African wildlife conservation charity Tusk is thrilled to officially launch the Tusk Turtle Trail in Central London’s Piccadilly Circus today.
The Tusk Turtle Trail is an inspiring and vibrant public street art installation; a collaboration between Tusk and globally renowned artists and celebrities that champions the endangered marine species and helps fund their protection.
Tusk Ambassadors including Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Deborah Meaden and actor and comedian John Cleese and his wife Jen, gathered at London’s Piccadilly Circus today to unveil the sculptures. They were joined by artists including Rankin and Hannah Shergold, all of whom have designed their own sculptures for the trail.
The 16 life-sized turtle sculptures will now be discoverable in iconic locations around Central London until the end of August. The Tusk Turtle Trail sculptures invite passersby to pause, reflect and engage with urgent marine conservation issues.
The installations are positioned in some of London’s most recognisable locations. The sculptures’ distinctive backdrops have been supported by Art of London, Shaftesbury Capital and The View from The Shard. Locations include Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, Leicester Square, St James’s Market and Piccadilly Circus in the West End’s world-class art district, and the top of The Shard.
Each sculpture can be bid on online. The bidding will culminate in a live auction event in London in mid-October. Funds raised through the 2025 Tusk Turtle Trail will directly support Tusk’s Partners’ marine conservation projects. Https://auction.tuskturtletrail.com/
Tusk Ambassador Ronnie Wood, said, “I’m delighted to be part of Tusk’s Turtle Trail. Marine turtles are not just beautiful creatures – they’re vital to the health of our oceans, from coral reefs to seagrass beds. Protecting marine turtles means protecting our oceans. It’s a cause that matters deeply, and I’m proud to lend my artwork to support it.”
The street art installation encourages visitors to follow the trail via an easy-to-use downloadable and printable map, providing a fun, interactive experience perfect for families or individuals looking to explore the capital. Maps are available at tuskturtletrail.com, and visitors can make donations to Tusk through the website and via QR codes on the sculptures.
Following the success of Tusk’s Rhino, Lion and Gorilla Trails held between 2018 and 2023, Tusk has once again teamed up with curator Chris Westbrook who has brought together a spectacular array of creative minds from the worlds of art, design, photography, music, theatre and television to produce the turtle sculptures:
Adam Dant | Turtle London (The London History Tortoise)
○ Sponsored by Mishcon
Andrew Scott | Don’t Let Go
○ Sponsored by Art of London
Chila Burman MBE | Golden Turtle
○ Sponsored by Vodafone
Dave White | Sea Turtle
○ Sponsored by DHL
Deborah Meaden & Steven Bartlett | Bob
○ Sponsored by Deborah Meaden & Steven Bartlett
Hannah Shergold | Old, Bold and Gold
○ Sponsored by Apex
Harland Miller | Too Cool to Die
○ Sponsored by Biggs Family
Jacob Vitalo | Beneath The Turtle
○ Sponsored by Brian and Jessica Robinson
Jemma Powell | Sir David
○ Sponsored by Maughan Family Foundation
John & Jen Cleese | Teddy the Turtle
○ Sponsored by Ninety One
Magda Archer | Trevor the Turtle
○ Sponsored by J&B
Mauro Perucchetti | Around the World in 80 Days
○ Sponsored by Aviva
Ralph Steadman | Myrtle – the Hawksbill Turtle
○ Sponsored by Ocean Family Foundation
Rankin | Still Moving
○ Sponsored by Defender
Rob & Nick Carter | Painting Photograph, Acrylic VIII
○ Sponsored by The Shard
Ronnie Wood | The Prodigal
○ Sponsored by Broad Reach
Each sculpture tells a unique story – celebrating turtles’ beauty whilst drawing attention to the threats to their existence and the people working tirelessly in Africa to protect them.
Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said, “Marine turtles have navigated our oceans for over 100 million years, yet six out of seven species are now threatened with extinction. From entanglement in fishing gear to plastic pollution and rising sea levels, human activity has decimated turtle populations across the globe.
Kirsty Tullett-Jones, Director of Marketing & Communications at Art of London said: “Art of London is honoured to see the West End, a hub of world-class culture and creativity, serve as centre stage for such a meaningful initiative as the Tusk Turtle Trail. We hope the trail exemplifies how artistic initiatives can help raise awareness and encourage public engagement with vital marine conservation issues”.
