Glossop artist designs Harry Potter-themed frog for local art trail

A Glossop-based artist has shared his ‘wonderful’ experience of being selected to design and paint one of the frogs for The Great Frogtastic Invention Trail.

Greg Williamson’s ‘Frogwarts Express’ design caught the attention of the event’s organisers, after he had the idea while watching Harry Potter with his sons.

He then spent 12 hours painting it before the trail launched last month. The free family event runs until September 29, with maps available from Stockport Museum and various shops.

Greg’s artwork focuses primarily on ‘the natural world.’

He started out by painting sharks which stemmed from one of his sons' interest in them - this inspired his instagram username @sharkmanart - and then he said his ideas 'developed from there'.

Alongside his art, Greg works as a teacher at Harrytown Catholic High School in Romiley, so described the frog trail as the ‘perfect opportunity’ for his students to get involved in extra-curricular art.

Poppy, 13, painted a Space Frog and other students got involved in painting ‘Gizmo’ who now sits proudly outside The Light Cinema in Stockport.

All of the frogs will be auctioned off for charity on November 2.

The father-of-two said he has approached the organisers of the trail and they have told him that Poppy’s frog could be saved from the auction for £1,500. The frog would then go to her family and the money to charity.

Greg said: “I’m trying to do a fundraiser for The Wellspring Homeless Centre, we raise a lot as a school for them.

“A lot of these people have suffered with addiction or domestic abuse or mental/physical health problems which result in them ending up on the streets and it’s not their fault at all. It’s just how their cards have been dealt for them.”

To donate visit: https:// www.justgiving.com/ page/greg-williamson-1690454359684