(Image: Supplied)
A record £300,000 has been raised for a North East hospice after dozens of Peter Rabbit sculptures went under the hammer at the end of a public art trail.
The Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne trail filled streets and green spaces across Newcastle and North Tyneside with 40 five-foot sculptures for nine weeks over the summer, raising money for St Oswald’s Hospice.
Artists gave each sculpture a unique design before bidders from around the world took part in the live auction at Newcastle Civic Centre on October 13, either in person or online.
Steph Edusei, chief executive of St Oswald’s Hospice, said: "I have been amazed by the dedication, creativity and hard work that has gone into bringing this trail to life, both behind the scenes and throughout the summer.
"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 as we celebrate 40 years of care at St Oswald's Hospice."
The auction included 40 sculptures and several special pieces created for the event.
The top-selling lot was Lot 25, a Peter Rabbit-themed bench designed by Northumberland wildlife artist Jina Gelder.
The bench, titled A Love Letter to the British Countryside, sold for £52,500 after a fierce bidding war.
The anonymous buyer said: "It’s for my wife. She’s a big supporter of the hospice – we have a friend who gets treated there and they’re absolutely fantastic."
Other top lots included Hoppy Days, which sold for £10,000, and Emma Bridgewater’s Peter Rabbit in the Garden, which fetched £6,000.
The highest price for a rabbit sculpture was £21,000 for Lot 35, titled simply Peter Rabbit and painted by Jodie Silverman in Beatrix Potter’s original style.
The trail was delivered with creative producers Wild in Art, alongside The World of Peter Rabbit, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumbrian Water and North Standard.
The event marked 40 years of care from St Oswald’s Hospice, which supports adults and children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the North East.
Ms Edusei said: "Like many hospices we are operating in a challenging financial environment, but we use every single pound wisely."
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Wild in Art, the team behind the event, has helped raise more than £28.4 million for charities through similar trails worldwide.
Its events have brought art to public spaces in cities including London, Manchester, Sydney and Cape Town.
Find out more about the hospice at www.stoswaldsuk.org.