Adonis the Turtle

Adonis was made for the World Mental Health Day lantern procession in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury.

Whilst running lantern-making workshops with mental health groups in Huddersfield and Dewsbury for the procession, I was invited by Inspire North to provide music for the event. I proposed playing funky tunes from a speaker in my bike trailer and adorning it with a turtle. This is what I came up with…

Of course, as ever, I had a lot of help from my friends.

I really appreciated spending a couple of hours in the Sheffield Museum archives, studying and sketching a loggerhead turtle from their collection.

Whilst visiting a dear friend in Kefalonia a few years ago, I was moved by the enormous turtles swimming in the harbour. I love how these moments resurface as my inspiration to create and pay homage to this magnificent creature. 

Great to have the space at Abbeyfield House to make this, and an unsuspecting friend to take my turtle for a test drive!

Adonis at the lantern procession for World Mental Health Day 2025 in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury, with Skye the Kestrel (made with @joveal_art for @parkwoodsprings 2023)