Richard Hawley meets Coles Corner and Heart of Oak
Sheffield rocker Richard Hawley has not one, but two Pride of Yorkshire inspired by his music!
Sheffield musician and Patron of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, Richard Hawley, took a tour of the Pride of Yorkshire painting spaces to meet two Pride of Yorkshire sculptures inspired by his music.
Richard, whose soulful music pays homage to Sheffield in all its forms, met the artists behind the designs and signed each sculpture.
On having two sculptures on the trail, Richard said:
“It’s a total honour! Both artists are incredibly talented and very intelligent human beings so to have my own work chosen as something of worth by them is very humbling.
“But I’m mindful of the purpose of these beautiful pieces of art- they are here to create awareness of the suffering of children and to raise money to help alleviate that suffering so I’m not allowing it to go to my head but allowing a little of it to go straight to my heart instead.”
Cherish the Light was created by Sheffield artist Francesca Hague, and uses the album artwork from his 2005 album Coles Corner as the main inspiration. The face features Richard’s beloved black Atkins guitar.
On creating this design, she said: “I wasn’t 100 per cent sure which way to go at first, but it landed quite naturally. Coles Corner was the first Hawley album I had, so it was my introduction to him. The artwork is so iconic, so it felt right to base the lion around that.
“They mean a lot to people – and they mean a lot to me. I just hope that comes across in the work.”
When the trail goes live, Richard Hawley fans will be able to find Cherish the Light outside Sheffield Cathedral – just next to the actual Coles Corner!
Heart of Oak was created by Sheffield-based artist, Lydia Monks, who has been a part of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity trails since the Herd of Sheffield in 2016! Lydia uses the lyrics of Richard’s song of the same name as the main inspiration for the design, and references Sheffield’s fierce protectiveness over its trees and green spaces!
When the trail goes live, Richard Hawley fans and tree lovers alike will be able to find Heart of Oak in the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield .
These two sculptures will join 148 other large lion and lioness sculptures across the streets, parks and public spaces of South Yorkshire this summer. Pride of Yorkshire will bring creativity, community and care to the region, and support the redevelopment of the Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Pride of Yorkshire roars to life across South Yorkshire from Monday 8 June – Sunday 6 September. Collect lions. See South Yorkshire. Support Sheffield Children’s!
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