43 cows are up for auction, with the money raised going to children’s charity BreakLorna Kimmins

43 sculptures from the Cows About Cambridge art trail are to be sold at a charity auction event at the Graduate Hotel next Thursday.

The sculptures were created by independent artists, schools and community groups as part of the ten-week Cows About Cambridge art trail earlier this year, run by public art specialists Wild in Art.

The project, which saw the colourful cow statues placed in various different places around the city, was due to be launched in March 2020 before it was postponed due to the pandemic.

The auction event, set to be hosted by celebrity auctioneer Charles Hanson, is in aid of the charity Break, which helps vulnerable and care-experienced children and young people in the East of England. The charity runs children’s homes and provides fostering services, as well as providing short breaks for children with disabilities and mentoring programmes for young people leaving care.

Speaking about the auction on the Cows about Cambridge website, CEO of Break Rachel Cowdry said: “What better way to bounce back from COVID than to see these cows bring fun, conversation and people back together on the streets of Cambridge.”

“Now is your opportunity to take a piece of that adventure home for you or your workplace – while also having a direct impact on the lives of young people leaving care all across Cambridgeshire.”


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Several cows were sponsored by local organisations such as the University of Cambridge Museum of Zoology, Cambridge City Council and Anglia Ruskin University.

The shapes of the sculptures are based on the Red Poll cattle which are famous in the Cambridge area. Many of the cows’ designs draw inspiration from the architecture and history of the University of Cambridge, such as May-Belle by graphic designer Dario Fisher, which features a skyline of King’s College Chapel, and Donna Newman’s Sir Isaac Mooton, in honour of the famous physicist and Cambridge alumnus.

Following the summer’s art trail, the sculptures have been on display in the Grafton Centre since Friday as part of a ‘Farewell Weekend’ before they go on auction later in the week.