Visit Staffordshire - Staffy Sculpture Trail

I was delighted to take part in the Staffy Trail, a colourful public art trail celebrating 10 years of Staffordshire Day through a collection of decorated Staffordshire Bull Terrier sculptures.

For this commission, I worked with Year 9 pupils at Wilnecote High School to co-create the design for a Staffy sculpture inspired by the theme ‘Connection – linking towns, cities, attractions and communities’. Through a full-day creative workshop, pupils explored what makes Staffordshire unique, shared ideas about their local area and discovered how an initial concept can develop into a finished public artwork.

The design development brought together a variety of pupil ideas, with the main concept inspired by an original character created by one of the pupils: Dave the alien! We imagined what Dave might see if he landed in Staffordshire for the very first time, exploring the county through an alien’s eyes and discovering its landmarks, attractions, traditions and quirky local characters.

he result was Beam Me Up, Staffy! a cosmic guide to Staffordshire, bringing the theme of Connection to life by linking the county’s towns, cities, attractions and communities in one colourful, intergalactic adventure.

The design celebrates Staffordshire’s shared heritage and identity through a playful collection of local landmarks and recognisable icons. Tamworth Castle and the SnowDome sit alongside local theme parks, Trentham Estate and Lichfield Cathedral. A beer barrel represents Burton upon Trent, poppies honour the National Memorial Arboretum, and a vase celebrates The Potteries Museum. Even local favourite Spud Man makes an appearance, adding a familiar touch of local character and community pride.

Flowing transport routes, rivers and canals weave their way around the sculpture, connecting the different elements with trains, buses and boats. A constellation of stars links key towns across the county, creating a cosmic map of Staffordshire. The Staffordshire flag, worn as a neckerchief, and the county motto, ‘Be True!’, reinforce the themes of belonging, unity and local pride.

My signature style of bright colours, bold lines and playful, cartoon-inspired illustrations brought the pupils’ ideas together into a vibrant design that celebrates the things that make Staffordshire special. The project was a brilliant opportunity to put young people at the heart of the creative process, showing how their imagination and knowledge of their local area can help shape a piece of public art for everyone to enjoy.