Snowdog Art Trails


The Snowdog Art Trails are a series of public art exhibitions of large Snowdog sculptures, organised by Wild In Art from 2016 to 2018. They celebrate the Snowdog from the 2012 short film, The Snowman and the Snowdog, and feature sculptures painted in a wide variety of styles, many of which reflect the area in which the dogs are displayed. In addition to large fibreglass Snowdogs, the exhibitions have also featured smaller Snowpups, decorated by and, after the event, given to local primary schools.
The trails are supported with maps and apps, allowing visitors to keep track of which Snowdogs they've found. For the Ashford trail, visitors were able to enter codes found by each Snowdog into an app, unlocking rewards such as money off vouchers, free pens and badges.

Aim of the trails

The aim of the trails are to encourage people to explore their local area, spending time in the town or city and perhaps visiting places they wouldn't normally go to. The trails also attract visitors from outside the area, bringing extra money into the local economy. In addition, funds are raised for local hospices by selling merchandise and, at the end of the exhibition, the Snowdogs themselves via auction.

Great North Snowdogs (2016)

Over 50 Snowdogs were created for an art trail which spanned Newcastle and Tyne & Wear. The exhibition ran between 19 September – 20 November 2016 and funds were raised for St Osmond's Hospice. A farewell weekend, with the dogs gathered in one place, was held on 2 December to 4 December, with an auction following on 6 December. The auction raised over £250,000 for the hospice, with two dogs fetching over £9,000 each.
This table shows the lots in the post-exhibition auction of the Great North Snowdogs, together with their hammer price and, if known, where they ended up. Details are taken from the live stream of the auction, which is archived on YouTube.
Lot NumberSnowdog NameArtistSale price What happened next?
1ArthurJeff Rowland5200Sold to a private buyer
2Rosa CaninaSue Guthrie Rosa2500
3Dog Of The TyneJane Headford4000
4MojoSumit Sarkar2300
5LunaGeoff Chappell5100
6SparkyDavid Sith5200
7Es Tu CosaTristan Lathey3500
8PatchworkJill Barklem3000Bought by Mini Moos Farm for public display
9Guide DogMike Clay9000On public display in the South Shields ferry waiting room
10FrostbiteCharlotte Mitchell3200Bought by Mini Moos Farm for public display
11Pink Is The New BlackLee Stafford2800
12Spocky DogHilary Sanderson3600
13SnowlineJim Edwards5800
14Tails Of The SeaJoanna Wishart3800
15Moji Edgar Ameti2500
16WOOF-3000Sophie Green1900
17Chilly DogSally Adams5000
18ZiggyMarcus Brown3800
19Day Of The DogSophie Green2000
20Fear Of EmptinessLouise Bradley2500
21Snow Angel Of The NorthMike Richardson5000
22SpringtimeJoanna Lumley and Sarah-Jane Richards4100
23Tails Of The North EastDavid Maguire2500
24Addam UprightTime Miness4000
25Rocket DogAmanda Rabey3300On public display at the ticket concourse at the Central Metro station, Newcastle
26Rosy PosySarah Jane Richards5200
27Aero-DogDeven Bhurke3400
28Psychadelic SnowdogRebecca Reed4000
29Moondog Daniel Stone3600
30Snowdog Down The Rabbit HoleHeather Penten4000
31Hadrian's HoundCatherine J Bell3000
32Graffiti DogFrank Styles3000
33The SnowdogAnonymous5400
34Mutt Me On The CornerLindesfarne and Edgar Ameti4000
35Tyne Tail JackCorinne Lewis-Ward6500
36HoundstoothDamien Jeffery3400
37WonderhoundIllona Clark4000
38Rhino The RescueLeighton Denny2200
39Decisions Decisions DecisionsJulia Roxburgh3500
40Great North Polar PoochSandra Jaekel-Bothyart4000
41Dog On The GroyneJenny Leonard5500
42Hound DogLee O'Brien3200
43Essence Of The NorthGeoff Chappell2400
44Spottydog Mike Clay5000
45Gingerbread DogSarah-Jane Szikora5600
46SquaresDeven Bhurke3300
47Rover CodexEllie Tarratt3500
48GizmoAnonymous4500
49Disco DogNatalie Guy9200
50Hiding LionsHelen Stephens3000
51Patchwork NorthumberlandDaniel J. Weatheritt4500
52The Dog FatherJenny Leonard3700
53Winter LilySarah-Jane Richards3100
54Wor GeordieNewcastle College4500
55RoodleIsy Langhorne3100
56Wild North EastJina Gelder7000Returned to its sponsor, St Oswald's Hospice, after a fundraising appeal.
57Rock Dog Sarah-Jane Szikora3500
58SkipperJoanne Wishart4000
59Shaggy Dog StoriesChris Riddell4200
60DogfishPam Royle4600
61The SnowbradorRuby Cooper3500
62SnowberrySimon Tozer4600
63SAFC SpraydogFrank Styles3700
64Newcastle, United, InspiredTemper Newcastle8600

