It is hard to believe that it is almost a year since I first wrote about a new fundraising idea by Highland Hospice. The plan was to create an art trail across the region of Highland coo sculptures which have only just recently been installed. Over the past week it has been nice to see them in situ. When I first arrived in Inverness almost three years ago there was a similar trail but that time the sculptures were squirrels. On both occasions some of them were damaged but in the end the coos will be auctioned off for this much-loved charity. So here are a few articles which might give some info about the idea and some of this week’s pictures.

A SEARCH has been launched to find artists to help create a new charity trail across the Highlands.

Highland Hospice is hoping to recreate the huge success of its squirrel art trail which delighted the public across the region two years ago, and raised thousands of pounds for the charity when they were later auctioned off.

Creatives are now needed to make their mark on a herd of Highland cows which will form the Great Heilan Coo Art Trail.

The charity has unveiled the first “blank canvas” and is appealing for artists, both well-known and as-yet undiscovered, to come forward with design proposals.

The trail will run throughout the Highlands from April to August next year.

Hospice fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “We are so excited to see these colourful coos on display next year across the Highlands.

“It would be great if our artists could consider the locations when making design submissions.

“We of course welcome all designs but would love to see some iconic Highland designs or a design specific to an area or one of our sponsors.

“Acrylic paint is recommended for the sculptures, and once they are all completed the hospice will lacquer each sculpture at no cost to the artist.”

From the Highland News on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

Paint a coo for hospice

THOSE with an artistic bent have just a few weeks left to submit designs that could go on to catch the eye of thousands of people across the Highlands.

Highland Hospice is set to stage The Great Heilan’ Coo Trail next year, a second region-wide art trail following on from the Go Nuts squirrel trail which really captured the public imagination back in 2019.

Cow sculptures will go on display at locations across the Highlands next spring and summer and artists of any ability and genre are being invited to submit a design that could feature on one of the sculptures.

The closing date for submissions is September 10.

Fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “It is not necessary to be an accomplished artist to submit a design. We are looking for all ages and abilities to come forward and show us how they would decorate a coo.

“It’s a satisfying achievement to have your design commissioned and on display where hundreds of people will stop to look at it next year.

“Your name and the name and description of your artwork will be included on the coo’s plinth and associated print and web materials – and successful artists will receive one free ticket to the final auction event late next year.”

Successful artists will get one large coo sculpture to recreate their design with acrylic paint to full scale between October and March.

From the Highland News on Thursday, August 19, 2021.

Highland cows with a twist set to roam across region

HIGHLAND Hospice is about to launch an udderly brilliant adventure which will see a number of brightly decorated “Heilan coos” displayed across the region.

There will be a total of 10 in Inverness and 12 others will graze in each town where the charity has a shop.

Hospice fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “We are so excited to launch our Great Heilan Coo Art Trail, which will see 22 Highland coo sculptures, all individually painted by local artists, roam across the Highlands and Inverness from next Friday until August 21.”

She said each coo has been kindly sponsored by a local business, and artists have given up their time and materials free of charge for the community art project.

“Each coo will be auctioned off at the end of the trail in September to raise vital funds for Highland Hospice,” she added.

“We have been overwhelmed by the quality of the artwork on our coos, and cannot wait for the public to find them on an udderly brilliant adventure – we hope you love them as much as we do.”

The hospice joined forces with local wildlife sculptor Scott Gleed to create these fun and joyful coos.

Visitors and residents are being encouraged to take part in a scavenger hunt with mini-coos hidden inside each of the 14 shops and two cafés.

It follows a similar art trail featuring squirrel sculptures in 2019.

From the Ross-shire Journal on  Friday, April 15, 2022.