The Newsroom

Our resource for downloading customer press releases and marketing materials. If you require any assistance please contact us.

A detail from Bishop Grosseteste University's statue 'Knight and Day'
A detail from Bishop Grosseteste University's statue 'Knight and Day'
Artists Lynsey Brecknell and Kieron Reilly

Lincoln Skyline to Feature on BGU’s Knight Sculpture

A pair of talented artists from Birmingham are putting Lincoln on the map by featuring the city’s iconic skyline on the knight sculpture being sponsored by Bishop Grosseteste University.

Kieron Reilly and Lynsey Brecknell have called BGU’s statue ‘Knight and Day’, and it is one of 35 knights which will make up this year’s Lincoln Knights’ Trail celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln.

The event organised by Lincoln BIG runs from 20th May until 3rd September and the knight statues will be unveiled at a launch evening at The Showroom in Lincoln on 27th March. As part of the trail BGU’s knight will be stationed near Newport Arch not far from the university’s campus.

“Our design ‘Knight and Day’ shows off Lincoln’s beautifully unique skyline in silhouette form against a bold sunset, including our sponsor Bishop Grosseteste University,” said Lynsey.

“Following the success of the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail in 2015 we’re sure that the Lincoln Knights are going to be loved by the locals and visitors from across the country, and we are proud to be a part of such an exciting project.”

Kieron and Lynsey have very different artistic backgrounds: Lynsey has developed a career in theatre as a scenic artist and set builder while Kieron has a background in animation and now focuses on model making and design.

They have successfully collaborated on many public art trails in the past and are looking forward to showcasing their design alongside the other sculptures on the Lincoln Knights’ Trail.

“I’ve had a preview of our knight and it’s looking fantastic,” said the Reverend Canon Professor Peter Neil, Vice Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University.

“We chose this design because we found it eye-catching and attractive, and also because it features the Lincoln skyline. The artists have adapted this to include the Skinner building on our campus in the silhouette, along with colours in the sky which fade up to BGU purple at the very top.

“We think it looks wonderful and we’re looking forward to seeing it take its place as part of the Lincoln Knights’ Trail this summer.”

Following the launch on 27th March each knight will be hosted by its sponsor to promote the trail, which will starts on 20th May – 800 years to the day since the Battle of Lincoln.

The Lincoln Knights’ Trail is a Wild in Art event brought together by Lincoln BIG in partnership with Visit Lincoln and Education Business Partnership (EBP), in support of local homeless charity the Nomad Trust.

Following a call for artists back in September 2016, over 200 innovative designs were submitted. A shortlist of 70 was drawn up and the artists given the opportunity to paint their design onto a miniature knight sculpture. The 35 sponsors then selected their favourite design.

Following the trail the knights will be sold at auction at Lincoln Cathedral on 30th September. Two-thirds of the money raised will go to The Nomad Trust and one-third will help to create a new Art and Innovation Fund for Lincoln.

The knights were designed and created by Wild in Art’s Creative Director Chris Wilkinson in the style of a chess piece.

Notes to Editors

BGU:

• Bishop Grosseteste University was established in January 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• BGU is a top three university for student employability with over 97% of leavers in work or study six months after graduating (2014/15 DLHE – read more here).
• BGU is the 2nd highest ranked public university in England for student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2016 – read more here).
• BGU has over 2,300 students, including undergraduate, postgraduate and research, with over 280 students at collaborative partners across Lincolnshire.
• To learn more about Bishop Grosseteste University visit www.bishopg.ac.uk

Lincoln Knights’ Trail:

The Lincoln Knights’ Trail is a Wild in Art event brought to you by Lincoln BIG and will form a mass participation public art event in the city.

Designed and created by Wild in Art’s Creative Director Chris Wilkinson in the style of a Lewis Chess piece, the knight sculpture is the perfect canvas through which to unite visual art and this celebration of the country’s legal history.

The Auction

The sculptures will be displayed from 22nd May 2017 to 4th September 2017 followed by a Reunion event in September 2017. The Knights will be auctioned by JH Walter on Saturday 30th September 2017 at Lincoln Cathedral to raise funds for The Nomad Trust and their new accommodation and day centre project.

About The Lincoln Knights’ Trail

The Lincoln Knights’ Trail commemorates the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln Fair and the sealing of the Charter of the Forest in 1217.

The event is presented by Lincoln BIG and will see 35 life-sized decorated Knights displayed as an art trail across the city from May until mid-September 2017.

At the end of the event, all the life-sized Knights will be auctioned to raise money for The Nomad Trust.

Wild in Art

Wild in Art is one of the leading creative producers of spectacular, mass-appeal public arts events, which engage residents and tourists alike, through the creation of city-wide trails of uniquely painted sculptures.

From crashes of rhinos in Sydney, and parliaments of owls in Birmingham to BookBenches in London and Commonwealth Games Cylde mascots in Glasgow, Wild in Art events have animated cities and enthralled people the world over, raising over £8 million for charity partners along the way.

Wild in Art also provides unique art education resources which engage and inspire young people and enhance learning across the curriculum.

Wild in Art events include: 2016: the Great Big Rhino Project (Paignton and Exeter), Herd of Sheffield (Sheffield), Gnomes Unearthed (Hampton Court Palace Gardens), Snowdogs by the Sea (Brighton & Hove), Great North Snowdogs (Tyne & Wear). 2017: The Big Stampede (Hamilton), The Lincoln Knights’ Trail (Lincoln), The Big Sleuth (Birmingham), Sitting With Jane (Basingstoke).

www.wildinart.co.uk @Wild_in_Art

Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG)

Lincoln BIG aims to put Lincoln on the map as a retail and tourist destination and improve the experience of the city centre for those who live, work, invest, study and visit.
Lincoln BIG is bringing the Knights’ Trail to the city as part of the 2017 800th Anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Lincoln Fair and the sealing of Charter of the Forest.
Facebook.com/LincolnKnightsTrail @KnightsTrail17 www.knightstrail.com

The EBP

The EBP is a Lincoln-based social enterprise developing the skills of young people. Through its many programmes, young people have entered the world of work better equipped and prepared for what lies ahead. The EBP works to ensure that all of its services provide young people with the opportunity to develop the skills that employers are looking for. Visit www.the-ebp.co.uk for more information.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ebpuk Twitter: @ebp_uk Instagram: @ebp_uk

The Nomad Trust

The Nomad Trust currently operates Lincolnshire’s only Emergency Direct Access Night Shelter, two Charity Shops and Furniture Warehouse.

Lincolnshire YMCA merged with Nomad Trust in 2013 to help people secure and sustain tenancies in the city as well as providing ongoing support once housed. Visit www.nomadtrust.org.uk for more information

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomadtrust Twitter: @NomadTrust

JH Walter LLP

JHWalter LLP provides property, business, planning and energy services to corporate and private clients throughout the East Midlands.

Originally founded in 1790, the practice has a professional team of chartered surveyors, advisers and agents based in Lincoln.”

Twitter @JHWalter & @JHWalterCPA Facebook www.facebook.com/JHWalter.LLP/

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
[BG212knightstrail]


Close