The eyes of dolphin watchers took an unexpected turn towards dry land yesterday as an eagerly-awaited art project was launched in Aberdeen.
A 50-strong school of strikingly-decorated dolphin sculptures has been dotted around city parks and attractions, where they will turn heads until the end of August.
The life-sized fibreglass bottlenose dolphins will then be auctioned off to raise funds for The Archie Foundation and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC).
Each brightly-adorned sculpture has been sponsored and then designed by an artist, commissioned from across the UK to create a one-off design for the Granite City.
The finished designs include a pirate, a diver and Spiderman, but artists have also taken inspiration from the sea, trees, birds, space, local industry, the Northern Lights and the media.
The dolphins form a trail which takes in all of Aberdeen’s landmarks including the beach, harbour, parks, city centre, shopping centres and golf courses as well as Torry Battery, a known hotspot for spotting real dolphins.
It is hoped the Wild Dolphin project, organised by Wild in Art, will boost tourism and bring visitors from across the UK as well as encouraging locals to become tourists in their own city.
Wild in Art director Charlie Langhorne, said: “I know visitors and locals will be excited to see all the different designs and with such a variety there is a dolphin that will appeal to everyone.”
Trail maps are available from shops, libraries, community centres, hotels and other attractions.
For more information visit www.wilddolphins.org.uk