by Rebecca Hannant
A call has gone out to businesses and supporters to sponsor Hornsea’s first ever sculpture trail – the Starfish Galaxy – as work progresses behind the scenes to bring the ambitious project to life.
Launched in March by Hornsea Collective founder Sher King, the project aims to boost tourism and community pride through a town-wide art trail inspired by the symbolism and ecology of the starfish.
The trail will feature six large sculptures – each measuring 1.5m in diameter and 300mm high – created from moulded recycled plastics and mounted securely on chosen premises. The total cost of the trail is expected to be around £9,000, and fundraising and sponsorship efforts are well under way to make it happen.
The starfish was chosen as the centrepiece of the trail for its cultural associations with resilience, guidance and intuition, and its ecological role in marine ecosystems, where it serves as both predator and prey.
Six artists from the East Riding have now unveiled their designs. Among them is Hornsea-based Tom Everard, whose work focuses on sea life and plastic pollution, using found and donated bottle tops to create bold visual pieces. Joining him is muralist Katy Cobb, aka Wall Things Bright and Beautiful, who has previously painted for Puffins Galore! and the current Mischief of Rats trail in Hull.
Her starfish design has already been selected by Hornsea Floral Hall, the project’s lead sponsor, which said it felt fitting for its seafront location and reflected the vintage slogan “Hornsea: A Lakeland by the Sea”.
Other contributing artists include Beverley-based muralist Emma Garness, known for her community projects; abstract landscape painter Helen Rowland of Leven, who takes inspiration from the sea and sky; Judy Flanagan, a Hornsea artist exploring nature and emotional connection; and Charlotte Eldred, who also recently designed a sculpture for the Mischief of Rats trail.
As fundraising continues, the Green Owl in Hornsea will host a Starfish Galaxy fundraiser on Sunday, June 22, from 11am to 3pm. The event will feature an outdoor food stand, live music, raffle, cake stall and a specially created Starfish cocktail. A showcase event is also planned for July.
Sher King said: “Sponsorships are the lifeblood of the Starfish Galaxy project — they power our creativity, amplify our reach, and make it possible to spark wonder in our community. When businesses sponsor us, they’re not just supporting an initiative – they’re aligning with a bold, imaginative future and becoming part of a story that inspires.”
Businesses interested in becoming lead sponsors, sponsoring a sculpture or hosting a location can get in touch via [email protected] or by calling 07702 632038 or 07790 004320.
People can also “sponsor a sucker” – and Sher added that these community donations were proving “invaluable”. To donate, visit hornseacollective.com/community-donations.