Meadowhall shoppers can watch artists paint giant lions live as Pride of Yorkshire returns
Shoppers at Meadowhall can now watch life-sized lion sculptures being painted in front of them as part of Pride of Yorkshire, a major public art trail raising money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.
A dedicated Pride of Yorkshire studio has opened on Upper Vvenue, allowing visitors to see artists hand-painting the sculptures, view designs up close and learn more about the trail ahead of its launch in summer 2026.
The space is open during Meadowhall’s usual hours, with the artwork evolving throughout the day as blank lions are transformed into finished pieces.
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Among the first artists to begin work in the studio are Barnsley-based Adam Briscoe, who is creating a pair of lions celebrating Doncaster Rovers.
He is joined by Sheffield painter Amadora, designing a lioness inspired by Doncaster Racecourse, and Worcester illustrator Christy Johnson, whose design reflects her love of birds.
The Pride of Yorkshire trail will mark 150 years of Sheffield Children’s Hospital and will feature 150 large lion and lioness sculptures, alongside 150 lion cubs designed by schools and community groups.
The sculptures will be displayed across Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster from June to September 2026.
After the trail ends, the large sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds for the charity.
Meadowhall has been confirmed as the Presenting Partner for the event.
The shopping centre will host several sculptures as part of a mini trail and will stage the Farewell Event in autumn 2026, when all the lions will be brought together before the auction.
Cheryl Davidson, project lead for Pride of Yorkshire, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Meadowhall once again. They played a huge role in the success of Herd of Sheffield and Bears of Sheffield and having them as Presenting Partner means even more families will be able to discover the trail.”
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Darren Pearce, centre director at Meadowhall said: “It’s fantastic to be supporting Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity once again - it’s always been a joy to bring the community together and help to raise vital funds.
“I’m so pleased we’ve been able to go a step further this year and offer visitors the behind-the-scenes chance to see the sculptures come to life. We hope this inspires even more people to get involved with the trail when it launches in the summer."
Visitors are encouraged to take photos with the sculptures and tag @prideofyorkshiretrail and @lovemeadowhall on social media.
Those who share a photo will be entered into a prize draw to win a family ticket to the Pride of Yorkshire Farewell Event at Meadowhall in October.
The studio will also be used for workshops and merchandise sales during the trail, with further details set to be announced.