CHARITY GALA AUCTION

LIONS CHARITY GALA AUCTION

The magnificent Lions of Windsor & Maidenhead 2019 pride were sold at a glittering charity gala auction at the Runnymede on Thames Hotel & Spa near Windsor.

Thirty eight of the magnificent lion and cub sculptures, including 3o large decorated lions, 7 lion cubs and a large blank lion sculpture for decorating to a design of the buyer's choice, headed off to pastures new across the UK and Europe.

Some of the cubs sponsored by schools were returned to them as a legacy of the project, including Blossom, Lambrook, Together We Grow (large & small), Hakuna Matata, Tree of Life, Upendo, George and Roary.  Simba was donated to the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice.

Auction host Tim Brooke-Taylor OBE.  Christie's Auctioneer Hugh Creasey. Motown star Cherelle Williams (r) and West End & Lion King star David Albury

The auction was a roarsome event, hosted by the wonderful Tim Brooke-Taylor OBE and conducted by Hugh Creasy from Christies, with Dawsons Auctioneers and UKAuctioneers.com providing the phone, absentee and online auction.

100% of event profits will be donated to four amazing charities: Thames Hospice, Lions Club of Windsor, cancer charity Look Good Feel Better and wildlife charity Tusk.

The colourful 'Mr Rainbow', designed by Lisa Todd and painted by Windsor artist Liv Clarke visited the stunning Lucknham Park Hotel near Bath before the charity auction

'Lioness is More' by Lélia Pissarro and 'Alan Howland' by Lyora Pissarro, mother and daughter descendants of celebrated French impressionist Camille Pissarro, on display at the Stern Pissarro Gallery in Mayfair 

Lion artist MrASingh whose art has attracted over 30 million views on social media, adding the finishing touches to 'LifeLion', which was displayed at The Gallery at Ice in Windsor High Street this summer.   See MrASingh's fantastic video documenting the birth of LifeLion!

The fabulous 'March On' created by designer Tracey English with the Welsh Guards at the event launch by Windsor Castle.

The unique 'Leonidas' by Cheshire wildlife artist Robert Oxley.  Robert's eye-catching signature dripping paint artwork is greatly admired and has been described as 'psychedelic natural history'.  Rob usually paints large 2D canvases so this is the first time he has painted a larger than life 3D lion!

Fabulous Felines

Iconic fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes with 'Winston Wiggles', decorated in spectacular Zandra Rhodes style!

Lion Artists

The magnificent, eye-catching lion sculptures were transformed into unique works of art by some of the world's leading artists, designers, illustrators, mosaicists, print makers and street artists.

Lion artists include iconic fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes; former Christian Lacroix studio head Craig Wheatley; celebrity Thai jeweller and member of the Thai Royal family, Rojanatorn Na Songkhla; and mother and daughter fine artists  Lélia and Lyora Pissarro, descendants of celebrated French impressionist Camille Pissarro.

Lion artists travelled from Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Thailand to paint their lions, which were gathered together for the media launch by Windsor Castle in July and went on display on World Lion Day in August, delighting and entrancing hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors from around the world over the ten week public art sculpture trail.

'Le Roi des Fleurs' with his artist, the former Studio Director at Christian Lacroix,  Craig Wheatley, who works with fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Kookai, Schiaparelli, Isabel Marant, Berluti, Barbara Bui, Astrid Elisee, Fête Impériale and interior designer brands Designers Guild and Vista Alegre. (Lot 3)

'Diamond Empress'  artist Anna Kompaniets has worked with the late Alexander McQueen, Andrew Logan, Hew Locke and Vivienne Westwood.  Her stunning work has been displayed at Tate Britain, Turner Contemporary and The Globe Theatre. (Lot 22)

'Rose Marble Lion', painted by world famous textile artist Kaffe Fassett has been on display at his 'Quilts of America' exhibition at the American Museum in Bath before the charity auction.  Kaffe was the first living textile artist to have a one-man show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, which was so popular that the Museum doubled its usual attendance figures. 

The stunning 'Lion Movement' by London artist Mister Mistry, with young lion fans from St. George's Windsor.

Albert was on display at Barclay Interiors in Ascot in the lead up to the auction

The wonderful Windsgrrrr with 5 year old lion fan Savannah, at the Cinnamon Cafe, where Windsgrrr, which features fabulous images of life in Windsor, has been on display for the last three months.  Roarsome!