Harrogate artist in spotlight at one of Britain's top historic houses for Yorkshire Cancer Research

Anita Bowerman, well known for her paper cut designs and Yorkshire paintings created at her Dove Tree Art Gallery in Harrogate, was asked by Yorkshire Cancer Research to come up with an installation at Castle Howard.

The unveiling of the new artwork this week helped kick off the charity's annual fundraising campaign ‘Give it Some Welly' to celebrate the 191,000 people in Yorkshire who are living with or have survived cancer thanks to advances in early diagnosis and treatment.

The art installation called Give Cancer the Boot, is made up of 191 stainless steel wellington boots, with each welly representing 1,000 people who are living with or have survived cancer in Yorkshire.

Anita Bowerman, who is the most recent Artist-in-Residence at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, said: “I am honoured to be involved in this very worthwhile project and felt instantly inspired to create this boot design, cut out from stainless-steel and featuring Yorkshire Cancer Research's logo.

"I love the idea of 191 shiny boots on this 'tree of life', glinting in the light on a fir tree in the grounds in front of the majestic, iconic Castle Howard, and I hope it brings lots of joy to those that see it.

“ My engineer brother has helped me create these hand polished boots, and finding a cure for cancer is particularly relevant to us as both our parents were diagnosed with it.

"I hope the piece helps people consider the work that still needs to be done to continue to increase survival rates in Yorkshire and will help Yorkshire Cancer Research to continue its great work across the region."

The art installation, which is located on the south front in the grounds of Castle Howard set in the Howardian Hills just outside York, is now open to the public until next Wednesday, July 22.

To prevent cancer, increase early diagnosis and improve treatment for cancer in the region, Yorkshire Cancer Research is aiming to raise £10m this year so it can help more people ‘give cancer the boot’ for good.

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To raise these vital funds, the charity is encouraging people across Yorkshire to fundraise on Yorkshire Day on Saturday, August 1 as part of the ‘Give it Some Welly’ campaign.

Whether it’s wanging them, wearing them, or baking some welly themed cakes, the charity is asking people across the region to get out their wellies and raise vital funds.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “While it’s positive that survival rates are improving, too many people are still having their lives cut short by cancer. "Delays in diagnosis and treatment during the coronavirus pandemic means we need to do all we can to minimise the impact for people in Yorkshire.

“In the past few months, life has come with increasing challenges and apprehension about what the future might hold.

"With our ambitious target to fund £10 million of world leading research to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer every year, we need the people of Yorkshire to join us in raising life-changing funds, so we can continue our work in helping more people give cancer the boot for good.”

Hon. Nicholas Howard, owner of Castle Howard, said: “It is an honour to welcome Yorkshire Cancer Research to Castle Howard and to be supporting the charity in its work to help the people of Yorkshire live longer and healthier lives. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our gardens to see the art installation and celebrate the 191,000 people in Yorkshire who have survived cancer.”

To find out more and to download a free fundraising pack, go to: www.ycr.org.uk/welly

Yorkshire Cancer Research and Castle Howard request that people follow current UK Government guidelines in order to stay safe when visiting the installation and organising any fundraising activities.

The latest guidelines can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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