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The Branson’s Pickle Pots are well underway, and we wanted to share a little glimpse behind the scenes. Right now, our artists are deep in the painting stage — building up layers, refining details and turning each pot into a completely unique piece of public art. This is the part where concepts become reality, and where the personality of the trail really starts to shine through. We’re continually blown away by the care, creativity and sheer graft our artists bring to every p

Over the past two very damp days, our Ay Up Me Duck sculptures have been carefully installed across Amber Valley. It was, quite literally, nice weather for ducks – less so for the install team – but rain or shine, the trail is now in place and ready to go live this Saturday, Valentine’s Day of all days. There’s something rather fitting about launching a community art trail on Valentine’s Day. This project has been built on love from the very start – love for place, for creati

Last week at The Big Tourism Conference, Staffordshire’s new visitor mascot was officially unleashed… meet Staffy, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Alongside the reveal came the announcement of The Staffy Trail , launching in 2026 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day. The trail will see a series of giant Staffy sculptures popping up across the county, each one transformed by artists and schools to celebrate Staffordshire’s creativity, character and communitie

We’re stepping into 2026 with a glow still hanging in the air from a very busy end to last year, and plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. Just before Christmas, Gary the giant gonk headed out into the world as part of East Staffordshire Borough Council’s Canvas of Light event, with projections by Luxmuralis. Over three evenings, Burton town centre was transformed with large-scale light projections, sound and colour, drawing people into the Memorial Garden and surrou

The workshop is in full swing this week, and it’s one of those brilliant moments where completely different projects are all happening at once. First up, we’re making arrangements for a poetry trail celebrating women in science. These projects are a lovely reminder that trails don’t always have to be giant creatures — sometimes the quiet, thoughtful installations are just as powerful. This one is shaping up to be really special. Alongside that, I’m currently painting a giant

The public vote for the Ay Up Me Duck Trail in Amber Valley has officially wrapped up — and what a response it’s had. Nearly 2,000 votes were cast by the public, with an overwhelming wave of positive comments, encouragement and excitement shared across social media. It’s been brilliant to watch the community really get behind the project and the artists. Following the vote, the selected artists have now been formally commissioned and will soon begin bringing their designs to

The Ay Up Me Duck Trail is coming to Amber Valley in early 2026, and the public vote is officially live. This is your chance to help choose which giant duck sculptures will make up the final flock. Artists have submitted a brilliant mix of designs — bold, quirky, colourful, thoughtful and everything in between. From the shortlist, eight winning ducks will be chosen to transformed into full-size sculptures for the trail. Your vote helps decide which ones make the cut. Head to.

If you saw our photo yesterday with our army of giant ducks, a two-metre gonk and a hefty pickle pot all sharing the same floor space, you’ll know the studio is bursting with activity right now. The Ducks We’re building eight identical ducks for the Ay Up Me Duck Trail in Amber Valley. Once they leave us, each one will be transformed by a different artist, giving the flock its final character. As ever, we design the trail, create the sculptures, coordinate the artists, insta

A new study from King’s College London has revealed that viewing original artworks doesn’t just make us smile — it can actually change what’s happening inside our bodies. Researchers found that spending just 30 minutes with real art (not reproductions) reduced cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) by 22% , and lowered key inflammation markers (IL-6 and TNF-α) by 30% and 28%  respectively. That’s a genuine, measurable wellbeing boost — all from engaging with art. At Makin

One of the questions we get asked most often is: “How long does it take to produce a trail?” And the honest answer is… it depends. (Yes,...

Chelmsford has been buzzing all summer long with the arrival of the Buzz in the City art trail . For weeks, families, friends, and...

The streets of Burton upon Trent  are looking brighter than ever thanks to a brand-new project from Making Trails: Burton’s Bollards ....

This weekend marked the exciting launch of Buzz in the City , Chelmsford’s first-ever bee-themed sculpture trail — and what a buzz it...

At Making Trails, we’re best known for our bespoke creations —larger-than-life sculptures, interactive installations, town-spanning...

Imagine ten blank sculptures, painted by your local schoolchildren, artists, and community groups — transforming your town into an...