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Royal Academy artist leading the herd at 95

Stampeded by the Sea Sutton has white hair and a grey short beard. He is looking towards the camera with his hands resting on the trunk of an elephant statue. He is wearing a dark navy fleece jacket with a patterned jumper beneath and a light coloured shirt colour visible. The statue is painted a bright blie and has colourful yello and green flowers painted all over it. He is standing in a room with a large window behind him through which dark trees are visible and the walls of the room are decorated with several brightly coloured works of art and paintings.Stampeded by the Sea
Phillip Sutton says he named his elephant sculpture after a French philosopher

A partially-sighted Royal Academy artist has created the first of more than 50 elephant sculptures for a spring arts trail on the Dorset coast.

Phillip Sutton, 95, produced and painted Ponty for the Stampede by the Sea trail, which will see the baby elephants placed at locations across Bridport, West Bay and Lyme Regis.

The renowned British artist, known for his vibrant use of colour and expressive style, said creating the statue "was a joy", adding: "I shall miss Ponty when he goes."

The art trail is intended to raise funds and awareness for Weldmar Hospicecare in Dorchester, which provides specialised end-of-life care for adults with life-limiting illnesses.

'Personal experience'

Now in his 10th decade, Sutton continues to make significant contributions to the art world despite being partially sighted.

His long career has seen numerous solo exhibitions worldwide and works held in public collections such as The Tate.

Each elephant sculpture will be auctioned off by Duke's Auctions at the end of the trail, with proceeds directly supporting the hospice's services.

The designs of the other elephants are yet to be unveiled but it has been revealed that Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast host, Steve Harris, appears on one by cartoonist Lyndon Wall.

The charity is looking for local businesses to apply to sponsor an elephant, with many of the smaller elephants going to local schools.

Sutton said: "I named the elephant Ponty after the French philosopher [Maurice Merleau-Ponty] as I found him quite inspirational.

"Art is such a personal experience and we express ourselves by how we dress and how we behave but I try to leave my beliefs and politics behind when I paint.

"When I paint, I express my personality through my art. Working on Ponty for Weldmar's Stampede By The Sea was a joy and I shall miss Ponty when he goes."

April Whitehead, from Weldmar Hospicecare, said the trail aimed to "bring the community together through creativity and compassion".

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