Philip Sutton RA leading the herd at 95, Weldmar Hospicecare ‘Stampede by the Sea’ recruiting sponsors and artists

Weldmar Hospicecare is excited to showcase the first of its Stampede by the Sea baby elephants, hand-painted by RA artist, Phillip Sutton.  The fantastic design for this elephant, affectionately known as Ponty, was created and painted by Philip who is 95 years old and partially blind.  Demonstrating how spectacular and diverse this trail is set to be, Ponty is the first of more than fifty uniquely painted elephant sculptures.  The trail itself will see elephants grazing across Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis in spring 2025.

Philip Sutton RA, member of the Royal Academy, is a renowned British artist known for his vibrant use of colour and expressive style. At 95 Philip continues to make significant contributions to the art world despite being partially blind. His distinguished career spans decades, with numerous solo exhibitions worldwide and works held in public collections such as The Tate. Recently, he painted the baby elephant sculpture “Ponty” for Weldmar’s Stampede By The Sea, showcasing his enduring creativity. Inspired by Sutton’s resilience and artistic spirit, other artists are encouraged to submit their designs. Learn more about his inspiring journey here.

The art trail aims to raise vital funds and awareness for Weldmar Hospicecare, which provides specialised end-of-life care for adults in Dorset with life-limiting illnesses. Each elephant sculpture will be auctioned off by Dukes at the end of the trail, with proceeds directly supporting the hospice’s services.  With 10 sponsors currently on-board, the team at Weldmar is looking for more local businesses to apply to sponsor an elephant.  Many of the smaller elephants are going to local schools.

Philip Sutton RA commented: “I named the elephant ‘Ponty’ after the French philosopher as I found him quite inspirational. Art is such a personal experience and we express ourselves by how we dress and how we behave. But I try to leave my beliefs and politics behind when I paint.  When I paint, I express my personality through my art. Working on ‘Ponty’ for Weldmar’s ‘Stampede By The Sea’ was a joy, and I shall miss Ponty when he goes!”.  

Local businesses are invited to partner with this exciting initiative, offering various sponsorship opportunities. Artists are encouraged to join the Art Programme, contributing their creativity to make this event a lasting memory for all participants.

April​​​​ Whitehead Interim Head of Fundraising commented: “‘Stampede By The Sea’ is an exciting initiative for Weldmar Hospicecare, aiming to bring the community together through creativity and compassion. Each elephant sculpture, like Philip Sutton’s ‘Ponty,’ represents a unique story and vision, contributing to our art trail. We invite artists to join us in this journey, helping to raise awareness and support for our cause”.

Sponsors include: First Bus, Amsafe, JP Morgan, Shield Sights, Dorwest, Hive Beach, Saffrey, Dukes, In The Bag PR and Visit Dorset.

Visit Dorset – Supporter

In The Bag PR – Supporter

For more information and to get involved, visit Weldmar Hospicecare’s Stampede by the Sea.

For further details and to follow the progress of ‘Stampede by the Sea,’ stay connected with Stampede by the Sea on Facebook and Instagram.