Recently, Kirklees College welcomed artist Ellie Thomas to our Huddersfield Centre to speak to our Creative Industries students about The Snowdogs Support Life Art Trail launching this autumn.
Thirty uniquely designed Snowdog sculptures, all hand decorated by talented artists from across our region and beyond, will form the basis for the Art Trail, bringing a fun and innovative event to our towns and villages and celebrating the best of our local culture.
Ellie Thomas was one of thirty artists chosen to decorate one of the Snowdogs. Her emotive design ‘Together we are One’, represents Kirklees’ diverse community and how The Kirkwood is here to help everyone who needs support. Ellie’s design will feature on the Snowdog sponsored by Kirklees College.
Thirty smaller Snowdogs will form part of a mini-trail, which will run alongside the main event. As part of this, The Kirkwood invited Kirklees College students to get involved in a fun creative learning and design project. The best designs were chosen and are being transferred onto a Snowdog by these students which will join the rest of the Snowdogs on the trail.
Ellie was able to see students Katy, Chloe, Harvey, Blake and Melissa in action as they decorated the Snowdog with their winning designs. Ellie helped the students to translate their designs onto the Snowdog and gave them her techniques and tips for getting the most out of the 3D canine sculpture.
Ellie also gave the students a presentation about her artistic journey, how to find inspiration and why she wanted to get involved with the project.
Ellie Thomas said:
“I am really excited that my design will be featured on Kirklees College’s Snowdog. The basis of my design represents Kirklees’ diverse community so it was important to me that my design featured on a Snowdog whose business reflected the same community values as myself and The Kirkwood.
It was a privilege to be invited into Kirklees College to see the students decorating their Snowdog. I wish them the best with the project and I can’t wait to see the result!”
For more information about The Snowdogs Support Life Art Trail click here.
To find out more about artist Ellie Thomas, follow her on Instagram @ellie.thomas_illustration
