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Date: 25 March 2025

Author: Eleanor Collins

The Julia’s House Great Tail Trail brings together art, community, and charity in a unique and inspiring way, featuring beautifully designed mermaid tail sculptures across coastal locations. One of the standout sculptures in this year’s trail is Ocean Dance, a vibrant and flowing design created by artist Ellie Newbury. Sponsored by MSP Capital, Ocean Dance captures the movement and beauty of marine life, using bold colours and striking patterns to bring the undersea world to life.

For Ellie, an artist, illustrator, and surface designer from the Isle of Portland on the Dorset coast, this project has been an exciting opportunity to combine her artistic passion with her deep love of nature. “My artwork is hugely inspired by the beautiful wildlife, landscapes and coastlines in the world around me, resulting in calming, colourful illustrations that spark joy and wonder, and enhance appreciation for the natural world,” she shares.

Inspired by the natural world

Ellie’s artwork is deeply connected to her surroundings. Living by the sea, she often finds inspiration in the coastal landscapes she explores on walks, as well as through her outdoor adventures in snorkelling and paddleboarding. These experiences informed her design for Ocean Dance, a sculpture that celebrates the life and movement found beneath the waves.

“In the case of my Ocean Dance tail design, it is a celebration of the thriving and extraordinary inhabitants of the undersea world, inspired by the mermaid theme of the trail and the coastal locations that the sculptures will be positioned in,” Ellie explains. “I also love working with joyful, eye-catching colours and flowing lines, so have incorporated these visuals into the design, with the ocean creatures dancing and flowing around the beautiful shape of the tail sculpture form.”

Her artistic approach emphasises movement and harmony, bringing to life the rhythm of the sea through her carefully chosen palette and fluid compositions. The swirling, interconnected forms of the fish and waves evoke a sense of wonder, encouraging viewers to appreciate the beauty of marine ecosystems.

The creative process

Unlike many of her usual works, which are created digitally, Ocean Dance gave Ellie the opportunity to work with traditional paint and bring her designs to life on a three-dimensional surface. “I drew my initial design digitally using my iPad and Apple pen, as this is the way that I am most used to working,” she says. “For this project, it has been great fun to then bring my digital design to life by getting the paintbrushes out and painting directly onto the sculpture using emulsion paint.”

Her technique involved an unexpected but effective approach to colour layering. “Contrary to the way many people think I have worked, I started by painting the whole sculpture in the yellow/orange/pink gradient colours to form the colour of the fish before then painting the fish shapes over the top of this background in the negative space using blue paint,” Ellie reveals. “My style is influenced by block printing and paper cutting techniques, so I enjoy working with the negative space in this way.”

Painting on such a large, curved surface was a new challenge for Ellie, but one she embraced wholeheartedly. The process of creating Ocean Dance also brought some unexpected logistical hurdles—one of which involved manoeuvring the enormous tail sculpture into her home studio.

“The tails are so large that they wouldn’t fit through the front door of my house to get to my painting space,” she recalls. “My very supportive husband and I therefore carried them all the way around my row of terraced houses, through the back garden and through my slightly wider conservatory door. I had two tails to paint, so while I was painting one in the conservatory, the other one was squeezed in next to my dining room table – my husband and I therefore spent a couple of months eating our dinner with a giant mermaid’s tail looming over us!”

Despite these obstacles, the experience was positive, allowing Ellie to push her artistic boundaries and contribute to a meaningful cause. “It has been such a wonderful and exciting experience to create artwork that will bring joy and inspiration to the people who visit the trail,” she says.

Supporting Julia’s House

Beyond the artistic challenge, Ellie was drawn to this project by her admiration for Julia’s House, a charity that provides vital support for local children and their families. When the opportunity arose to be involved in the Great Tail Trail, she knew she wanted to contribute.

“As a Dorset resident, I am aware of the wonderful work that Julia’s House do for our local children and their families,” Ellie says. “Therefore, when the opportunity came up to submit artwork for the Great Tail Trail, I jumped at the chance to get involved and support this wonderful local charity.”

By participating in the trail, Ellie’s work will not only bring joy to those who visit the sculptures but will also help raise funds and awareness for Julia’s House, ensuring that their invaluable work continues to make a difference in the lives of children who need it most.

A message of joy and wonder

Through Ocean Dance, Ellie hopes to inspire a sense of appreciation and respect for the natural world. “I enjoy creating calming, colourful artworks that bring a sense of joy, wonder, inspiration and respect for our natural world, which is something I hope that people can take away from Ocean Dance,” she shares.

Her flowing, dynamic design invites viewers to engage with the beauty and vibrancy of ocean life, reminding us all of the importance of protecting these precious ecosystems. The sculpture also serves as a reminder of how art can connect people to nature, encouraging them to look at the world around them with fresh eyes.

Where to Find Ellie’s Work

For those captivated by Ellie’s art, her work is available online through her website and social media:

She continues to create, innovate, and inspire, with upcoming projects that celebrate nature, storytelling, and artistic expression.

Advice for aspiring artists

For those looking to get involved in public art projects like this, Ellie’s advice is simple but powerful: “Keep on creating art and refining your skills so that when an opportunity comes along, you have the confidence to go for it.”

With her passion, dedication, and talent, Ellie Newbury has created something truly special with Ocean Dance—a sculpture that not only brings joy but also celebrates the magic of the ocean and the vital work of Julia’s House.

As proud sponsors of the Julia’s House Great Tail Trail, MSP Capital is pleased to support this meaningful initiative, which brings together art, community, and charity in a truly special way. Our sponsorship of Ocean Dance reflects our commitment to local causes and the incredible work of Julia’s House in supporting children and their families. We encourage everyone to explore the trail, discover the beautifully designed mermaid tail sculptures, and learn more about the inspiring work behind this project.

To find out more about Julia’s House and how you can support them, visit Julia’s House.

For details on the Great Tail Trail and to plan your visit, check out the official Tail Trail page.

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