"LET THE LIGHT IN" Painting a Lighthouse for St. Luke's Art Trail

I’ve got some exciting news to share. My artwork will feature in an art trail taking place in Plymouth in summer 2026. 

Smeatons Tower, Lighthouse, Plymouth

I was selected to paint my design onto a fibreglass lighthouse, provided by the creative company and producer of public art trails, Wild in Art. They work alongside local charities to raise funds through beautifully decorated sculptures displayed across cities and towns here in the UK and overseas. You may have spotted a huge cow, bear or rabbit in your city, colourful and shiny. They bring a lot of fun and energy to the spaces they’re in and are all part of Wild in Art’s scheme to create memorable events which make a difference, raise money for local charities and bring communities together. 

Over the past few years, I’ve submitted four designs, three of which were shortlisted but didn’t make it to the final round of judging. But this time, I was successful. If life has taught me anything, it’s that persistence is key - dust yourself off and try again. I was informed later that my design was one of approximately nine hundred, so I was quite flattered to be selected. 

I submitted my design in September 2025. I created it sitting in my living room, trying not to overthink things. I knew I wanted it to feel uplifting and to connect in some way with both the charity and the location. I began by researching St. Luke’s Hospice and the work they do, which ultimately became the inspiration behind the piece.

Lighthouse Design

I wanted to communicate the idea of persevering through difficult times, which led to my design, 'Let the Light In'. It centres on looking towards brighter days, even when life feels dark. The stormy sea symbolises hardship, while the lighthouse - echoed in the sculpture’s form - represents guidance, safety, and hope. We've all experienced hardship in one form or another, and it felt fitting as St. Luke's supports so many people through life's most difficult times. There’s a huge smiling sun on one side, and it wouldn’t be a coastal scene without a few seagulls - each of these displays a date or text that is significant to the charity. 

On a dark, grey afternoon in January, I received the email saying my design had been selected and that I was being sponsored by a local business - TEC Construction -  to paint a sculpture. Knowing my work would be displayed in Plymouth for the public to experience felt exciting but mildly daunting. I thought it best to try to enjoy this moment and worry about the process later.
So, I started researching places to visit in Plymouth and fantasised about my mini artist’s break in a new place with new people and opportunities. I love going on artist jaunts; it’s a great source of inspiration to be in an unfamiliar place. 

The lovely team at St. Luke’s organised a space for us to bring our ideas to life in the old Laura Ashley store, in the centre of Plymouth. It’s a brilliant location, close to everything, yet tucked away enough to allow us to focus. They’d stuck vinyls onto the windows to give us some privacy while painting, but each one had a small porthole where you’d occasionally see a face peering in and going “look what they’re doing!!”

It was a fantastic place to work, a real hub of creativity. It reminded me of being back at university, in the studios, immersed in a shared creative energy, working alongside other artists, exchanging ideas and stories. It was inspiring to witness everyone’s unique process and to see the incredible variety of designs, something that speaks to the thoughtful work of the selection panel.

My painting process took 3.5 days to complete, though all the artists worked at different paces, and we had access to the space for 3 months to come and go as we pleased. I layered the paint and had to work in reverse, adding the fine lines and details last. It was a fun challenge painting on a three-dimensional object, which was two metres tall, and had tiny windows to contend with.

After a few hours of consideration on how I would transfer my design onto said object, I sacked off any mathematical equations and just drew it out in pencil whilst looking at a printout of the artwork. Sometimes the most basic option is the best way. I used household emulsion to do the base layers, acrylic for the images and Posca pens for the outlines and finer details. 

The trail will be on display across Plymouth from Monday 6 July until Sunday 13 September, with 40 sculptures to discover. Then, in October 2026, the sculptures will be auctioned at a special event in the city, raising even more funds for St. Luke’s.

St. Luke’s have provided a handy map you can download to see where all the lighthouses are, so you can plan your route.  You can find my lighthouse located at the Royal William Yard, Plymouth. If you’re in the area this summer, go and take a look.