Shauna Richardson’s ‘Lionheart Project’ will see three giant crocheted lions tour the country in a 16 metre long illuminated glass case.

Starting on 1 May 2012 at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, the three giant lions will tour the East Midlands before arriving at the Natural History Museum in London in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Harking back to a travelling menagerie show, the lions will visit Louth (23rd – 26th June) and Skegness (27th June), as they reach out to an estimated audience of over half a million people.

Shauna Richardson is an artist known for her realistic crochet animal creations, a body of work she calls ‘Crochetdermy’. Over the course of two years, Richardson has individually crocheted the three lions over nine metre long structures. Celebrating the rich textile heritage of the East Midlands, Richardson has used 36 miles of wool, to create an interpretation of the three golden lions on Richard the Lionheart’s coat of arms, a strong symbol of England.

A unique and highly accessible public art project, Lionheart has been designed to actively engage and inspire a diverse audience from open studio activities, school and community projects and workshops, to the final piece being witnessed through the transparent glass case on the road which will be illuminated at night.

One of 12 Arts Council England’s Artists Taking the Lead commissions, the project will form part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad programme.