THE Guest Director for Brighton Festival 2018 is designing a giant snail sculpture for a unique public art event to support a hospice.

Turner Prize nominated artist and Brighton resident David Shrigley is supporting Snailspace in aid of Martlets Hospice.

The trail of 50 giant snail sculptures will take place across the city from September 15 until November 18.

It is being run by the team responsible for the popular Snowdogs campaign which raised more than £310,000 for the charity in 2016.

Shrigley’s contribution, sponsored by printers One Digital, will be sited outside the Grade 1 listed Brighton Dome on Church street.

He said: “I’m very happy to participate in this project and to be able to help the wonderful work of the Martlets hospice.”

Hospice CEO Imelda Glackin said: “We’re delighted that David Shrigley is designing a snail for our Snailspace public art event.

“It is highly fitting that it will be displayed at Brighton Dome in the year that he was Guest Director of the Brighton Festival.

“We’d like to thank One Digital for sponsoring this snail and supporting our campaign which will ultimately help fund our life-changing care.”

David Shrigley is best known for his dark and funny drawings that comment on the absurdity of modern society.

He was nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize in 2013.

Last year, he created Really Good - a seven-metre-high bronze sculpture of a thumbs-up - for Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth.

Lynn Brazier from sponsor One Digital said: “Our connection with Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival extends many years and we have happily supported the Festival and will continue to do so.

“To have the opportunity to sponsor the snail, designed by David Shrigley and to be positioned at the beautiful Brighton Dome, was most welcome and a very easy decision to make.

“Above all we are very pleased to be involved with helping raise money for Martlets Hospice and support the amazing work they do.

“Let’s hope we beat last year’s fundraiser – we do love a challenge!”

The trail of 50 giant snail sculptures, each uniquely decorated by an artist, will be on show for nine weeks, encouraging locals to be tourists in their own city and generating a giant snail sized ‘feel-good’ factor.

The giant gastropods will be joined by a host of smaller snails as part of the Junior Snailway.

More than 50 nurseries, schools and youth groups will decorate their own snails, which will be displayed in accessible locations across the city.

At the end, there will be a celebratory Farewell Event.