AN ARTIST from Cirencester has decorated a sculpture for this year’s Cotswold Hare Trail inspired by the award-winning play War Horse.

A total of 85 hares, decorated by different artists, can be found spread all over the Cotswolds, with Mike Smith having decorated two.

The first one, which depicts scenes from War Horse, was commissioned by the National Theatre in London.

The theatre is touring the stage production of Nick Stafford's play, also adapted for film and directed by Steven Spielberg, at the end of this year.

The show will open at The New Theatre, Oxford, in December and Mike’s work aims to help promote the show.

The hare can be seen at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire museum in Woodstock, which also held a launch event for the trail itself earlier this year.

The trail was opened by singer and actress Toyah Willcox with a guest appearance by ‘Joey’ the War Horse puppet from the show.

Mike's second hare celebrates the importance of wool in the Cotswolds, and is decorated with scenes of a beautiful Cotswold landscape populated with flocks of sheep.

'Fleece' is spending the summer in the garden at The Blanket Hall in Witney.

Enquiries about The Cotswold Hare Trail can be made by email to Florence Beetlestone at shoref@aol.com while you can also visit cirencestermarchharefestival.org.uk for more information.