Early this week on World Lion Day (10 August 2021), 47 life-sized lion sculptures, designed and made by some of the planet’s foremost artists, embarked on streets around the world to highlight the threats currently faced by ‘the King of Beasts’, and to raise vital funds to support community conservation and livelihoods impacted by Covid-19 across Africa. Curated by Chris Westbrook, this is an art trail like no other. The sculptures take you on a tour of iconic locations around the globe, from Piccadilly Circus in the heart of London’s West End to the forecourt of New Zealand’s Parliament building in Wellington. The lions bring to life the stories of these iconic predators as well as the people who work tirelessly to protect them.

The Boodle Hatfield Lion

Boodle Hatfield is thrilled to be supporting the Tusk Trust for The Tusk Lion Trail 2021 and in particular the London pride. The population of African lions is estimated to have declined by as much as 50% over the last 25 years. There are now fewer wild lions left in the world than rhinos. Each sculpture highlights the magnificence of lions, threats to their existence and the people and solutions working for their survival – raising awareness for conservation efforts across the world.

The firm’s life-sized lion sculpture has been curated by London based critically-acclaimed artist, Helen Downie. Working under the moniker of Unskilled Worker, her paintings are both intimate and evocative, mixing characters and nature with the ephemeral and fantastical. Downie’s work has been described as ‘a melee of ethereality, innocence, inherent flow and instinct that all come together in a spectacular fashion. The Lion (named ‘Nathan’) sponsored by the firm has been crafted by Helen Downie AKA Unskilled Worker and can be found in St James’s Churchyard, view here on Google Maps.

The London Pride

The London Pride includes a spectacular array of artworks from some of the world’s foremost artists, musicians and comedians including Rolling Stones guitarist, Ronnie Wood, wildlife photographer, David Yarrow, artists Ian Davenport, Gavin Turk, David Mach and Jake Chapman, and actors John Cleese, Noel Fielding, Mathew Horne and Lee Mack. See a full list of the Lion Pride below:

1. Ronnie Wood | Not Lying Lion | Piccadilly Circus

○ Sponsored by DHL

2. Noel Fielding | A Hard Mane is Gonna Fall | Piccadilly Circus

○ Sponsored by Nick Maughan Foundation

3. John Cleese and Jen Wade | Pilgrim | Trafalgar Square, North West Terrace

○ Sponsored by Lion Trust

4. David Mach | Signs of the Times | Piccadilly Circus

○ Sponsored by Emso

5. David Yarrow | The Kings of Lion | Royal Exchange

○ Sponsored by Genesis Imaging

6. George Morton-Clark | Suffering Saviour | Cecil Court

○ Sponsored by Richard Carter

7. Adam Dant | London Pride | Covent Garden

○ Sponsored by Bowmark Capital

8. Glen Baxter | English King | Glasshouse Street

○ Sponsored by Capital.com

9. Nick Gentry | Wild Roots | St Martins in the Field – Crypt

○ Sponsored by BlackRock

10. Gerry McGovern | Long Live The Lion | Prince’s Arcade

○ Sponsored by Land Rover

11. Mathew Horne | Golden Wonder | Carnaby Street

○ Sponsored by Nick Maughan Foundation

12. Patrick Hughes | Manebow | Burlington Arcade

○ Sponsored by Capricorn Private Investments

13. John Illsley | Big Blue | Glass House Street

○ Sponsored by Currency.com

14. Sara Shamma | Ripping / Cuddling | Leicester Street, Leicester Square

○ Sponsored by Animal Friends

15. Hannah Shergold | Brian The Lion | St James’s Churchyard

○ Sponsored by Fladgate LLP

16. Rob & Nick Carter | Rose Lion, 2021| Burlington Arcade

○ Sponsored by Justerini & Brooks

17. Jake Chapman | Why Oh Why Oh Why | Leicester Square West

○ Sponsored by Orchard Global Asset Management

18. Ian Davenport | Kamuro | St James’s Churchyard

○ Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya

19. Helen Downie AKA Unskilled Worker | Nathan | St James’s Churchyard

○ Sponsored by Boodle Hatfield

20. Michael Foreman | Untitled | St James’s Market

○ Sponsored by Nick Maughan Foundation

21. Dr Handa Harusha | Azami | Waterloo Place

○ Sponsored by ISPS Handa

22. Lee Mack | Three Shirts On A Lion | Royal Exchange

○ Sponsored by Deutsche Bank

23. Paul Onditi | Sirkon | Covent Garden

○ Sponsored by Ninety One

24. Mauro Peruccheti | Limited Edition | The Ritz

○ Sponsored by DP World

25. Ray Richardson | The Return of the Urban Casual | Waterloo Place

○ Sponsored by Satis Asset Management

26. Gavin Turk | Blue Lion, 2021 | St Martins in the Field – Crypt

○ Sponsored by Vodafone

27. Sally Wood with Jess Power | Protect Me | Carnaby Street

To see a full copy of the walking route click here. To read more about the initiative please click here.