Moor Otters
Otters and cubs find new homes as auction raises nearly £70,000
The sale of the Moor Otter Arts Trail sculptures has raised an incredible £69,330!
The stunning otter and cub sculptures, all decorated by artists and creatives in a variety of colours and themes, captured the imagination of thousands when they were let loose across the National Park and further afield this summer.
The trail finally got underway in May 2021, having been postponed from its 2020 date due to the pandemic.
Eighty-one otter and cubs, standing tall on plinths, were unleashed on five different trails and scores of loyal ‘otter spotters’ searched to find them. Many people made donations along the way at each sculpture or online.
A collection of 56 otters were auctioned online by The Saleroom and a special romp of 25 ‘golden otters’ were auctioned at a live event by Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter on 2 October.
- The live auction raised £25,980
- The online auction raised £31,990
- ‘Teigny and Tiny' by Teignmouth-based artist Laura Wall fetched the highest bid in the online auction, selling for £3,220
- ‘All Creatures Great and Small' by Elizabeth Kitson – the roaming otter and one of the 25 golden otters – sold for £3,020
- Three sculptures, 'Mother of Pearl – The Pearly Queen of Dartmoor' by Corinna Barrell - Mosaic Rocks; 'Wheal Otters' by Alexis' Art and 'Agnes and Olave!' by Alice Lovell and the Buckfastleigh Guides, all sold at a ‘buy it now’ price before the auctions even got started!
We'd like to thank everyone that supported the project, the artists, businesses, sponsors and valued partners as well as everyone that enjoyed the trail and bought an otter. All money raised will support conservation and access projects on Dartmoor.
Make a donation
Enjoyed the trail and want to give something back? Any amount you can spare will help us to carry out vital work to protect and enhance Dartmoor's special qualities.
Donate for DartmoorJoin our community of Otter Spotters on the Moor Otters Arts Trail Facebook group or follow us on Twitter for updates and details.
Find out how past projects have benefitted from the last Moor Otters Arts Trail in 2017.
Our Valued Partners
Thank you to all our Valued Partners who support this wonderful project in a variety of ways – without them Moor Otters would not be possible.
Play your part, be water smart