Forty-two lighthouses appear in city charity trail

A trail of lighthouse sculptures is set to guide people around a city while shedding light on the work of a charity.

The Guiding Lights trail has been organised by St Luke's Hospice Plymouth to raise money and awareness of its end-of-life care.

St Luke's said each of the 42 big lighthouses, which had been designed and decorated by individual artists and sponsored by local businesses, would be on display until 13 September.

A further 42 little lighthouses designed by schools will be on show at the city's Box Gallery and Museum, while a roaming show of 10 sculptures will tour venues in areas of Devon served by St Luke's nursing teams.

The lighthouses were unveiled at Market Hall, Devonport, before being put in place around Plymouth.

Alice Nimmo, a University of Plymouth illustration graduate, whose mother was cared for by St Luke's, said she rooted her design in the "timeless nature of care-giving" and an inspirational trip to see the friezes of Pompeii.

She said: "I really want to pay tribute to what St Luke's does for patients and their families. That very human care means a lot."

For her lighthouse, Mrs Murals, aka Ellie Johnson, took a deep dive into the vulnerable local marine life.

She said: "My lighthouse is a celebration of Plymouth Sound and all we have in terms of biodiversity.

"But I have also included some man-made objects, such as ghost nets and a tyre, to emphasise the importance of protecting nature from human interference."

She added: "It's great to create something so large and impactful alongside so many really incredible artists."

The Guiding Lights trail follows the Elmer trail which involved a parade of colourful elephants supporting St Luke's in 2019.

Dafyd Roberts, who has just graduated in illustration from the University of Plymouth, was selected from 300 applicants to design one of the lighthouses.

His design features "Devon delights" such as pasties, scones and cider.

He said: "I was inspired by the film Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, which features food falling from the sky.

"Here the Devon food is tumbling down the lighthouse."

The trail is accompanied by a Guiding Lights app with maps, a pedometer and information about the trail.

Souvenir maps are also be available from Plymouth Tourist Information Centre and city centre St Luke's charity shops.

Alongside the fun of the trail, the project aimed to raise funds and increase awareness to support the end-of-life care provided by St Luke's, organiser said.

St Luke's said the lighthouse theme was selected for its symbolic relevance and its strong link to Plymouth's maritime history and Smeaton's Tower on the Hoe.

"Lighthouses traditionally provide a guiding light for those who are weathering stormy seas and searching for safety, and this echoes what St Luke's offers our patients and their loved ones, helping them find their way in times of great difficulty and uncertainty," the charity said.

"Seeing our organisation as a guiding light also fits in well with St Luke's commitment to shine a beacon of compassion across Plymouth and the surrounding area."

At the end of the trail, the large and roaming lighthouses will be sold at auction on 1 October at the University of Plymouth.

All profits from the sales will go to fund the care St Luke's delivers in people's own homes and at the hospice's specialist unit at Turnchapel.