Shauna Richardson’s project Lionheart will feature three 30 foot high crocheted lions in a huge taxidermy style case and dominating a Nottingham city location. The lions will be powerful, realistic sculptures that depict qualities associated with the lion symbol and the Olympics - unity, grace, speed, strength, courage, dignity and pride.
 
Shauna’s inspiration is taken from Richard the Lionheart, who had a strong association with the region, and his unique coat of arms, the three lions. When Richard was being held hostage in France, profits from British wool produced the lion’s share of the ransom paid for his release. Shauna hopes to use Peak District wool, historically the region’s most important export.
 
Through the sensational use of a traditional skill, Shauna also wishes to highlight crochet as a valid contemporary medium, hoping to educate and inspire a new generation of practitioners and introduce a new audience to art.
 
Lionheart will involve people of all ages in every aspect of the project, from witnessing the creation of the lions via a Lionheart webcam, to studio visits, participatory activities across the region, and finally interacting with the completed installation.
 
The lions’ bodies will be created by a professional polystyrene sculptor. As sections are produced they will receive crochet ‘skins’ made by Shauna using wool and hook. It is estimated that the work will take around two years to complete.
 

Shauna lives in Stoughton, Leicestershire. She describes herself as a ‘crochetdermist’ who was originally taught to crochet while at junior school. After leaving secondary school she became a painter specialising in architectural themes. 
 
While studying fine art at De Montfort University, Leicester, Shauna’s practice was conceptual and questioning art drove her work.
 
‘I came to believe that maybe anything could be art – maybe a gesture, or an empty space. I now use realism and traditional craft to explore this theory.
 
The Artists taking the lead brief was extraordinary. Here was a truly exciting opportunity to think big and create something spectacular that would celebrate the individual culture of our region and put us squarely on the map.’