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City hosts giant rats in sculpture trail for charity

Rachel Russell & Crispin Rolfe
BBC News
Crispin Rolfe/BBC A rat sculpture painted with a yellow jumper and displayed on a wooden board outside The DeepCrispin Rolfe/BBC
The sculptures are positioned at tourist attractions like The Deep as well as less visited areas of the city

A city is preparing for its streets to be filled with giant rat sculptures as part of a new art trail to honour a local musician.

A Mischief of Rats will be on display from 3 May in Hull and features 6ft tall (1.8m) painted rat sculptures for people to enjoy on a walking trail in the city.

Crispin Rolfe/BBC A blue rat sculpture being displayed near shops on a wooden platformCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Many of the designs feature references to Hull's maritime history
Crispin Rolfe/BBC Two workmen in high-vis jackets construct one of the sculptures in a street with an electric drill and other toolsCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Rats Ahoy is the work of jennywrendraws, a professional artist and illustrator from East Yorkshire

The art trail was created to pay tribute to rock musician Mick Ronson, who was from Hull and a member of the local 1960s band the Rats, before becoming David Bowie's guitarist.

Co-director Clare Huby previously said the trail would be launched ahead of what would have been the musician's 80th birthday on 26 May 2026.

She said: "I know people in Hull have been keen to have something that will honour Mick Ronson, so this just seemed like the perfect opportunity."

Crispin Rolfe/BBC A sculpture with lots of purple and blue colours and also holding what appears to be a book is also displayed next to the front entrance of a buildingCrispin Rolfe/BBC
The design by Rachael and Phillippa Corcutt features interesting facts about Hull

Ms Huby added the project would also help the Daisy Appeal charity, which supports Cottingham's Castle Hill hospital, with the sculptures being auctioned in September.

The charity hopes to raise up to £250,000 for "cutting-edge research" into cancer.

Mick Ronson died of cancer in 1993 aged 46.

The art trail, which is similar to previous projects, including Larkin with Toads, A Moth for Amy and Puffins Galore, will run until August and includes locations in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Crispin Rolfe/BBC The sculptures wrapped in packaging and being stored indoors ahead of being unveiled for the art trailCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Crispin Rolfe/BBC A sculpture of a rat wearing a painted Batman costume complete with cowl stands in Queen Victoria SquareCrispin Rolfe/BBC
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na…Batrat! was designed by Traci Moss

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