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During the COVID 19 Pandemic I was put on furlough from my job as a Design Engineer (Dec 2020). I took the opportunity to put together a submission pack for the Fosse Foxes Art Trail at Fosse Park West in Leicester. Luckily my design was selected for inclusion. The Trail featured 25 fox sculptures, with 10 being painted by local artists. My design, 'The Fox in Socks' was a celebration of Leicester’s diverse cultural mix, the city's hosiery heritage and its beautiful rural setting. It took me 18 six hour days over Christmas and New Year to complete and he was an absolute privilege to do. The trail started in April 2021. The rainbow striped socks, as well as being a nod to Leicester’s hosiery history, were also a reference to the wonderful Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. I had at that time supplied Rainbows as Artist in Residence with bespoke artwork for a few years.
After 3 years in retail, I was told that the Fox in Socks had been removed from the Mall after he’d suffered some damage to his paintwork. The damage turned out to be very minor, so I bundled him into the back of my little Ford Focus and took him home for some TLC. After a good clean and a bit of retouching around the nose and ears (worn through due to lots of patting) he looked just like new. I got in contact with Rainbows to see if they could give him a home, as a result he’s now started a second career in hospitality, welcoming guests at the entrance to this wonderful place
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