“The sculptures are looking really impressive and we are so excited to see how they are going to be decorated.
“This past year has been tough for many people and our trail aims to brighten up the Highlands and inspire people to explore our beautiful communities in all their glory.”
Next autumn, the coos will be gathered together for a farewell display, before finding permanent homes at a special hospice charity auction.
• Any business interested in sponsoring one of the sculptures should contact Karen Duff by email at k.duff@highlandhospice.org.uk
