A HARE sculpture sponsored by local businesses is being painted by Cirencester artist Stephanie Cole at New Brewery Arts.

The unnamed female hare for the March Hare Festival this year has been sponsored by Corinium Ales, New Brewery Arts, and Geoffrey Carr Garden Design. 

Stephanie (featured in video below) will be transforming the hare into a heritage hare that will represent local brewing, crafts, plants and creativity.

She began painting the hare on Monday and is due to finish on Saturday (tomorrow).

She said: "It is all my favourite things I am painting. I like beer, plants and craft. 

"I normally do a lot of work on flat surfaces, so working in three dimensions is quite a challenge. It is really different because of the curves to work with."

Tracey Burgoyne, deputy CEO at New Brewery Arts, said: "We are a national and community arts centre. We want to be involved. 

"It is so much better when we can work in partnership with businesses we value. It is a synergy of everybody in one great big hare.

"Geoffrey Carr did the landscape outside the Barrel Store and Lucy Cordrey from Corinium Ales supplies us with beer. This represents a continuing partnership."

Geoffrey said: "This much-loved and high quality event is something I think I can associate my business with. Having Corinium Ales, New Brewery Arts and Stephanie involved is just amazing."

Lucy from Corinium Ales added: "I just thought there is a bit more depth when people do things jointly."

The moon gazing hare was housed at the Corinium Ales Brewery a few weeks before Christmas where she could be admired in her plain white winter coat.

She was then transported, at the beginning of the year, to the art centre's pop-up gallery to be made ready for the March Hare Festival launch in spring.

Members of the public can pop by and see the hare sculpture being painted today or tomorrow.