Snowdogs by the Sea (2016)

While the Great North Snowdogs trail was underway, a second trail was launched at the other end of England in the south coast resort of Brighton and Hove. As with the northern exhibition, snowdogs were placed around the city and they remained there from 24 to 27 September November 2016. A total of 44 Snowdogs and 22 smaller Snowpups were on display. Over 5,000 visitors attended the farewell weekend. An auction was held on 6 December in aid of Marlett's Hospice in Hove and this raised £337,000. The highest priced dogs were Max, at £22,000 and Boomer, at £20,000.
This table shows the lots in the post-exhibition auction of the Brighton Snowdogs, together with their hammer price and, if known, where they ended up. Details are taken from the Brighton and Hove news website.
Lot NumberSnowdog NameArtistSale price What happened next?
1Bow WowMike Edwards7500
2RoseDeven Bhurke7500
3Blot the DogIownthisART 6500
4RoodleIsy Langhorne6000
5Koinu YakuzaSoheila Jones3800
6SplashhoundLawrence Art Supplies Creative Team4500
7PebblesJoanna Martin5200Sold to a private buyer
8LolaDeven Bhurke5200
9Brighton BelleJenny Leonard8500
10CliftonChalk Gallery6000
11Brighton Rock Pinky4200
12The SnowbradorRuby Cooper5000
13NewshoundHeidi Compton5000
14BobbyKatherine Griffin6500
15Winter LilySarah Jane Richards4800
16Merry – Go – HoundSean Sims4200
17Mod DogSteve Mason9500
18BellaChris Dawson8500Purchased by OneFamily Financial Services; on display in their offices.
19Palace PupMaria and Patricia Shrigley5500
20Patch – The Unfinished QuiltJudith Berrill5800
21DudleyLouise Dear4200
22Disco DogNatalie Guy12000Bought by Skerritts Chartered Financial Planners
23SparkyDavid Sith8500
24Process PupJosh Ford 6000Purchased via crowdfunding; on public display at Hanover Centre Garden
25Dave The DogTotally Dynamic7500Sold to the Hove Place Pub, on display in their garden
26Bone ChinaGemma Compton8500Bought by Bright Blue Wealth Coastal, on display in their reception area
27Seagulls of the SouthKathleen Smith6500
28Southdowns DogKellie Miller6000
29Legal BeagleKip Devore McCullough5500
30FrankJane Anderson8000
31MartyDavid Halliwell5200
32GizmoAnonymous9500
33GRRRaceMik Richardson13000
34Smart VibesPinky4500
35Under the SeaLynne Bannon6500
36Neon Camo Snowdog of HopeMike Edwards8000
37SmileySophy Henn15000
38Snowman’s NightmarePure Evil8000
39FlowerKai & Sunny11000
40MaxSarah Arnett22000
41Crush PuppyLouise Dear5500
42Horatio – The Bathing BeautyJudith Berrill8000
43BoomerRYCA20000
44The SnowdogAnonymous9000

Snowdogs Tails in Wales (2017)

The Snowdogs returned for a second year, this time in Cardiff, Wales. A total of 43 Snowdogs were placed around the Welsh capital during the autumn of 2017, with the trail running from 16 September to 26 November. Members of the public were able to view them all together at the farewell weekend of 8 December to 10 December. The dogs were auctioned off on 12 December, with proceeds going to the Tŷ Hafan hospice. A total of £121,000 was raised for the charity, with the highest-earning dogs being Enfys, at £6,100 and Snow Tiger, at £5,100.
This table shows the lots in the post-exhibition auction of the Welsh Snowdogs, together with their hammer price and, if known, where they ended up. Details are taken from the Snowdogs Tails in Wales Facebook page and their main website.
Lot NumberSnowdog NameArtistSale price What happened next?
1Dog BotMark Chilcott2300
2Hus-QuayRachel Blackwell2000
3Starry NightBenjamin Fowler and Heather Penten2400
4Snow BusinessNat Clements2100
5Life's a BeachEmma Everitt4100
6HeatwaveAndy O'Rourke3100
7Pop PupDamien Jeffries2900
8MaplePaul Williams1900
9Smileosaurus 2500
10Chocolate SundaeSimon Tozer2400
11HyggeDeven Bhurke2100
12EnfysRhiannon Roberts6100
13Lunar RoverMik Richardson2300
14Butterfly CoatSarah Cowan1600
15RoodleIzy Langhorne1800
16OMG DogPhil Morgan2100
17Snow DragonDorian Spencer Davies4100
18BaffiJudith Berrill3000
19CedricPete Fowler3200
20Classic SnowdogAnonymous2000
21Candy StripesLowri Davies2700
22BlackberrySimon Tozer2400
23Rosy PosySarah Jane Richards2100
24OscarMaria Shrigley2600
25Me Is Who I AmGemma Fala2100
26Dog With A BoneGemma Williams2100
27RESOLVEDGeorge O’Dowd and Phil Morgan1500
28Local LadDale Edna Evans4200
29PlentynVikki Cornish4000
30That Snow TigerEmily Ketteringham5100
31Sun DogSeth Oliver2500
32SparkyDavid Sith4100
33Big Dog Little DogsJim Medway1700
34Happy TaffyTraci Moss1300
35HonoluluJulien MacDonald2700
36Summer MeadowAlison Underwood4000
37McCooSteven Brown2700
38AnthemDale Edna Evans3100
39Castles And DragonsRachel Blackwell4400
40The SnowbradorRuby Cooper2400
41GizmoAnonymous2600
42Dino DogJenny Leonard2300
43Sheep Dog 2100
44Apple Sourz 2600

