A unique chance to own one of the owl sculptures that nested around Bath this summer takes place this week when they are auctioned off for charity.
The Minerva’s Owls sculpture trail delighted tens of thousands of Bath residents and visitors for three months.
Now 62 of the original owls are to be auctioned on Wednesday to raise money for four local charities – the Royal United Hospital Cancer Centre, Bath Young Carers Centre, Roman Baths Archway Project and UK Little Owl Project.
A small number of tickets for the Owls Hoot Farewell auction charity auction at The Apex Hotel in Bath are still available at www.minervasowls.org/auction.
The event will start with a reception at 6.15pm for final viewing of all the lots before the main auction at 7.45pm.
Alternatively, collectors from around the world can phone in bids or bid online via www.theauctionroom.com, where the auction will be streamed live.
Bidding is expected to start in the region of £2,000 per sculpture, with some expected to raise considerably more. Artists ranging from Bristol street artist Inkie to Richard Twose, Brian Grimwood and Horrible Histories illustrator Martin Brown were among those decorating owls and their work is tipped to be of particular interest to collectors at Wednesday’s event.
The evening will be managed by Bonhams Bath and hosted by Greg Ingham, Creative Bath chair and CEO of Bath publishing group Media Clash, with Addison Gelpey, star of Channel 5’s prime time series Storage, Flog the Lot, auctioning the owls.
Olympic Gold medallist Amy Williams MBE will assist him as he auctions some of the lots, including the owlet she designed and decorated especially for the event.
The evening will also be peppered with fun fundraising activities, including a chance to win Bath Rugby tickets and a hot air balloon ride, plus a live musical performance by 14-year-old Bath busker and finalist of ITV The Voice Kids, Harry Romer.
Minerva’s Owls charity auction organiser Megan Witty said: “Our owls have gone on an amazing journey over the past six months from blank sculptures to the beautifully decorated owls which have been entertaining visitors to bath this summer.
“It will be sad to say goodbye to our feathered friends, but we’re thrilled that they’re set to raise some much-needed funds for our local charities.”
A preview weekend for the auction was a huge success, with more than 7,000 owl fans of all ages flocking to The Rec to see the giant parliament of 82 owls, plus two additional owlets, for the first and last time.
The auction will feature 58 of the large owls and four owlets, with the rest of the owlets flying back to the schools and charities that decorated them as a legacy of the project.
Minerva’s Owls was backed by a large number of Bath businesses with headline sponsor SouthGate joined by a supporters ranging from workplace design firm Interaction and software developer Rocketmakers to legal eagles Mogers Drewett and Mowbray Woodwards.
Pictured, top: Artist Elysia Paterson with the owls ready for Wednesday’s auction. Centre: Amy Williams MBE with her owlet. Above: Charity auction organiser Megan Whitty
