February 17th, 2024
Easels & Evergreens – Tree Therapy and World’s Oldest Topiary
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It’s so easel, easel. That sums up the 2024 season for one of Catapult PR’s travel PR clients – heritage visitor attraction and historic house and garden, Levens Hall and Gardens, located in the English Lake District, where ‘topiary art’ will take on a new meaning.
Despite having won 7 awards at the time of recording, for travel PR campaigns created for Levens Hall and Gardens, Catapult has never been able to talk about art in the gardens. This year it can and so Jane Hunt has taken the opportunity to interview self-taught artist, Bob Sutcliffe OBE, whose works will be continuously on show in the gardens right through to October 2024.
Bob is a charity fundraising phenomenon through his art and gift cards sold in Booths supermarkets across the NW of England. Jane learns how first a diagnosis of epilepsy, and then a heart attack 10 years later, resulted in Bob picking up a tin of watercolours and painting for the first time, using art therapy to manage his health condition.
She also finds out how this has subsequently led to his incredible charity fundraising journey, significant sums being raised and the award of an OBE for charity work.
Jane explores how Bob’s latest fundraising project – his new book entitled ‘Tree Therapy’ – has led to his season-long art exhibition at the English stately home and Elizabethan property. Jane and Bob talk about how paintings will be located throughout the gardens but also in the world’s oldest topiary garden – a Guinness World Record Holder.
Jane explores the plans for the artworks that will grace these gorgeous English gardens, the community involvement that will surround their appearance in the Levens Hall gardens and how Bob’s artworks will add a completely new dimension to the fourth World Topiary Day, on Sunday May 12.
The content of Bob’s book, which has artworks of trees in both the Lake District, England and Finland, is discussed, along with themes of creativity applying to both adults and children.
This podcast conveys an uplifting real life story that should inspire anyone who receives a poor health diagnosis and feels that the future looks dim.
It will also provide lots of inspiration for those wishing to visit Levens Hall and Gardens in 2024. For anyone who lives in Cumbria or the Lake District or who is intending to travel their this year, it will also help pinpoint a must-see experience that many people put on their bucket list.
