The Hospice now hopes other artists will let their imaginations run riot in creating designs of their own to join Jeff’s statue on the trail.
Those whose designs are chosen will not only receive an artist fee of £800, but their work will be seen and enjoyed by the estimated 700,000 visitors to Elmer’s Great North Parade.
Project art curator, Victoria Maddison, said: “Jeff was a great supporter of the work of St Oswald’s Hospice and we are very grateful to Chris and to Amy for agreeing to let his statue join the herd. It is a wonderful tribute to a lovely man and an exceptionally talented artist.”
Submissions must be made via an online form at www.greatnorthelmer.co.uk/artists and the closing date for entries is 14 February.
Artworks will be presented to the sculpture sponsors in May and the artists whose designs are chosen will need to transfer their designs on to the full-sized Elmer sculpture between June and July.