This Summer The Deep will welcome it’s very own Puffin!
This is no ordinary Puffin, at 1.5m tall this artist decorated sculpture will form part of the 2022 Puffins Galore! trail.
The Deep will host one of 42 extraordinary puffins which will be positioned along the stunning East Yorkshire Coast and throughout the East Riding. Each Puffin will be sponsored by a business or institution who has chosen their Puffin’s unique design from an artist’s gallery.
Artists were given three themes for their Puffin designs:
- Endangered wildlife of our coasts and seas
- The global warming crisis and the growth of green energy
- People and stories of the East Yorkshire coast
The Deep is delighted to have selected a design submitted by Lincoln based artist Tracy Willis, titled ‘Ocean’s Eleven’.
Artist, Tracy Willis stated “The beauty and magnificence of nature inspires my artwork. I want to highlight the importance of saving endangered wildlife as the world is a better place with them in it.”
Ocean’s Eleven brings together eleven species found around the British Isles, which are listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (International Union for Conservation of Nature). With the Puffin as their ringleader, his assembled group of marine life in danger include the Basking shark, Pink sea fan and the Fin whale.
Katy Duke, CEO at The Deep said “We are excited to be involved with the Puffins Galore! project, which as well as raising funds for other local charities, is an opportunity to engage the public with conservation issues of native British species. This project ties in nicely with our work to revamp our Cool Seas gallery, thanks to Biffa Award funding. We are looking forward to revealing the Puffin sculpture and its unique design later this summer”.
At the end of Puffins Galore! the sculptures will be sold, either to their sponsors or at a grand charity auction. The proceeds from these sales will be donated to four chosen charities Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, RNLI, RSPB and Hornsea Inshore Rescue, selected for their important role in the protection of the wildlife of the seas and coasts or for their essential work saving lives at sea.
