IN PICTURES: Brighton Festival 2018 Guest Director David Shrigley’s giant snail sculpture design revealed

Ahead of the official launch of Snailspace on Sat 15 Sep - a unique public art event in aid of Martlets Hospice - Brighton Festival 2018 Guest Director and Turner Prize nominated artist David Shrigley’s giant snail sculpture design, which will be situated at Brighton Dome, has been revealed.

Best known for his dark and funny drawings that comment on the absurdity of modern society, Shrigley’s design reflects his trademark wit, bearing a number of multi-coloured spots and a slogan declaring: ‘They told me to paint the snail so I painted the snail and they said “We think it’s horrible” and I said “I disagree; I think it looks nice'

On his design and involvement in the project David Shrigley says: “I think Martlets do excellent work and I am very happy to be able to help them. I wanted to make a cheerful and colourful snail. I hope visitors will take away happy feelings. I hope they do not take away parts of the snail.”

Run by the team responsible for the immensely popular Snowdogs campaign which raised over £310,000 for the charity, the trail of 50 giant snail sculptures will take place across the streets of Brighton & Hove from 15 Sep to 18 Nov 2018. Shrigley’s contribution, sponsored by leading local printers One Digital, will be sited outside the Grade 1 listed Brighton Dome on Church street.

The trail of 50 giant snail sculptures, each uniquely decorated by an artist, will be on show for nine weeks, encouraging locals to be tourists in their own city and generating a giant snail sized ‘feel-good’ factor. The giant gastropods will be joined by a host of smaller snails as part of the Junior Snailway. More than 50 nurseries, schools and youth groups will decorate their own snails, which will be displayed in accessible locations across the city. At the end of the trail there will be a celebratory Farewell Event; a chance to see the snail sculptures together. Finally, the giant gastropods will be auctioned to raise money for Martlets and its life-changing care.

Discover more about Snailspace