The Bishop of Newcastle and her husband Myles attended a special ‘Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne’ preview event. The complete flock of 45 Shaun the Sheep sculptures congregated at Quorum Business Park in Newcastle, anticipating their eventual display across the streets, parks, and public spaces of the city.
This event gave the Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley an opportunity to meet the version of Shaun that is living in Newcastle Cathedral from 19 July - 27 September. The citywide trail by arts organisation Wild in Art sets out to increase public awareness about the care provided by St Oswald’s Hospice to local children and adults living with life-limiting conditions.
The Cathedral’s chosen sculpture, ‘Sheep Ahoy!’, is by Cullercoats-based Joanne Wishart, a professional artist of more than 20 years. Its maritime-inspired design resonates with Joanne's love for the sea and features ships riding along the waves.
During the preview event, the Bishop had the pleasure of meeting Joanne and joining her for a photograph alongside Shaun, before the sheep embarked on its nine-week sojourn in the Cathedral's South Transept. 'Sheep Ahoy!' was specifically selected by the team at the Cathedral team to honour the historic dedication of the 900-year-old building to St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. The artist incorporated the iconic Lantern Tower, which for hundreds of years acted as a guiding light for ships sailing up the River Tyne.
Outside the Cathedral, a second sculpture named 'Purple Reign' proudly stands, supported by the sponsorship of the neighbouring business, NBS.
Kate Sussams, Chief Operating Officer at Newcastle Cathedral, said: “We are thrilled to have 'Sheep Ahoy!' as part of our Cathedral flock over summer. Joanne’s design captures a fascinating aspect of our building and city's rich history and the National Lottery Heritage Fund kindly supported its sponsorship. The recent redevelopment of the Cathedral aimed to invite and embrace new visitors, and we hope Shaun's presence will attract families and individuals, inspiring them to develop their own connections to this special place.”
Following a fun-filled summer, ‘Sheep Ahoy!’, along with the other sculptures forming part of the trail, will be auctioned off to raise funds for St Oswald’s Hospice. We wonder where he’ll sail off to next!