ARTIST Helen Peyton, who owns and runs The Magpie in Albion Square, Skipton, bought one of the original members of the town’s famous flock of 25 decorated fibreglass sheep in an online auction run by Skipton Auction Mart in August.

It was initially hand-painted as part of Skipton Town Council’s ground-breaking “Flock to Skipton” tourism-boosting initiative in 2010 by local artist Maria Silmon, who now lives and works in Whitby. She christened it ‘YouEwe.

In need of a brush up because of wear and tear, Mrs Peyton temporarily re-housed the sheep in her home studio, employing her artistic skills on a sympathetic restoration and makeover that has returned the sheep to its former glory, though retaining many of its original features

Utilising chalk paint the sheep – now renamed Ewe2 – has returned to the town centre to go on permanent display outside the shop, having picked up two birds of a feather in the process courtesy of Mrs Peyton – what else but two joyous magpies!

She took over at The Magpie, an Aladdin’s Cave of antiques, curios and collectibles, also doubling up as an art gallery and workshops, earlier this year. Behind the Town Hall next to Skipton’s main High Street car park, the shop is currently open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10-4pm, or by appointment, due to the coronavirus restrictions.

“It’s nice to see refurbished Ewe2 back where she belongs in the Skipton fold. Hopefully, she will once again prove a real eye-catcher and talking point, and help people flock to our neck of the woods,” said Mrs Peyton.

The 25 larger-than-life sheep sculptures – painted in eye-catching designs – formed a trail around the town in 2010 with the aim they would bring people ‘flocking’ to the town during the quiet times between the end of the summer and Christmas.

At the end of the project they were auctioned off and many remain in the area, including one at High Corn Mill.