Highland Hospice has had artists working away over the past few months to designs 23 colourful five-foot squirrels to form a major new art trail.
The Go Nuts sculptures aim to help raise funds and awareness of the charity and the trail will officially launch on June 28.
The eye-catching squirrels will be stationed at locations across the Highlands, each sponsored by a local business.
It is hoped individuals and families will go on a squirrel hunt throughout the region by picking up a free map in charity shops and other outlets across the north.
Earlier this year, each of the sponsors chose their favourite squirrels from designs submitted by the artists and now they are ready to go.
Highland Hospice’s events fundraiser Jenna Hayden said: “We have been so fortunate to have local artist Scott Gleed from Gleed 3D on board to sculpt these fabulous squirrels for us.
“They are currently with Parks Motor Group who very kindly offered to apply lacquer to each sculpture to make it weatherproof.”
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Go Nuts Art Trail locations include Tain, Evanton, Beauly, the Black Isle, Portree, Eilean Donan, the Castle of Mey, Logie and Nairn.
The scupltures will also be found in Fort Augustus, Fort William and Boat of Garten and there will be seven in the city of Inverness, in well-visited locations.
Free maps will be available from each Highland Hospice shop, while sticker books, bands and tote bags will also be on sale to raise funds.
Jenna added: “This is a hugely exciting project for the Highlands this summer. We’ve never seen anything like it up here.
“Go Nuts will appeal to people of all ages, including families, tourists and those who live near to each sculpture.
“The designs are truly incredible and the finished products are better than we ever could have imagined thanks to Scott and each and every one of our talented artists.
“We can’t wait to see the public’s reaction to them.”
When the trail comes to an end in September 2019, the squirrels will be gathered together for a farewell display, before taking centre stage at a Highland Hospice charity auction in November.
They will then move to new permanent homes.
