ONE of Yorkshire’s leading wildlife sculptors has opened at exhibition at Nunnington Hall dedicated to the leap year.

Emma Stothard has created an exhibition especially for the National Trust property celebrating each of the 366 days this year.

The individual hares include sculptures, illustrations and paintings, all displayed within the Smoking Room and set among its historic collection.

“We are so pleased that Emma felt inspired by Nunnington Hall and its history to create a special installation – it’s great to welcome Emma back,” said Laura Kennedy, the visitor experience manager at Nunnington Hall.

“We are looking forward to seeing her work within the Smoking Room, where the work will sit alongside the historic collection.”

Emma has spent the last year creating each of the 366 sculptures, exploring the ever-changing architecture while experimenting with contemporary methods.

Textiles include clay, wire and willow sculpture, textile hangs and cushions. The work ranges from four-foot willow sculptures to four-inch miniature wire and clay collectables and will be placed through the room in full view and some of the hidden spaces, nooks and crannies from drawers and under furniture.

“Nunnington Hall has such a rich sense of history – generations have lived here, and you can feel their presence in the furniture, the wallpaper and the textiles,” said Emma.

“Each hare that I have handmade represents a day of the year 2020, and each of those days is going to be special for someone – a birthday, an anniversary, maybe even a proposal of marriage on the Leap Day itself.”

The exhibition is open until November 1. Nunnington Hall is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.30am to 5pm. For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall