Derby Ram Trail – Meet Our Artist Stephanie Coley
Long-established law firm Timms Solicitors have expanded their relationship with the University of Derby by teaming up with a former graduate as part of The Derby Ram Trail.
Timms are sponsoring one of the ram sculptures which will create a walking tour of the city centre this summer. Rescheduled from last summer, The Derby Ram Trail is being brought to the city by Derby Museums, in partnership with Wild in Art and is an amazing public art sculpture event with 30 individually painted 5ft tall Rams, threading through the city centre between May 27 and August 22.
Timms, whose relationship with the University of Derby includes sponsoring its Network of Entrepreneurs initiative, have chosen their design created by Derbyshire-based fine artist and teacher Stephanie Coley who, since graduating in 2001 has exhibited and sold her artwork throughout the UK.
Stephanie has drawn on the famous ‘Orrery’ painting by Joseph Wright of Derby for her design.
She explained: “I remember as a teenager visiting Derby Museum and Art Gallery where I stumbled upon the Joseph Wright Collection and was particularly fascinated by the Orrery.
“The painting really captured my imagination and I always make a point of returning to see it and the rest of the collection in the gallery whenever I am near the museum.
“This was therefore the natural inspiration for my design and I hope, more than anything, that visitors to The Derby Ram Trail will be equally as inspired to also visit the museum and the Joseph Wright Gallery to see these incredible paintings for themselves.”
Stephanie started painting in her late teens and eventually went to university aged 29. She mainly specialises in portraiture mixed media collage art and pen and ink drawing and was keen to get involved in The Derby Ram Trail having been involved in a similar project in Liverpool ten years ago.
She concluded: “As a local artist, I very much wanted to be involved in this city-based trail which will be just the boost that we all need after such a difficult year.”
Timms Managing Partner Fiona Moffat continued: “We have had a long association with the University of Derby so we were particularly delighted to be introduced to Stephanie and her work on the sculpture is simply awe-inspiring.
“As a law firm that has been rooted in the city and surrounding area for more than 125 years, we are proud to be supporting the local community where our staff and clients live and work.
“Similar sculpture trails have increased community engagement, boosted footfall, increased civic pride and stimulated the local economy.
“As well as sponsoring our own ram, we are therefore looking forward to engaging with all the other businesses across the Cathedral Quarter to maximise the impact that the trail will have on the historic and cultural heart of the city centre.”
Ends
Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102; 07951 945665; sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk
Note to Editors
Timms Solicitors have been established since 1892 and have 125 years of providing advice and guidance for clients.
Five partners – Fiona Moffat, Jo Robinson, Lisa Collett, Tessa Dunleavy and Matt Rice manage over 50 members of staff across four locations; Derby, Ashby, Swadlincote and Burton.
High quality specialist services for both the individual and business include: Family Law, Childcare, Wills & Probate, Residential Conveyancing, Clinical Negligence, Commercial & Business, Personal Injury and Employment Law. www.timms-law.com
About Derby Ram Trail
The Derby Ram Trail is a spectacular free art sculpture trail coming to Derby in the summer of 2021. From 27 May to 22 August 2021 a flock of fabulously colourful and unique rams will take you on a trail around the beautiful city of Derby. The ram sculpture is based on the mythical Derby Ram from the 18th Century song, which according to legend was ten yards high with enormous horns and a huge flowing fleece. The story tells how people from all over came to see the huge Derby Ram, and we are excited that people will once again flock to Derby.
The Derby Ram Trail is brought to you by Derby Museums, together with Wild in Art and Presenting Partner, Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID). Wild in Art is a leading producer of creative events that transform places into free, family-friendly outdoor art galleries.
The Derby Ram Trail is raising money for Derby Museums, helping to secure the future of free museums for everyone to enjoy. Every pound raised will be doubled by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. www.derbyramtrail.org
@derbyramtrail | #DerbyRamTrail
Derby Museums
Derby Museums is the charity responsible for the rich cultural and creative history of Derby. It manages three free access museums in the city and their important heritage collections; the Museum and Art Gallery, Pickford’s House and the new Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill opening spring 2021. Derby Museums relies on funding and grants from organisations and generous donations from businesses and the public to keep our museums free for everyone to enjoy. www.derbymuseums.org @derbymuseums
Wild in Art
Wild in Art is the leading producer of spectacular public art events that entertain, enrich, inform and leave a lasting legacy. It brings together businesses and creative sectors with schools and local communities through the creation of uniquely painted sculptures.
Since 2008 Wild in Art has animated cities across the world including Manchester, Sydney, Auckland, Cape Town and São Paulo, and created trails for the London 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Historic Royal Palaces and Penguin Random House.
Wild in Art events have:
• Enabled over £12m to be raised for charitable causes through auctions alone
• Injected £1.8m into local creative communities
• Engaged over 550,000 young people in Learning Programmes
• Helped millions of people of all ages to experience art in non-traditional settings
wildinart.co.uk | @wildinart | #wildinart
29th March 2021