Highland Hospice squirrels get set to hit the streets of Inverness, Nairn Tain, Evanton, Beauly, Fort Augustus and the Black Isle
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The wraps have finally come off the first of 23 sculptures set to add a splash of colour to Highland streets this summer.
Several artists have been hard at work for months now creating designs for the five-foot squirrel statues that will form the Go Nuts Art Trail for Highland Hospice, raising awareness of the important work of the Inverness-based charity.
Each sponsored by a local business they will also raise funds for the organisation when they are individually auctioned off later this year.
Seven of the statues will be based in Inverness with others heading out to Nairn, Tain, Evanton, Beauly, the Black Isle and Fort Augustus as well as Portree, Eilean Donan, the Castle of Mey, Logie, Fort William and Boat of Garten.
The trail launches on June 28 and free maps to follow it will be available from Highland Hospice shops, with branded sticker books, bands and tote bags also on sale.
Highland Hospice events fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “We have been so fortunate to have local artist Scott Gleed from Gleed3D on board to sculpt these fabulous squirrels for us.
“They are currently with Parks Motor Group who very kindly offered to apply lacquer to each sculpture to make it weatherproof.
“This is a hugely exciting project for the Highlands this summer – we’ve never seen anything like it up here.
“Go Nuts will appeal to people of all ages, including families, tourists and those who live local to each sculpture.
“The designs are truly incredible and the finished products are better than we ever could have imagined thanks to Scott and each and every one of our talented artists.
“We can’t wait to see the public’s reaction to them!”