Snowdogs Discover Ashford (2018)

The fourth exhibition saw 35 Snowdogs and 19 Snowpups laid out on a 4-mile trail through and around Ashford, Kent. The exhibition ran from 12 September – 18 November 2018, with a farewell weekend taking place on 1 and 2 December. An auction of the Snowdogs and two Snowpups took place on 3 December, raising £142,000 for Pilgrims Hospices. The highest-selling Snowdogs were Doodle Dog, at £15,000 and Bagdogg, at £9,000.
The 35 Snowdogs include designs based on, amongst others, ash trees, from which Ashford derives its name; a Kentish oast house, the Ashford coat of arms, the infinity symbol and a dog decorated by Mr Doodle.
A protestor caused a local uproar when he launched a successful challenge to the location of Infinity Dog, which was placed in the churchyard of St Mary's Church. The complainant alleged that the dog was not in keeping with the surroundings and, after receiving the complaint, the Registrar of the Ecclesiastical Court ruled the dog be removed. It was relocated nearby, but a successful counter-campaign by the Rev John MacKenzie of the town parish overturned the decision. However, there wasn't enough time to restore the Snowdog to the church as the decision came too close to the end of the trail.
This table shows the lots in the post-exhibition auction of the Ashford Snowdogs, together with their hammer price and, if known, where they ended up. Details are taken from the post-auction catalogue.
Lot NumberSnowdog NameArtistSale price What happened next?
1SakuraSian Storey2300
2SparkyDavid Sith3100
3Give A Dog A BoneOliver Winconek2000
4My Very Best JumperSteffany Malone2400Bought by the Picturehouse Cinema, Ashford, for public display
5GizmoAnonymous3300Sold to a private buyer
62 Tone Ska DogJohn Sims5200Sold to a private buyer
7TopuppyGregory Daines1600Sold to a private buyer
8SocksVictoria Robbins2500Sold to the County Square shopping centre, Ashford, for public display
9PawberryLeah Pendleton2900Bought by its sponsor, Jenner Group
10Harey HoundTraci Moss2000Sold to Ashford Borough Council, for public display
11Pow-wowJenny Leonard2700
12ZeusEmma Dove6100Sold to a private buyer
13Lest We Forget The War DogsLois Cordelia2600The buyer donated the Snowdog to Ashford Borough Council, for public display
14Camo KingKathryn Jordan3000Sold to its sponsors, Hodson Developments, and displayed at the Chilmington estate, Ashford
15DottySophie Green6000Donated to Ashford Borough Council by the buyer, for public display
16ChesterDavid Hover2600Sold to Charles Mac mortgage brokers, loaned to the Wyvern School
17Harry KanineFiona Taylor6200The Snowdog was donated by its buyer to Ashford Borough Council, for public display
18StripesDeven Bhurke7000Sold to its sponsor, Quinn Estates
19Infinity DogJessica Holly Goodard3000Bought by Quinn Estates and donated to the John Wallis Academy
20Winter LilySarah Jane Richards2800
21Pastel HarlequinCatherine Digman2600
22Doodle DogMr Doodle15000Sold to its sponsor, Motorline
23Autumnal TumbleSarah Underwood2600Sold to a private buyer and renamed to "Autumn"
24PatchPhillippa Goodard2300Sold to a private buyer
25Bark KentVictoria Robbins2400
26The SnowbradorRuby Cooper5200Sold to Quinn Estates and given an indefinite loan to the Ashford Visitor Information Centre
27Wild Flower MeadowDeborah Woodward5000Sold to Hodson Developments, its sponsor. Displayed for a time at the Chilmington estate in Ashford.
28BagdoggPeter and Emily Fermin9000
29Made In Ash-HoundDanielle Williamson2800Sold to Ashford Borough Council, for public display
30GoldieLois Cordelia3200Sold to a private buyer
31OastyDeven Bhurke2700
32Noble AshEmma Dove5500
33ParklifeKathleen Smith3600Sold to the same buyer as Topuppy; loaned to Pilgrims Hospices for public display
34Vincent Van PoochBeverley Fisher3100Bought by Ashford Council for public display
35ClassicAnonymous2600
36Snowy Kaya Cook and Robyn Bailey2100On display at the Singleton Environment Centre in Ashford
37Spotty Kaya Cook and Robyn Bailey2000Sold to its sponsor, Motorline