Bell Ingram welcomes nationwide ‘Flock to the Show’ campaign

Rural property and business specialists, Bell Ingram, is taking part in a large public art trail celebrating Scotland’s farming community ahead of the Royal Highland Show this Summer.

Flock to the Show is a nationwide event featuring 39 painted sheep that will tour the country from the Highlands to the Borders to promote the return of the Golden Shears Competition to this year’s Highland Show.

Golden Shears 2023 will see the best shearers and wool handlers from over 30 different countries descend on the Royal Highland Show to compete to be the World Champion. This is one of the biggest events in the shearing calendar and will be a tightly fought spectacular.

As well as promoting the Show, each sheep raises awareness of a particular issue affecting the Scottish farming industry. Bell Ingram is sponsoring Rainbow, a beautifully designed multicoloured blackface sheep by artist Emma McKie. Rainbow’s unique design is made up of painted balls of wool highlighting the hardship faced by sheep farmers selling their wool at plummeting prices.

Bell Ingram, which has headquarters on Isla Road in Perth will be taking part in the event and will be hosting Rainbow during the Tayside section of the trail between April 18^th – 28^th and would encourage members of the public to come and get their picture taken with the beautiful sculpture.

Emma describes the inspiration behind Rainbow: “Historically sheep were always prized for their fleece. Since the Stone Age, wool has been on of the most effective forms of all-weather protection known to mankind. It breathes, isolates, keeps off moisture and is temperature regulating and self-cleaning. Unfortunately, in the last few decades, the mass production of synthetic fibres and fast fashion has caused the demand for natural wool to plummet. Most farmers now face the hardship of paying more to have the fleece sheared than they make selling it. So my design it to celebrate where real wool comes from.” 

Bell Ingram’s Managing Partner, Mark Mitchell says: “We are excited to welcome Emma McKie’s Rainbow to the Bell Ingram office in Perth. Supporting the Scottish farming community is integral to Bell Ingram’s Rural Land Management work and, as avid supporters of the Highland Show we are delighted to get involved in their latest campaign.

“Everyone is welcome to visit Rainbow during her stay here at our office overlooking the Tay. We look forward to throwing open our doors to the public and seeing all the social media activity promoting this great cause.”

Bell Ingram’s office is located at Durn, Isla Road, Perth, PH2 7HF.