London will welcome a vibrant street art installation this summer when the Tusk Turtle Trail – an inspiring public art collaboration between African wildlife conservation charity Tusk and globally renowned artists and celebrities – launches in the capital.
Tusk and art curator Chris Westbrook of Westbrook Gallery have convened many creative minds from the worlds of art, design, photography, music, theatre and television to produce 16 life-sized turtle sculptures, each uniquely designed and painted. On display in London during the months of July and August 2025, the sculptures will be discoverable through a trail highlighting the beauty of and threats to marine turtles, as well as the people working tirelessly in Africa for their survival.
Among the internationally recognised contributors to the Tusk Turtle Trail are The Rolling Stones guitarist and Tusk Ambassador, Ronnie Wood; Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs Deborah Meaden and Steven Bartlett; actor and comedian John Cleese and his wife Jen Cleese; legendary photographer Rankin; acclaimed writer-artist Harland Miller and iconic illustrator Ralph Steadman. Each will lend their vision to create a one-of-a-kind sculpture.
Inviting passersby to pause, reflect, and engage with urgent conservation stories, the Tusk Turtle Trail weaves through some of London’s most recognisable locations, supported by Art of London, Shaftesbury Capital and The View from The Shard providing distinctive backdrops for the striking sculptures. Locations will include the West End’s world-class art district, such as Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus, and the top of The Shard. Londoners and visitors to the capital alike will be able to engage with the trail’s creativity and storytelling focus to learn about threats to all marine turtles and other marine species.
Speaking on the importance of raising awareness for marine conservation, Tusk ambassador Deborah Meaden comments: “
We see wildlife on land, and it triggers emotion: it is visible, tangible, and easy to connect with. The ocean is too often out of mind, and yet it is the beating heart of our planet – the force that sustains all life forms. If the ocean dies, so does the planet. It’s that simple, and that urgent.” Deborah has collaborated with fellow Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett to paint a turtle that will be displayed as part of the street art exhibition.”
Tusk is now delighted to unveil the full list of artists, ambassadors and collaborators who have convened to design the sculptures and raise awareness of the plight of marine species:
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Adam Dant
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Andrew Scott
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Chila Burman MBE
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Dave White
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Deborah Meaden & Steven Bartlett
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Hannah Shergold
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Harland Miller
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Jacob Vitalo
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Jemma Powell
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John & Jen Cleese
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Magda Archer
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Mauro Perucchetti
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Ralph Steadman
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Rankin
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Rob & Nick Carter
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Ronnie Wood
Each turtle is being generously sponsored by a Tusk partner or supporter. DHL, a long-standing logistics partner of Tusk, returns as lead sponsor for the campaign.
Kirsty Tullett-Jones, Director of Marketing & Communications at Art of London said: “Art of London is honoured to see the West End, a hub of world-class culture and creativity, serve as centre stage for such a meaningful initiative as the Tusk Turtle Trail. Not only does it highlight the power of art in raising awareness, this trail will bring a new energy to discovering and exploring the area and its rich variety of art in every form.”
Elliott Santon, Head of Global Sponsorships, DHL Express said: “Leveraging our network logistics for such a worthwhile cause clearly reinforces our core purpose values of connecting people – improving lives, and at DHL we are proud once again to continue our partnership with the Tusk Turtle Trail which ultimately raises awareness and helps support ocean conservation and the important continuation of marine ecosystems.”
Patrick Allen from The View From The Shard said: “We are proud to support the Tusk Turtle Trail and host one of these incredible sculptures at The View from The Shard. As a platform that celebrates both innovation and global connection, it’s an honour to spotlight the urgent cause of marine conservation from one of London’s most iconic vantage points.”
Catherine Riccomini, Director of Marketing and Communications at Shaftesbury Capital said: “Both Covent Garden and Carnaby Street have long been innovative, cultural and creative hubs in London’s West End, and Shaftesbury Capital is proud to host this year’s Tusk Turtle Trail across both neighbourhoods as the trail returns to London this summer. We are committed to supporting public art that sparks conversation and champions important global causes and the Tusk Turtle Trail does exactly that.”
Marine turtles have navigated our oceans for more than 100 million years, yet six out of seven species are now threatened with extinction. From entanglement in fishing gear to plastic pollution and rising sea levels, human activity has decimated turtle populations across the globe. Marine turtles play a crucial role in maintaining healthy coral reefs and seagrass beds, making them essential to the balance of ocean ecosystems. By protecting turtles, we help safeguard the broader health of our oceans.
Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said, “The aim of our Turtle Trail is to inspire collective action to celebrate and protect one of the most ancient and endangered marine species. Tusk is proud to champion marine projects in some of Africa’s most vulnerable coastal communities. Proceeds from the Turtle Trail’s beautiful sculptures will go directly to their vital work.”
Each sculpture on the trail will be available to bid on online, culminating with a live auction event in London in mid-October. Pickfords moving and storage firm has been managing arrangements for the Tusk Turtle Trail since the start of the project.
For event updates and further details, visit tuskturtletrail.com and follow @tusk_org on social media.
