Southend artist John Bulley has created a hare mural in the high street ahead of an art trail event in aid of a hospice charity.

A total of 30 giant sculptures, and more than 50 smaller sculptures of hares set to arrive in Southend this summer for the Hares About Town charity art trail in aid of Havens Hospice.

The Echo-backed Hares About Town, a spectacular public art event in partnership with Wild in Art, will weave its way across our town from July for ten weeks.

The sculptures will be displayed across the seafront, High Street and beyond, and will draw attention to the most beautiful backdrops and cultural hotspots in the town.

Under the railway bridge is a location primed for a sculpture called ‘Patch’ created by artist Lisa Sheldon.  The team at Havens Hospice thought it only appropriate to create a hare themed backdrop to compliment the trail – that arrives in only 6 weeks time!

John Bulley, a renowned artist from Southchurch has also been commissioned to design and create a hare for the trail – named Rusty – although the sculpture is currently firmly under wraps at Harequarters – at The Royals Shopping Centre- more details will be released in due course.

He has now painted a hare mural under the railway bridge in the high street. On July 1 residents and visitors will wake up to a ‘sea’ of hares!

 

Louise Gloyne, Havens Hospices' head of philanthropy, grants and partnerships, said: "We thought, what better way to compliment the location of Patch then to have another local artist to paint a wonderful backdrop at this prime spot. 

"John Bulley’s work is just tremendous! It’s so wonderful to celebrate the huge amount of talent we have in Southend.  A huge thank you to John and his assistant Tom- who took just one day to complete this amazing mural in support of Hares About Town and Havens Hospices’

All of the sculptures will soon be moved to a secret location, where they will be attached to their concrete plinths ahead of the install overnight on 30 June.

 

Later this week, signage will be installed to the mural which will include a QR code to make donations directly to the hospice.