Thought Bubble festival and LeedsBID reveal ‘The Trail for Hope’

Thought Bubble and LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) have come together to curate an exciting and innovative comic art installation project across Leeds City Centre. Starting on the 20th July 2021 and running for six weeks, The Trail For Hope features a brand new story created by world-renowned comic artist and Thought Bubble Festival founder, Tula Lotay (DC, Marvel, Image Comics, Disney).

Conveniently starting next to Leeds train station at the iconic Majestic building, the trail consists of a sequential comic story divided into eight parts, winding its way on a loop around the city with the artwork showcased at several leading Leeds retail and hospitality venues. Encompassing roughly one hour of walking time, the trail encourages comic art fans and the wider public to follow the route at their own pace, taking in the sights and sounds of the city as they go.

The creative collaboration is themed around community and regrowth, and is intended to add to the cities thriving public art offering. Families and individuals from the region and further afield are encouraged to come and enjoy this captivating artwork while experiencing Leeds’ outstanding retail and hospitality offering.

‘The Trail For Hope’ will form part of the ambitious Leeds Jurassic Trail 2 project. Brought to the city by LeedsBID working with Leeds City Council and key retail partners, it boasts 13 moving, roaring animatronic dinosaurs including flying Pteranodons, a huge Diplodocus, the ever-popular T-Rex and the world’s first Yorkshiresaurus – across 12 locations in one of the country’s most ambitious city centre partnerships.

Tula Lotay (pictured) is the pen name of Leeds born artist Lisa Wood. A leading light in illustration and comic art, Lisa has been called on to create work for the likes of DC Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Image Comics, Warner Brothers, Disney, Playboy, Entertainment Weekly and Variety. Alongside her work as an artist, Lisa is the founder and director of Thought Bubble Festival. The UK’s largest comic art festival, Though Bubble takes place across Yorkshire each November, ending with a huge convention at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Tula said: “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to bring beautiful comic art to the centre of Leeds. The anticipation has been immense from the moment the dinosaur eggs arrived within the city. I feel very lucky to be able to be a part of such an exciting project and can’t wait to see everyone's faces once they get to see what we’ve been up to! Community is deep rooted within my work ethic and to be able to create something accessible for anyone to view has made it even more rewarding!”

Karen Butler, LeedsBID’s Head of Place Management & Delivery said: “It is great to be collaborating with Thought Bubble on what is such a fun and unique set of artwork, showcasing a home-grown talent as well as a renowned international festival, while adding to the city’s amazing array of art which everyone can enjoy. Working with the festival and businesses, we hope to help inject more colour and creativity into the city, providing points of interest for people coming back in while finding innovative ways to support key sectors as part of the ongoing recovery”

'The Trail For Hope’ will run from 20th July for six weeks across Leeds City Centre.

Venues include: The Majestic, Fint, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, OK Comics, Travelling Man, Cafe 164, Fred Aldous & Waterlane Boat House.

Photo credit: Andrew Benge