Sheep sculptures art trail flocks to northern Scotland
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has launched its Flock to the Show public art trail that will tour locations across northern Scotland until April 16.
The campaign celebrates the return of the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Woolhandling Championships to the Royal Highland Show from June 22 to 25.
The art trail features more than 35 striking sheep sculptures, decorated by artists from across the UK and transported around the country by H&R Gray Haulage.
Designed to engage visitors of all ages, the trail will also raise awareness of different causes related to farming, including regenerative agriculture, rural isolation and climate change.
Local artist Michelle Mann of artwork business MGM Enterprise, lives on a farm in rural Aberdeenshire and was chosen to design a sheep.
She has designed the The Woolly Back sheep, sponsored by the MacRobert Trust which will reside at Douneside House for two weeks.
The Woolly Back’s design is inspired by the many uses of wool, from tweeds and tartans to knitted garments and woven blankets, paying tribute to this prized natural resource and heritage craft of rural Scottish history.
To engage members of the public with the campaign, there will be an opportunity to win a VIP Royal Highland Show family experience which children and adults of all ages can enter.
Budding artists can download a sheep outline from the Royal Highland Show website and create their own design to be in with a chance of winning.
Information on how to enter can be found in the Flock to the Show section of the Royal Highland Show website.
Following the tour, the flock shall return to the Royal Highland Show during the Golden Shears in June this year, which will be the only time the sheep sculptures will gather together in one location.
The flock will then be auctioned in September to raise funds that will support the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland Bicentennial Fund, which supports projects dedicated to sustainability in the rural sector.
The tour will cover four main areas – Northern Scotland; Dundee, Fife and Perthshire; Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway; and Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
In northern Scotland they will be in the following locations until April 16:
- Eastgate Shopping Centre
- Ballater iCentre
- Farm Ness
- Allarbarn Farm Shop
- Brodie’s Country Fayre
- Logie Farm Steading
- John O'Groats Visitor Centre
- Marshalls farm shop
- Aviemore iCentre
- Farm Stop
- World Horse Welfare
- Harbro (Huntly)
- Northern Mart
- Victorian Market
- SRUC
- Aberdeen iCentre
- Douneside House
Full details of the Flock to the Show tour can be found on the Royal Highland Show website: royalhighlandshow.org/flock-to-the-show
The Royal Highland Show takes place from June 22-25, tickets are on sale now at: royalhighlandshow.org
Jim Warnock, chairman of Royal Highland Show organisers, the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), said: “We are very much looking forward to seeing our flock out and about across Scotland.
"Not only does Flock to the Show celebrate the return of the Golden Shears to the Royal Highland Show, but it will also shine a spotlight on some important causes in the agricultural and rural sectors.
“We hope that everyone will get involved and pay a visit to our flock when they arrive in your region – with such a brilliant and diverse range of designs from talented artists, visitors won’t be disappointed.”
Turcan Connell Partner, Grierson Dunlop said: “We are delighted to see the RHS Flock to the Show sheep set off on tour.
"We are very much looking forward to being at the Highland Show again this year and are also looking forward to meeting our very own Turcan Connell tup “BaaAT-Bee” at the Eastgate Shopping Centre this weekend.”
Rear Admiral Christopher Hockley CBE, chief executive officer at The MacRobert Trust, said: “The MacRobert Trust has a long and close relationship with RHASS.
"Until recently, epitomised by the MacRobert Pavilion which stood proud until 2020, as well as, of course, by the trophies bearing its name.
"The MacRobert Theatre is the centre for sheep shearing activity during show week. The society also nominates a director to the board of the trust, currently under the chairmanship of Jon Strickland, known to many alongside his wife Queenie for the multi-award winning Cladich Fold of Highland cattle.
“The venue for the Golden Shears championship is, appropriately, to be the MacRobert Theatre. The trust is delighted not only have played its part in upgrading the facilities for competitors and organisers of the event, but also to have helped improve the audience experience whilst they are watching and being entertained by this World Championship competition.”
Tracey Beveridge, VisitScotland head of information services said: “It’s fantastic to be part of this exciting new trail which will be a great addition to the country’s tourism offering.
"I’m sure visitors and locals will be ‘flocking’ to our iCentres to catch a glimpse of these colourful new arrivals.
"When they get there, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be ready to welcome them and offer advice and tips about other things to see and do in the local area during their visit.”
