25 Jun 25
This year’s Dolphin Discovery Trail is about helping to raise vital funds for the GSPCA and Autism Guernsey. But through this fantastic initiative, it means we’re also able to showcase the incredible talent we have on our doorstep and further demonstrate our commitment to our Social Ambition strategy.
Meet the artists who created Moorvin: Rose Mahy and Trudie Shannon.
Rose, an avid crafter, and Trudie, a professional artist, have known each other since childhood. They lived on the same road and, for as long as they can both remember, would be to and fro between one another's homes. A few years on, and not much has changed; they might not live on the same street anymore, but spending as much time together as they can is just the same, and they can also proudly boast they have never argued.
The pair were introduced to the project after Rose received a message from her sister Sally, who sits on the Social Ambition team here at Moore Stephens and had the inspired idea to ask her sister, who is known for her ‘never a problem and always a challenge’ attitude. Rose recalled the message:
‘Hi Rose, you know you like to paint... how would you like to paint a dolphin? I thought about it and said I’ll have a go, but I’ll ask Trudie to help as she’s an artist, and I’m just a crafty, have-a-go-at-anything type of person.’
Trudie received a similar phone call from Rose. Surprisingly, this would be the first time the pair had worked together. Their first step was to collect the yet-to-be-named dolphin from the GSPCA and deliver it to a small greenhouse in Rose’s garden that would become their studio.
The creative process
As well as bringing her lifelong friend onboard, Rose asked her husband, Rick, to assist in the process of preparing Moorvin, who washed it down and painted it with a white weathershield undercoat. Reading the warning label on the paint tin, Rick was amused to read that the paint ‘can be harmful to marine life.’ Rose light-heartedly recollected her husband saying he ‘couldn’t paint the dolphin in that!’
Whilst Rick was prepping, Rose and Trudie started to think about how Moore Stephens could be reflected in the design and noticed how the logo was composed of triangles and how these shapes formed the letter ‘M’. The pair also wanted to use the brand colours and replicate the amount of colour they noticed on the website to ‘accentuate a bit more on the Moore Stephens blue but still use a lot of colours.’ They also decided to use a mixture of metallic sheen – which would replicate the effect of water when the light reflected – plus matt paints to mix up the textures. So, by using brightly painted triangles, they were sure it would creatively connect Moorvin to Moore Stephens.
The approach
To create the angles, Rose would place a piece of thin A4 card on Moorvin for Trudie to draw the line. As Trudie explained, it was ‘a bit of trial and error as it’s not a flat surface, but it became a spontaneous thing, and when it came to painting it, we did stick to our design - more or less.’
Laughing and moving up the sofa to slightly squash Trudie, Rose added: ‘We were as close as this - we were tripping over each other half the time.’
Once the triangles were drawn, the painting began, which required ‘three, four and in some cases five layers of paint.’ Rose explained, ‘it worked out well in the end; we were pleased.’
They spent around 60 hours creating the marvellous Moorvin, working on it every day for nearly two weeks ‘and we still didn’t fall out,’ joked Rose. Trudie was keen to make sure Rick's contribution wasn’t forgotten, ‘he made us lots of cups of tea! That was a major part of the experience!’
Once finished, they both looked forward to seeing Moorvin in situ at the Moore Stephens office. ‘It was the pièce de résistance’, Trudie recollected. ‘We were full of pride to go and see it.’
Rose added: ‘All you want is to be happy with your work, and watching the sun reflecting on the colours was beautiful.’
GSPCA and Autism Guernsey
Talking about the charities the Dolphin Discovery Trail is supporting, Trudie commented on how fortunate the island is to have them: ‘More and more children and adults are being diagnosed so it’s important that they’re there.’ Trudie commented.
Speaking about the GSPCA, Rose said: ‘I’ve contacted them a few times to take a rescue animal; they do a good job – they all do a good job.’
Rose and Trudie had a ball working together and enjoyed feeling 'united on a project for the first time'; they’re now looking for a blank wall to embark on their second project. Banksy...watch out!
As a sponsor of the Dolphin Discovery Trail, Moore Stephens Guernsey is proud to support the vital work of these local charities and through our Social Ambition Promise, we’ll continue to champion creativity and community, and ‘always be a driving force for positive social impact’ across the island.
