Freshwater Parish Council would like to thank everyone involved in the hugely successful Skate Deck Art Auction, which, together with donations made during the run-up to the event and on the closing night itself, has now raised more than £7,000 towards the proposed new Freshwater Skatepark.
The closing night event, held at the Royal Solent Yacht Club on Saturday evening, brought together a packed audience of supporters, artists, volunteers, local councillors and members of the community who have backed the project since it first began in 2019.
Online auction showcases Island talent
The online auction featured a unique collection of skateboard decks painted by talented Island artists, with proceeds going directly towards the development of the new skatepark facility for Freshwater.
Freshwater Parish Council would like to extend sincere thanks to all the artists who donated their creativity and time, everyone who placed bids and attended the event, and the volunteers who helped organise and deliver the evening.
Special thanks also go to sponsors Wightlink and Rapanui for their valued support of the project.
A story inspired by the dragon
One of the highlights of the evening came before the auction closed, when writer and poet Harrison Wavell shared an original story inspired by the Freshwater “Dragon” logo, entitled Alfred’s Dragon.
The story followed a young boy named Alfred who dreams of discovering hidden gold and uses his fortune to build a skateboard park for the whole community to enjoy.
Heritage meets skate culture
The Freshwater skatepark dragon logo was designed by former Islander and skater Ged Wells of Insane Emporium. Inspired by the historic Freshwater Parish seal, originally created in 1895 by artist Alfred Sacheverell Coke, the design reimagines the legendary Dragon of King Arthur for a new generation.
Drawing influence from the decorative ironwork surrounding the tomb of King Henry VII in Westminster Abbey, Ged transformed the historic emblem into a dragon built from the shapes and flow of the skatepark itself – with its tail representing the bowl section, wings forming ramps and transitions, and its body reflecting the movement of the plaza. The result is a symbol that connects Freshwater’s heritage with modern skate culture and the future of the community skatepark project.
Contracts expected in the coming months
Speaking at the event, Chair of the Skatepark working party Councillor Caroline Pakel said,
“It has been a daunting task to raise the money for the skatepark, but we will be signing contracts in the weeks and months to come.
“We need more funds for the landscaping and drainage, but it’s all in the process of happening.”
Top bid goes to nautical triptych
The highest bid of the auction went to Nautical Compass, a triptych of three decks by Zoe Sadler, which raised £700.
Other featured works included other triptychs Cloudy Bay, Heading for No 9 by Anna Keen, “PictoGraffik // Typographic Abstraction” by Steve Miles and Oh Hela by Paul Windridge and a skate deck called “The Madness of King George (A Tribute To The Brighton Pavillion)” by Jenni Harrsion.
The auction itself raised £6,879, with additional donations received before and during the closing event taking the overall fundraising total to more than £7,000.
Community spirit drives project forward
Freshwater Parish Council’s Clerk Kirsty Kibson said,
“This project has been driven by an incredible amount of community spirit, generosity and determination over many years.
“The Skate Deck Art Auction has shown just how much support there is for creating a modern, inclusive skatepark for Freshwater.
“We are extremely grateful to every artist, bidder, volunteer and sponsor who helped make the event such a success and move the project another step closer to becoming a reality.”
Freshwater Parish Council said the success of the auction demonstrates the strength of community support behind the skatepark project and marks another important milestone towards delivering a new recreational facility for local young people and families.
New shared by Harrison on behalf of Freshwater Parish Council. Ed
