The Tales on the Tyne art trail ended with a record-breaking auction, including a £52,500 sale of a Northumberland artist’s creation.A summer of Peter Rabbit sculptures across Newcastle and North Tyneside has raised a record £300,000 for St Oswald’s Hospice.
For nine weeks, the free Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne art trail brought colourful sculptures to streets and parks across the region. Then, on 13 October, the celebrations reached their finale at Newcastle Civic Centre.
Bidders from around the world joined local supporters for the charity auction. Together, they competed for 40 five-foot sculptures and several exclusive pieces created for the evening.A summer of Peter Rabbit sculptures across Newcastle and North Tyneside has ended on a remarkable high, raising a record-breaking £300,000 for St Oswald’s Hospice.
The free Peter Rabbit: Tales on the Tyne art trail captured the imagination of visitors over nine weeks, with individually painted sculptures appearing in streets and parks across the region.
On 13 October, the much-loved rabbits went under the hammer at Newcastle Civic Centre, bringing the summer celebration to a spectacular close.
Bidders from around the world joined local supporters to compete for 40 five-foot sculptures, alongside a selection of exclusive pieces created for the auction.
A record-breaking moment
One creation quickly became the star of the evening.
Lot 25, A Love Letter to the British Countryside, featured a full-size bench adorned with a small Peter Rabbit sculpture. Acclaimed Northumberland wildlife artist Jina Gelder created the design.
Bidding soon passed £12,000, breaking the previous record for a sculpture at a St Oswald’s art trail auction.
However, the excitement didn’t stop there.
Auctioneer Fred Wyrley-Birch, from Newcastle’s Anderson & Garland, led a tense bidding war. Eventually, the hammer fell at an extraordinary £52,500.
The bench will now head to North Yorkshire after an anonymous buyer secured the winning bid.
Explaining the purchase, the 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.”
Familiar favourites find new homes
Other sculptures also attracted impressive bids throughout the evening.
Peter Rabbit in the Garden, decorated by Emma Bridgewater, raised £6,000. Meanwhile, Hoppy Days, a favourite with trail visitors, achieved £10,000.
However, a more traditional design claimed the highest price among the rabbit sculptures.
Artist Jodie Silverman decorated Lot 35, simply titled Peter Rabbit, in the style originally imagined by Beatrix Potter. The sculpture went on to raise £21,000.
Celebrating 40 years of care
The record-breaking auction comes as St Oswald’s Hospice celebrates 40 years of care.
Steph Edusei, Chief Executive at St Oswald’s Hospice, acknowledged the financial pressures facing charities.
“Like many hospices we are operating in a challenging financial environment,” she said, adding that the charity uses “every single pound wisely.”
She also praised everyone who helped bring the trail to life.
“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.”
A lasting legacy
Beyond the impressive fundraising total, Tales on the Tyne brought communities together through art and creativity.
Creative producers Wild in Art and The World of Peter Rabbit helped deliver the trail. Meanwhile, Newcastle City Council supported the event as Headline Trail Partner.
North Tyneside Council joined as Trail Partner, alongside Learning Programme Partner Northumbrian Water and Community Partner NorthStandard.
Above all, the £300,000 raised will help St Oswald’s Hospice continue its important work across the North East.
After nine weeks of colourful sculptures and community celebrations, the auction provided a fitting conclusion to a memorable summer.
