‘Oh, I Do Like to Waddle Beside the Seaside’ is one of over 30 giant penguin sculptures forming part of Waddle-on-Sea, a free, family-friendly public art trail running from 11 July to 3 September 2025 across Southend-on-Sea and Leigh-on-Sea. The trail is organised by Havens Hospices in partnership with Wild in Art, raising vital funds for local hospice care.

Designed by local artist and illustrator Craig Hallums, the penguin is a joyful, narrative-led design that invites trail-goers to follow in the footsteps of a penguin as it explores the coast.

He says, “The design was inspired by the idea of creating a sort of meta version of the trail itself. The sculpture follows a penguin wandering through a seaside town, meeting other penguin characters along the way. The name, ‘Oh, I Do Like to Waddle Beside the Seaside’, came from my love of a good pun.”

Craig has been passionate about art since childhood, studying fine art formally after school. This sculpture offered a new kind of challenge, allowing him to experiment with new materials and techniques on a larger scale.

He says, “This penguin has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m usually a small-scale illustrator, so working on something this size was a big change. I used spray paint for the base to get solid colours, then added detail with paint pens—closer to my usual style. I always think if I’m not pushing myself creatively, then there’s no point.

“Translating a 2D design onto a 3D sculpture was a huge learning curve. Understanding how lines change with the curves of the statue and that it’s viewed from every angle, not just one, was a challenge.”

Asked why he decided to get involved with the trail and support Havens Hospices, Craig says, “I was drawn to take part in Waddle-on-Sea because I loved the buzz around Herd In The City last year. My daughter was obsessed with the trail, and she absolutely loves penguins, so this felt like the perfect fit.

“It’s also really personal to me. A year ago, my mum was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Hopefully, she’ll never need Havens Hospices’ services, but knowing there are people out there supporting families like mine means the world. It’s comforting to know that help exists when it’s needed most.”

As a lifelong Southend resident, Craig is proud to be contributing to a trail he knows the community will embrace.

Craig says, “Southend has such a strong creative energy, and I think the community is going to love this. As someone who’s lived here my whole life, it’s amazing to see the town come alive with colour and creativity. I feel honoured to be part of it.

“One of the best things about this trail is how it brings art to people where they are. Galleries aren’t always accessible or welcoming to everyone, but something like this invites people to engage with art in a way that feels natural. Southend already does this really well, and I think the trail builds on that.”

The trail promises a vibrant summer of discovery, fun, and fundraising—and Craig can’t wait to see it unfold.

He says, “I’m really excited to see the trail come to life. I know some of the other artists involved and have seen snippets of their work—there’s a real buzz. I can’t wait to walk the trail and take it all in.

“Most importantly, this trail will raise a huge amount of money for an incredible cause. That’s the cherry on top of the whole experience.”

At the end of the trail, the penguins will be sold at auction to raise vital funds for the free, specialist care and support Havens Hospices provides for people of all ages and their families living with incurable conditions. The charity’s last two art trails, ‘Hares About Town’ and ‘Herd In The City’, raised more than £1 million for local hospice care, thanks to the generosity of the local community.

The Waddle-on-Sea app will be available from the App Store and Google Play from the start of July.

To stay up with the huddle, visit www.waddleonsea.co.uk or follow us on social media – @waddleonsea on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

To discover more about Craig Hallums and his work, follow @craighallumsart on Instagram.

Published on 16th June 2025