dudleythedonkeystatue

All products and material within this website remains Copyright © Donnaware Pottery 2011 All rights reserved.
Reproduction or capture for any form of re-use, in whole or in part, by any means, is strictly forbidden.
Graphics and Web Site created and maintained by DesignDon

Weird and Wonderful Clay Creations

Original Sculptural Ceramics

Handmade in Lincolnshire. England

My idea becomes a reality. ‘Dudley the Donkey’ Life size Sculpture

A tribute to the late Gladys Nuttall for bringing Donkey rides to East Coast beaches since the 1940’s.

See the making of Dudley the Donkey

Early in May this year after returning home from Belvior Castle Sculpture Symposium where as an invited guest artist I made my first lifesize sculpture of 'Luciana' - I was inspired and wanted to create another life sized figure. It had to be something of significance, something to do with Cleethorpes and the seaside. It was perhaps no coincidence that fond treasured childhood memories of the donkey rides on the beach had triggered my thoughts and led me to find the solution. It was so obvious - and no one had thought about it before.

A Donkey! of course! but why a Donkey? Well...

Gladys Nuttall had once been the Mayor back in 1988 but was most famous for the donkeys at Cleethorpes. Gladys and her husband Buster were the first to bring donkey rides to Cleethorpes beach. For 'Donkeys' years, ( actually since before the first world war 1940's ) the Nuttall family, have given hundreds of children hours of pleasure, their faces beaming with delight as they hang on to the reigns. It saddened me to think that the Nuttalls, so renowned for their donkey rides and yet no permanent acknowledgement to them has been made in the resort....so it was easy, I would create a life size donkey to proudly display somewhere along the seaside in Cleethorpes.

In June 2011, I contacted Mr. John Nuttall (son) and told him I wanted to do something in recognition for the years of service provided to the seaside town by his family. I told John on the phone who I was and that I had an idea and wanted to create a life-size statue of a 'Dudley the Donkey' and that it would be a great surprise for his Mum and Dad. To my delight, his response was of shock and joy, he was overwhelmed at the thought.

I just knew I wanted to do it so I just got on with it. I am making it in my back garden under a gazebo. It was going to be a big surprise for his Mum Gladys so John and I kept it secret between us.

Over the next few weeks, I spent many happy hours with the donkeys in the field, researching and measuring for the final design. My sister Jane accompanied me to photograph the donkeys - we made sure we took plenty of carrots as treats for the posing animals. I made sketches and took wet clay to make a small model for research on the stances etc before embarking on the life size figure.

My partner Jim and brother Malcolm, together welded the rebar armature at their workshop BPM Auto's Moody Lane, Pyewipe. We brought the welded skeleton home and I began fixing the wire and creating the overall shape.

But it was less than 6 weeks later when John contacted me to say his Mum Gladys was poorly.

Sadly Gladys Nuttall died at 2.pm on the 3rd August 2011 age 85. God Bless her.

Son John says ' She will still see it from where she is' - and gave me his blessing to carry on.

Entirely hand crafted, the sculpture has taken 4 months to complete. It has been a wonderful experience and an absolute pleasure and honour to create. My sincere hope is, that once installed, my donkey statue gift will be respected and appreciated by both locals and visitors to the resort, bringing happy memories and joy to many hearts.

The sculpture is now finished and will be presented as a fitting tribute to the memory

of dear Gladys, Husband ‘Buster’ and the Donkeys.

The family say:- “It will be a lovely tribute if we can get it sited somewhere prominent in Cleethorpes for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”

It was in the local papers see here and here

Also you can

See the making of Dudley the Donkey here.