'I got an invite to walk around naked and paint myself blue'

"I got an invite to walk naked around Hull, all I had to do was cover myself in blue paint," remembers David Beel, who, like thousands of others 10 years ago, took part in a moment they would never forget.

The Sea of Hull was the work of American photographer Spencer Tunick, who was known for his large-scale nude installations, and the project was commissioned by Ferens Art Gallery ahead of Hull's status as UK City of Culture the following year.

The early morning parade featured 3,200 people moving around the city and posing in front of various maritime landmarks ready to be photographed, with the blue paint representing water.

"The blue paint worked as a cloak, you didn't feel naked," David, 76, adds.

He says he has "no regrets" about taking part, and believes the only people who were disappointed were those who chose not to join in.

"People keep telling me how brave I am but I tell them I'm not brave, I'm stupid!"

Cass Patton, 75, has long been an admirer of Tunick's work and says she immediately signed up the minute she saw an advert inviting people to join his latest project.

"I never thought I'd take part in a Spencer extravaganza," she laughs.

"It was the most liberating, exhilarating and egalitarian thing."

As dawn broke, volunteers were told to strip off and start painting.

Within minutes, Cass says strangers were helping each other reach the awkward spots on their backs.

"It was the strangest sight, turning around and seeing little piles of people's belongings scattered across Queen's Gardens, like we'd all been teleported away by spaceships."

Jane Lumley, 77, says she spotted the advert on social media and signed up straight away but "didn't tell a soul".

"I didn't really know what it was," she recalls.

"But I'm up for anything. You only have one life, so let's have a go."

She arrived alone and admits she was not sure how she would get through it, until she realised many others had also come by themselves.

"It was the most amazing experience. Liberating, fun, but cold!"

Jane says she still cannot believe a decade has passed.

"I'd do it again at 77, even at 87."

At the time, Hull City Council said it was the largest art project of its kind to be staged in the UK, with the installation attracting more participants than at Tunick's previous artworks in this country.

The locations for the pictures included Queen's Gardens, the Guildhall and the Scale Lane swing bridge and the photo shoot lasted about four hours.

Tunick described the experience as "one of the most fantastic projects I've ever done" and it featured people from 20 countries.

HEY volunteer Ranjit De Netto, 62, describes the day as "surreal".

"It was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity for Hull," he says.

Those who took part have been looking back on the experience after Ferens called for people to share their stories as part of its centenary celebrations next year.

Malcolm Dunn, 52, audience and programmes manager for Hull Museums and Galleries, says the impact of the installation has lasted far beyond that morning.

"We hear from so many people that it changed their lives and gave them a completely different outlook.

"Universally, you won't find anyone who took part who says, 'I wish I hadn't done it.'"

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