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This summer, giant tortoises are taking over Jersey in an extraordinary, free public art trail across the island's wild places, coastal vistas and urban hangouts.
The funds generated from the 'Tortoise Takeover' sculptures – which have been sponsored by local businesses and will be actioned off at the end of the trail – will be used to build a new amphibian and reptile house at Jersey Zoo.
Supporting the 'Tortoise Takeover' initiative as its official media partner, Express is getting behind the scenes of the trail to bring you a comprehensive guide of all 50 of the giant tortoises and the inspiration behind each sculpture's bespoke artwork.
Find out more about the the next five tortoises in the trail here...
About the tortoise: The aim of 'Gerald And Other Animals' is to shine a spotlight on the life and work of Gerald Durrell, and the many animals he has helped through the organisation he founded.
Artist: Annabel Hitchmough
About the artist: Annabel Hitchmough is a Plymouth-based illustrator with a keen interest in the natural world, mythology, and environmental activism. She likes to work with non-linear narrative, building detailed and playful images in a range of different formats.
Location: Jersey Zoo
Sponsor: Affinity Private Wealth
About the tortoise: 'Harriet' is an homage to Charles Darwin's journeys of discovery to the Galapagos Islands. Harriet was the name of Darwin's giant tortoise, who lived to the ripe old age of 147! The body of the tortoise is representative of a starry night sky, including some constellations. The shell shows several silhouetted creatures and specimen bottles.
Artist: Lucy Fleming
About the artist: Lucy Fleming is a Jersey-based printmaker, who works from a studio space in St. Ouen. She predominantly works with relief block printing and mono print techniques, and also uses illustration, collage and cyanotype methods in her work.
Location: Archirondel
Sponsor: Deloitte LLP
About the tortoise: 'Helier's Rock' is named after the patron saint of Jersey, Saint Helier. He is inspired by the beautiful granite that is so ingrained in the history of the island, and which inspired artist Amy's gorilla design 'Rotchi' on the Go Wild Gorillas trail. When Amy started thinking about this design, she was reminded of Helier's Rock, also known as the Hermitage, on the breakwater at Elizabeth Castle. This robust, creative covered chap will protect the island from his spot on the trail.
Artist: Amy Bourbon
About the artist: Amy is a Helier's artist, Amy, is a Doctor of Fine Art, specialising in oil painting and drawing. Her artwork involves large-scale oil paintings inspired by the places that she has encountered. Her practice reflects her understanding of paint and its potential for manipulation on canvas. She uses layering techniques to develop depth, giving the impression of space alongside intricate detail. Her art practice is influenced by her years of academic research and my paintings reflect her studies, particularly my Doctoral thesis. She also produce drawings, sketches, signed prints, detailed pen and ink works and smaller paintings alongside her larger oil paintings.
Location: Old Station Café Bunker
Sponsor: Ronez Limited
About the tortoise: Having made her home in Jersey, artist Erin Brown's design is inspired by the idea of home and the natural world, especially the tiny creatures that are sometimes overlooked. Erin was inspired by the work of Durrell conservationists who are aiming to give the agile frog a flourishing habitat in Jersey. 'Home For Even The Smallest' offers a glimpse under the water of a vibrant pond home to tadpoles, frogs and a few other little inhabitants.
Artist: Erin Brown
About the artist: Erin is a Northern Irish illustrator who lives and works in Jersey. After graduating university with a BA in Fin
Location: Waterworks Valley
Sponsor: Suntera Global
About the tortoise: The style of this work was inspired by how the tortoise is a creature which both carries its home on its back and whose habitat is threatened. This tortoise imagines a beautiful world where everyone has a home. In vivid technicolour, this tortoise is bold and eye-catching as well as carrying an important message about protecting our environment and highlighting the need for universal housing. Lisa's work is full of hope for a future of change, kindness and compassion.
Artist: Lisa MacDonald
About the artist: Lisa MacDonald is an artist, painter and maker based in Jersey. With decades of experience in illustration, textile art, teaching, fine art practice and most recently design and entrepreneurship, Lisa is an experienced and knowledgeable artist who has confidently honed her craft over decades of making and exhibiting work locally and abroad. The artist invites but also subverts references to home and family life in an attempt to question our constant search for comfort both in our bodies and in our dwellings. Her work positions the act of painting as world-building, with each canvas concealing and revealing itself in equal measure. Currently preoccupied with the motif of glass bottles and vases, MacDonald’s work simultaneously inhabits the micro and the macro – as it oscillates between pain and pleasure, the familiar and the unknown, entrapment or escape. You can read more about her work in the latest edition of Connect Magazine.
Location: Railway Walk
Sponsor: Debble and Richard Prosser on behalf of Sanctuary Trust
Pick up a copy of the July edition of Connect Magazine for your FREE official Tortoise Takeover trail guide or check out the digital edition below...
Express is proud to be the media partner for this year's Tortoise Takeover. Sign up to our daily news email for all the latest updates.
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MEET THE TORTOISES #2: Strike a cosmic connection with a p'tit pal
MEET THE TORTOISES #3: Dodo you like to explore? From Eden to Eco Ninjas...
This article was put together with the help of Sadie Taylor, who was on Trident Work Experience with Bailiwick Express.
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