During 2010, in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games, ‘Artists Taking the Lead’ challenged artists across the UK to create artworks celebrating their region. In response, artist Shauna Richardson created ‘The Lionheart Project’.

 

Taking inspiration form Richard the Lionheart crest, and celebrating the rich textile heritage of the East Midlands, Richardson hand-crocheted three 25ft lions using locally sourced Peak District wool. These powerful sculptures reflected the region in both symbol and materials.

 

In the spring of 2012, prior to the opening of the London Olympic Games, the Lionheart Project toured the East Midlands in a custom-built glass exhibition vehicle. An impressive 16 metres long and 4 metres high, the truck containing the three crocheted lion sculptures visited major towns and stayed at regional locations before it travelled to The Natural History Museum in London for the duration of the games.

 

The Lionheart Project was the biggest single handed crochet sculpture in the world, and reached an audience of over one million people.