The deadline is fast approaching for creative artists around the country and beyond to take part in Marketing Gloucester’s exciting new sculpture trail- Design a Pig for Gloucestershire Old Spots trail

Forty artists, graphic designers and illustrators will have the opportunity to work on a Henson Pig sculpture for next summer’s Royal Three Counties Show Gloucester Old Spots Trail. The trail will take place over 10 weeks in the summer of 2017, coinciding with the Royal Three Counties Show (June 16 – 18 June 2017) and at the height of Gloucester’s Summer of Music, Arts and Culture with the city expecting over 300,000 visitors. The Deadline for submissions is the December 13 2016, no time to waste!

The Scrumpty Trail in 2015 attracted artists and designers from as far away as Merseyside, Norfolk, Dorset, Hampshire as well as from much closer to home – the Forest of Dean, Bristol and Gloucester.

The Gloucestershire Old Spots was the first pig to ever be given pedigree status. Known as the ‘orchard pig’, they originate from the Severn Valley where they foraged on wind fallen apples and whey – bi-products of two of the county’s most famous exports, cider and cheese. It was championed along with other rare breeds, by Joe Henson MBE, at Cotswold Farm Park when it opened in 1971. His son, Adam, took over the running of the park in 1999 and is a presenter on the BBC’s Countryfile. It is in Joe and Adam’s honour that the pig is named ‘Henson’.

The partnership between the Royal Three Counties Show and Marketing Gloucester will encourage a deeper understanding of Gloucestershire’s rural heritage, promoting cultural tourism around the county, whilst providing opportunities for the two organisations to raise money for their preferred charities.

Jason Smith, Chief Executive of Marketing Gloucester, said: “Following the huge success of the Scrumpty sculpture trail in summer 2015, which came number 1 out of 900 events on the Visit England website, I am confident that artists will be delighted to put their artwork in front of 300,000 people for the 2017 trail. With forty sculptures planned for the city of Gloucester and around the county of Gloucestershire, the Gloucestershire Old Spots Trail already promises to be bigger and better.”

Anyone who is interested in submitting designs for the sculpture trail can download an Artists Pack here.