Mourant, a law firm-led professional services business, has announced its partnership with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in a spectacular island-wide sculpture trail coming to Jersey in the summer of 2023.
Tortoise Takeover, in partnership with Wild in Art, will bring 50 uniquely designed giant tortoise sculptures to Jersey’s wild and urban spaces this summer as ambassadors for the work that the Durrell undertakes with reptiles across the globe.
To reflect the firm’s environmental focus on protecting and preserving the world’s ocean, Mourant has selected a marine-inspired design for its giant tortoise, created by local artist Jamie O’Neill (pictured). The 32-year-old locally born artist usually specialises in bold watercolour paintings and digital illustrations which are often inspired by nature, but has pushed the boundaries of her creative skills with an ambitious design for her tortoise.
Jamie has already started painting her sculpture and is looking forward to transferring her 2D paper design onto a giant 3D ‘canvas’.
Daniel Birtwistle, Managing Partner of the firm’s Jersey office, said: “We’re thrilled to once again be supporting this creative community project with Durrell that inspires people of all ages to get outdoors, discover art and connect with nature.
“We were the first business to sign up to the previous Go Wild Gorillas trail in 2019, and it was wonderful to see the positive impact that it had on the island. It was therefore an easy decision for us to commit to Tortoise Takeover in 2023.
“What’s more, by choosing local artist Jamie O’Neill, we’re delighted to be championing home grown talent, and are excited to see Jamie’s incredible design come to life.”
Jamie added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have had my design chosen by Mourant, and to be working alongside the firm as my sponsor for Tortoise Takeover. This is a wonderful opportunity to recreate one of my favourite Jersey landscapes in my design. By using a medium outside of my usual scope to bring it to life, it will hopefully be one of the more unique pieces on the trail this summer.”
In addition, Mourant is also partnering with First Tower School to help their pupils design their very own ‘young tortoise’. It will be one of 65 smaller sculptures on show. The young tortoises form part of an inclusive learning programme involving Jersey schools, charities and community groups.
The young tortoises will be on show in a complimentary and step free ‘shop window’ trail in St Helier, Jersey from 16 June 2023 ahead of the main trail going live across the island from Saturday 1 July until the end of August 2023.
