Portsmouth City Council Custom Lion Sculpture
THE BRIEF
“To translate a 2D concept onto a 3D canvas and create a community focused sculpture that celebrates the history and culture of Portsmouth.” In celebration of Portsmouth’s centenary of city status.”
Hosted & commissioned by Portsmouth City Council in collaboration with Wild in Art. Lion to be featured prominently Infront of our Sponsor, Portsmouth Marriott Hotel.
Portsmouth City Council Custom Lion Sculpture
THE BRIEF
“To translate a 2D concept onto a 3D canvas and create a community focused sculpture that celebrates the history and culture of Portsmouth.” In celebration of Portsmouth’s centenary of city status.”
Hosted & commissioned by Portsmouth City Council in collaboration with Wild in Art. Lion to be featured prominently Infront of our Sponsor, Portsmouth Marriott Hotel.
THE CHALLENGE
Translating flat 2D ideas onto a textured fiberglass surface presented a series of significant spatial & technical challenges. Key Portsmouth focused design elements were to be hand-painted onto the contours of the lion’s body without warping or distorting the design. With the goal of complete legibility.
Meticulous work was required to reach recesses underneath the mane, paws, jaw and tail to ensure full 360-degree design coverage fit for public viewing. The sculpture required careful surface preparation, sanding and soap washing for use with high-grade, weather-resistant acrylics and spray paint primers.
Collaboration with stakeholders required the balancing of social media excitement with the project’s PR restrictions. This was to ensure teasers and video content engaged the public and corporate sponsors, without spoiling the official reveal.
THE CHALLENGE
Translating flat 2D ideas onto a textured fiberglass surface presented a series of significant spatial & technical challenges. Key Portsmouth focused design elements were to be hand-painted onto the contours of the lion’s body without warping or distorting the design. With the goal of complete legibility.
Meticulous work was required to reach recesses underneath the mane, paws, jaw and tail to ensure full 360-degree design coverage fit for public viewing. The sculpture required careful surface preparation, sanding and soap washing for use with high-grade, weather-resistant acrylics and spray paint primers.
Collaboration with stakeholders required the balancing of social media excitement with the project’s PR restrictions. This was to ensure teasers and video content engaged the public and corporate sponsors, without spoiling the official reveal.
THE SOLUTION
To give the lion a link local identity, the design was packed with local heritage references. Representations of Portsmouth’s heritage and historical roots to be painted included:
Anchor & Steering Wheel of the Mary Rose, Nautical Compass, Sailors Hat and Rope Tail.
Spinnaker Tower, D-Day Insignia, floral Naval tattoos.
The HMS Victory & Southsea Lighthouse.
The Hampshire Rose & Pompey Football Club.
Literary legacy - Charles Dickens’ books and Sherlock Holmes’ Pipe.
The Mane : A rhythmic, wave-like pattern.
All design elements have been placed with precision to combat spatial clutter, to be hand painted with technical consideration to the muscular contours of the Lion sculpture.
THE SOLUTION
To give the lion a link local identity, the design was packed with local heritage references. Representations of Portsmouth’s heritage and historical roots to be painted included:
Anchor & Steering Wheel of the Mary Rose, Nautical Compass, Sailors Hat and Rope Tail.
Spinnaker Tower, D-Day Insignia, floral Naval tattoos.
The HMS Victory & Southsea Lighthouse.
The Hampshire Rose & Pompey Football Club.
Literary legacy - Charles Dickens’ books and Sherlock Holmes’ Pipe.
The Mane : A rhythmic, wave-like pattern.
All design elements have been placed with precision to combat spatial clutter, to be hand painted with technical consideration to the muscular contours of the Lion sculpture.
THE SOLUTION
Operating under strict Wild in Art event guidelines and media embargoes, both parties worked closely to manage public releases. This was to build anticipation without spoiling the official reveal. Content was carefully curated, focusing solely on close-up detail teasers and evasive process shots.
The Marriott team fully respected the original artistic vision and intellectual property rights, allowing the design to develop organically whilst supporting the inclusion of key local heritage elements.
