• Swindon & Wiltshire Culture
• Wednesday August 2 2023
• Author Name: LazyLulu

Swin-‘E’-Dog leads the charge for The Big Dog Art Trail

Swindon’s Big Dog Art Trail sponsor, Arval, found the artist for their own Swindog sculpture at Swindon New College.

Mimi Salter won the competition from her fellow fine art A Level students with a vibrant yellow, silver and flower-covered design. “I wanted to make it fun,” said Mimi.

She also needed to reflect the sponsor’s business of vehicle leasing, where electric vehicles make up almost a fifth of their fleet.

“I knew Arval was a sustainable mobility company, so I wanted to include roads and cars in my design and how to make journeys more sustainable for the future.”

Mimi’s ‘Swin-E’-dog, leading the charge!’ was chosen by Arval UK after giving a presentation at their UK headquarters in Windmill Hill Business Park, Lydiard Fields in Swindon, and is now installed at Lydiard Park.

Swin-‘E’-dog installed at Lydiard Park, Swindon

The Swin-‘E’-dog design connects current and future electric transport and sustainable energy production with the local area.

“The quality of the student’s presentations and how they articulated their creative thought processes were impressive. Mimi’s design was chosen because of her attention to detail and her efforts to understand our business and demonstrate that Swindon is an important part of our UK identity alongside our electric vehicles,” said Arval UK’s head of sustainability, Zoe Maitland.

“To have this sculpture on the trail means a lot to me because I like seeing my art in physical form and especially out in nature, which is what it will be in Lydiard Park,” said Mimi.

“It is exciting to think how many people will be seeing my Swindog.”

Mimi Salter paints SwinEdog

The Big Dog Art Trail, featuring 29 Swindogs and pups in a free exhibition across Swindon, raises funds for Julia’s House children’s hospice to help continue to care for the most seriously ill children and their families in Swindon and across Wiltshire.

At the close of the trail, Mimi’s Swindog will be up for grabs in the Swindog auction, 7-9pm on 19 September at the STEAM Museum.