Yorkshire Coast's Rat Pack Set For Bridlington and Beyond

A public art sculpture trail, featuring six foot high decorated rats, is looking for suitable locations on the Yorkshire Coast.

A public art sculpture trail, featuring 50 x 6ft-high colourfully decorated rats, is assessing suitable locations in the Bridlington area, with the opportunity for up to 5 in the town itself, plus possible sites in nearby areas such as Flamborough, Sewerby, Sledmere, Burton Agnes, Filey and Scarborough.

‘A Mischief of Rats’ pays tribute to 1960s East Riding band The Rats which included guitarist Mick Ronson who went on the play with the legendary David Bowie.

Ronson sadly died at the age of 46 from cancer and the project hopes to raise £250,000 for the region’s advanced medical PET-CT scanner charity at Castle Hill Hospital.

The Rats reconnaissance team is scouting for suitable locations and is also hoping to secure local organisations to sponsor the uniquely decorated sculptures.

Previous trails of puffins. moths and toads have attracted thousands of visitors seeking selfies with the creative creatures and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.

A Mischief of Rats will be deployed across the East Riding next year.

The project’s co-director, Rick Welton said:

“This is the most radical animal sculpture trail yet. A Mischief of Rats will see up to 50 giant artist decorated rat sculptures finding homes across East Yorkshire.

The Grand Charity Auction at the end of the trail will raise much needed funds to support the vital work of the Castle Hill Hospital based charity, The Daisy Appeal, which helps advanced and detailed detection of cancer, heart disease and dementia through highly advanced PET-CT scanning techniques.”

Previous trails have proved highly successful with the public and have attracted thousands of visitors to discover the unique colourful sculptures decorated by a wide variety of artists.

Claire Levy, fund-raising manager for the Daisy Appeal said:

“We are really excited that A Mischief of Rats will be raising substantial funds in such an imaginative and high-profile initiative. The auction proceeds will be used to support our cutting-edge research and to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that are so important to improving the life-chances of patients living with cancer, heart disease and dementia in our region.”

In September 2025 there will be a Grand Charity Auction of the sculptures, which, along with profits from any merchandise sold, could raise up to £250,000.

Standing almost 6ft tall, each Rat will be a unique artwork that brings vibrancy, colour and joy to its surroundings. Rat locations will be carefully selected to attract visitors to less well-known places as well as encouraging them to spend time tracking down Rats in towns and villages, resorts and attractions across the region. 

Clare Huby, the project’s co-director said:

“The inspiration for A Mischief of Rats was Hull musician Mick Ronson. Mick is probably best known as lead guitarist with David Bowie’s ‘Spiders from Mars’ but his home band was ‘The Rats’ who played gigs in the late 60s and early 70s. Sadly, he died from cancer, aged just 46. So, Mick and the local Hull and East Yorkshire music scene, will be one of the themes that we will invite our artists to follow in their designs.

Other themes will be health and medical science, rats in literature and the media, rats, ships and the sea, and to give our artists’ imaginations free rein - rats made beautiful! Our sponsors will be able to choose their favourite from a gallery of amazing Rat designs.” 

The cost of sponsoring a Rat is £4,500 and these sponsorships cover all the costs of developing, creating, managing and promoting the trail.

Rick added:

“All our trails depend on developing partnerships with the business community and other organisations in the area. We know that these trails attract thousands of visitors to see the sculptures, with increased footfall to shopping areas, to local attractions, to out of the way places. Puffins Galore saw an influx of visitors not just from our region but from other parts of the UK. There are real benefits for business sponsors.

“A sponsored Rat is a unique showcase for their brand and services and can engage a wide public through marketing, PR and social media opportunities.”

More information and businesses who are interested in sponsorship should contact:

rick@amischiefofrats.co.uk | 07411 272367 or visit the website: www.amischiefofrats.co.uk