A fast-paced auction of unique Swindog sculptures raised more than £165,000 for a children’s hospice.
The bids came thick and fast as auctioneer Charles Hanson – who has appeared as an antiques expert on Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, and Flog It – took offers in the room and online for more than 30 colourful creations.
Penny For Your Thoughts by Jane Morgan fetched the highest price of £15,000, with Patches by Julia’s House children and Hannah Dosanjh selling for £8,000 after a heated bidding war, and Sparky by New College BA Illustration students going for £6,500.
Several other artworks sold for between £3,000 and £5,000, raising £165,800 for Julia’s House children’s hospice altogether.
CEO Martin Edwards said: “We have 50 families in our care around Wiltshire and Dorset, and get almost no government funding.
“The money raised by this auction will help the children who will be referred to us in the coming months “This event has told the Swindon public that we’re here looking after children in their communities and sown the seeds of future support.
“The artists have been brilliant, we had our pick of some amazing designs.”
The auction marked the final event in the Big Dog Art Trail which saw 120,000 people explore Swindon to find 30 six-feet-tall Swindog sculptures from local and national artists as well as 42 smaller Swinpups designed by schools and community groups, all sponsored by town organisations and big businesses.
Around 22 per cent of the people who took part in the trail came from outside of Swindon to see the first-of-its-kind art extravaganza.
The positive economic impact of the trail for Swindon has been estimated at over £3 million.
Martin Guillery won the Adver’s competition to design our sponsored Swindog with his Steam Pup illustration, while Swindon Borough Council picked the 12-year-old’s mum Judy’s design, Love Grows, to adorn their sculpture.
Morgan said: “It’s been amazing, the summer has gone by so fast, it’s crazy.
“The feedback has been so positive and a lot of people took photos with the sculpture.
“It would have been a perfect mascot for the Steam Museum.
“My mum and I want to take part in other art trails. I’ve set the bar high with this one, I didn’t expect how hard it would be to execute my design but I’m pleased with how it turned out.”
Judy added: “I’m so proud of him, this has been the best experience ever, it’s too exciting to wrap my head around!”
The Rainbow Warrior Swindog provoked a frantic bidding war, which resulted in a sale of £5,000 pic.twitter.com/njwzcVOjSy
— Daniel Angelini (@Adver_Daniel) September 19, 2023
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