A one-tonne wicker Beltie bull which earned international stardom at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Showcase is to go on a homecoming tour across the region.
Created in Auchencairn by renowned willow artist, Trevor Leat, the three metres tall work of art is named Kelton and shot to fame worldwide in June when featured on a live streamed video from The Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston in June and also featured in many newspapers and magazines.
Trevor’s willow figures are familiar from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, the Wickerman music festivals, a variety of National Trust for Scotland properties and the Eden Festival.
Named after the parish of Kelton – and with a nod to the National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Landscape Restoration Project which is getting under way at Kelton Mains Farm in the Stewartry – it will be a guest of honour at the two-day Music at the Multiverse event at Crawick Multiverse on August 28 and 29, as part of the Sanquhar Arts Festival.
Before then Kelton will make an appearance at the Tour Series Cycle Race in Castle Douglas on August 12; the Castle Douglas Bike and Food Festival from August 13 to 15; Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities from August 16.
And, it will be at Wigtown Book Festival from September 22 to October 4.
Cathy Agnew, who managed Dumfries and Galloway’s arts and cultural input into the Royal Highland Showcase and came up with the idea for the wicker bull, said: “I’m so pleased that Trevor Leat’s wonderful creation will now have an ongoing legacy and has already become somewhat of an icon for the region.”
