04 Jul 2025
On the 18 June Maggies launched their ‘Scotties in the City’ at the Trades hall, unveiling plans for Glasgow’s most exciting new art trail and to photograph giant-sized launch Scottie, ‘Lochie’ – the first dog out leading the pack by Glasgow artist, Douglas Roulston.
The event was the formal call out for corporate sponsors and artists to get on board with the art trail, all in support of the cancer charity, Maggie’s. The vibrant trail is set to take place for eight weeks over the summer of 2026, when a pack of 50 beautifully designed, giant Scottie dogs will take over Glasgow, including the city and its suburbs.
Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, the Maggie’s centres are warm and welcoming spaces run by expert staff who help people live well with cancer. Maggie’s has nearly 30 years of experience providing free cancer support and information in 24 centres across the UK. Following the trail, the Scotties will be auctioned to raise much-needed funds for Maggie’s centres across Scotland.
The vibrant trail has been brought to life through a bold, fun and distinctive brand identity created by fellow Glasgow Chamber member Mearns & Gill - the creative marketing agency with teams in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Inspired by the spirit of the city and the personality of the Scottie dog sculptures, the colourful and playful brand captures the trail’s joyful energy while celebrating Maggie’s unique role in supporting people with cancer.
Project Manager for ‘Scotties in the City’ at Maggie’s, Hayley Smith says, “For eight weeks over the summer of 2026, 50 Scottie dogs will take over Glasgow. Each will be beautifully designed and painted by talented artists. It’s hoped that this fun art trail will play a key role in boosting the city’s social, cultural and economic development and draw in visitors to experience the charm of our city.
Today’s launch of Scotties in the City in partnership with Wild in Art, which showcases fabulously designed ‘Lochie’ – a Loch Lomond designed Scottie by Glasgow artist, Douglas Roulston – is to put a call out for artists and sponsors to get on board with this project exactly one year ahead of when the Scottie sculptures will take over the city.”
Alongside the trail, we will run an educational programme where 60 schools can also apply their own small Scottie complete with resources and lessons pack, which they can design and decorate. These smaller sculptures will also form part of the bigger art trail and be grouped in cultural and educational spaces. These much-loved smaller sculptures will eventually be returned to the proud school owners to have onsite.
At the end of the trail, we will host an evening where we will auction off our beautiful, giant Scotties with the aim of raising as much money as possible for Maggie’s, the cancer charity, to support as many families going through cancer treatment as possible.”
Hayley adds, “We know people have travelled far and wide to see art trails like this and many famous faces have bought giant sculptures from Wild In Art charity auctions in the past. Celebrities including Lorraine Kelly have got involved and tennis ace, Judy Murray, even bought a giant ‘Andy Murray - Wimbledon inspired’ penguin from a Wild In Art trail in Dundee five years ago. It’s people like Lorraine and Judy and corporate businesses that we will be interested in hearing from to bid for a Scottie at auction time.”
Charlie Langhorne, MD and co-founder of Wild in Art adds, “We are thrilled to be working with our friends and partners at Maggies on our first standalone trail in Glasgow.
Following the success of our previous partnerships in Dundee and St Andrews, we are confident that our Wild in Art Scottie Dogs will bring joy to both residents and tourists as they discover the trail and explore the city. Importantly, this initiative will also raise awareness and vital funds to support the invaluable work that Maggie's does to help people with cancer and their families.”
Malcolm Group have been announced as Maggie’s logistics partner for the Scotties in the City Art Trail.
If you would like to sponsor a Scottie Dog for Scotties in the City, please contact Hayley.smith@maggies.org or on 07593021181
For further information about Maggie’s Glasgow please go to https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-glasgow
Follow Maggie’s Glasgow on Facebook on www.facebook.com/maggiesglasgow for the latest news and stories and tweet us at @maggiesglasgow