To directly convert trail engagement into hotel visits, an exclusive commercial promotion was launched: scanning the QR code on the sculpture’s official plaque rewarded sculpture visitors with 25% off food and drink at the hotel's restaurant and bar. This bridged public art directly with hospitality revenue.
DEALING WITH TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
To commence painting the pre-made fiberglass form, surface preparation was essential. This included sanding and cleaning with soap water to remove minor surface in-discrepancies and applying a layer of blue spray-painted primer as a base. This was to seal the sculpture and provide an optimal surface for subsequent acrylic paint layers.
After painting had commenced, we needed to safeguard the sculpture against weather, touch wear or anti social behaviour. A two part epoxy clear coat varnish Urban Hygiene’s: Easy on) was applied at a 5:1 ratio, resulting in a durable gloss finish.
THE RESULTS
Commodore Cat was successfully launched on the 13th July 2026. Receiving overwhelming positive feedback from organisers, sponsors and the local community. Positioned outside the front entrance of the Marriott Hotel, serving as a photogenic landmark piece for hotel
We successfully merged corporate PR goals with public engagement, delivering a high-quality visual asset which features extensive levels of narrative depth. This highlights the sponsor's connection to the local Portsmouth community.
The finished sculpture showcases how public art can effectively bridge historical storytelling, corporate sponsorship and community engagement. Commodore Cat has attracted thousands of local residents to the Marriott. At the time of writing, the 25% off promotion has been collected 2250 times, with many more visitors left untracked.
TESTIMONIAL
“Aidan has done an outstanding job designing our lion for the Portsmouth Pride. He is an incredibly talented artist, and we're proud to be working with him on this fantastic project. We're really looking forward to unveiling and displaying the lion at the Portsmouth Pride launch later this month.
Alongside this, we're also collaborating with Aidan on several exciting projects to transform areas of the hotel and create an even greater impact for our guests. Working with Aidan has been a seamless and enjoyable experience.
We share our ideas and vision with him, and he consistently returns with creative, inspiring concepts that exceed our expectations. His ability to take an idea and turn it into something that makes you stop and simply say "wow" is truly remarkable. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Aidan to anyone looking for a creative artist who brings passion, professionalism, and originality to every project.”
Martin Waters | Director of Sales
Portsmouth Marriott, Southampton Road, North Harbour, Portsmouth, PO6 4SH
TESTIMONIAL
“Aidan has done an outstanding job designing our lion for the Portsmouth Pride. He is an incredibly talented artist, and we're proud to be working with him on this fantastic project. We're really looking forward to unveiling and displaying the lion at the Portsmouth Pride launch later this month.
Alongside this, we're also collaborating with Aidan on several exciting projects to transform areas of the hotel and create an even greater impact for our guests. Working with Aidan has been a seamless and enjoyable experience.
We share our ideas and vision with him, and he consistently returns with creative, inspiring concepts that exceed our expectations. His ability to take an idea and turn it into something that makes you stop and simply say "wow" is truly remarkable. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Aidan to anyone looking for a creative artist who brings passion, professionalism, and originality to every project.”
Martin Waters | Director of Sales
Portsmouth Marriott, Southampton Road, North Harbour, Portsmouth, PO6 4SH
WHATS THE PROCESS?
STEP 1
REACH OUT
Make an enquiry and let us know exactly what you have in mind. We are excited to to hear your ideas.
STEP 2
CONSULTATION
We will be in touch for an in person or online consultation to discuss your project and provide a quote.
STEP 3
PAINTING BEGINS
We will get to work bringing your vision to life. Providing you with in-depth detail and crisp linework.
STEP 4
FINAL SIGN OFF
We apply a wear-resistant varnish to protect your piece. Also providing the entire edited video process.
MEET YOUR ARTIST
Hi I’m Aidan, over my career I have painted just about anything you can think of, in every nook and cranny. Currently, I’m painting as a professional mural artist at JumpStart Studios. I pride myself on delivering high quality results to meet the expectations of my clients.
For every project, I bring the same excitement and creativity I have from the very beginning. It’s this passion in my work that keeps me engaged in what I do, always excited for the next project to come. If its for your home or your business I guarantee a level of excellence and commitment you wont find anywhere else.
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