October 14, 2021 8.21 am This story is over 28 months old

How much each Lincoln Imp Trail sculpture sold for at auction

The auction raised money for charity

By Local Democracy Reporter

The auction for the sculptures on this year’s Lincoln Imp Trail raised £128,000 for charity partner St Barnabas Hospice, with one Imp proving to be the star seller of the show.

The 31 statues which were on display around Lincoln throughout the summer, as well as one in Skegness, were put under the hammer for a special farewell event at Lincoln Cathedral on Lincolnshire Day, October 1.

The trail, organised by Lincoln BIG, was very popular with people out and about in Lincoln, though it did have some difficult moments to deal with, namely the damage to several sculptures throughout the trail.

The most spent on an imp at the auction was £10,000 for A Little Lucky, closely followed by £8,000 for both The Folklore Imp and the Lincolnshire Imp.

In total the auction raised £128,000 for the Lincoln Imp Trail’s charity partners St Barnabas Hospice, as Ian Walter from JH Walter auctioned off each magnificent sculpture for ticket buyers who were keen to own a piece of modern Lincoln history.

Ian Walter previously actioned for charity the Barons trail statues which raised £167k in 2015, and the Knights in 2017, raising almost £180k. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Are you a proud new owner of one of the sculptures? Get in touch with us at [email protected].

Here is a breakdown of what each Imp sold for at the auction, with all photos from John Aron for The Lincolnite.


1: The Legend of the Imp – £8,000

Designed by Sian Bristow

Sponsored by Nicholsons Chartered Accountants

No. 1 The legend of the imp


2: City Trail Imp – £3,500

Designed by Mel Langton

Sponsored by Lincolnshire Society of Architects

No. 2 City trail Imp


3: And The Adventure Begins – £7,500

Designed by Eleanor Hancock

Sponsored by University of Lincoln

No. 3 and the adventure begins.


4: Lincoln Footie Imp – £3,000

Designed by Mik Richardson

Sponsored by Lincoln BIG / Lincoln City Football Club

No.4, the Lincoln Footie Imp


5: The Running Imp – £2,000

Designed by Sian Bristow

Sponsored by Running Imp

No. 5 The Running Imp.


6: Past Echos – £3,000

Designed by Jem Dunn

Sponsored by Stagecoach East Midlands

No. 6 Past Echos


7: Yellow Belly – £3,000

Designed by Inspiratori Art

Sponsored by Cornhill Quarter

No 7 Yellow Belly


8: Celestial – £3,000

Designed by Inspiratori Art

Sponsored by LEAP and Investors in Lincoln

No.8 Celestial


9: Imp-Entertainment – £3,000

Designed by Deven Bhurke

Sponsored by Bottomley Distillers

No.9 Imp-Entertainment


10: Harlequin Imp – £2,000

Designed by Melanie Clare

Sponsored by New Theatre Royal

No10 Harlequin Imp


11: Lincolnshire Imp – £8,000

Designed by Jon Garside

Sponsored by Daniel Charles Construction

No11 Lincolnshire Imp


12: The Legend of the Imp – £4,000

Designed by Jemima Cholmondeley-Smith

Sponsored by St Marks Shopping Centre

No.12 The Legand of the Imp


13: Post IMPressionist – £4,000

Designed by Susan Webber

Sponsored by Ruddocks

No 13 Post Impressionist


14: RAF Legends – £4,000

Designed by Sue Hetfield

Sponsored by Lincoln Digs

No14 RAF Legends


15: Community Imp – £2,500

Designed by Sian Bristow

Sponsored by Lincolnshire Live

No15 Community Imp


16: Majestic Imp – £3,000

Designed by Lizzie Mason

Sponsored by Saul Fairholm

No 16 — Majestic imp.


17: Girls Can – £2,000

Designed by Rosie Ablewhite

Sponsored by Girlguiding in Lincolnshire

No 17 Girls Can Imp


18: Frozen Beauty – £3,500

Designed by MrASingh

Sponsored by Lincoln Business Club

No 18 Frozen Beauty


19: The Winding Roads of Lincolnshire – £2,500

Designed by Eleanor Hancock

Sponsored by Lincoln College

No.19 The Winding Roads of Lincolnshire


20: The Folklore Imp – £8,000

Designed by Carolyn Short

Sponsored by St Barnabas Hospice

No.20 The Folklore Imp


21: Imp-Dangered – £4,500

Designed by Frizzy Haych Creative

Sponsored by Just Audi VW

No 21 Imp Dangered


22: A Little Lucky – £10,000

Designed by Caroline Greyling

Sponsored by Chestnut Homes

No 22 A Little Lucky


23: Voyage of Discovery – £3,000

Designed by Rose Bowskill

Sponsored by Lincoln Cathedral

No.23 Voyage of Discovery


24: IMPenetrable – £2,000

Designed by Mik Richardson

Sponsored by Lincs Archiving Solutions

No.24 IMPenetrable.


25: Arcimpboldo the Healthy Imp – £3,500

Designed by Sue Guthrie

Sponsored by The Lincoln Hotel

No 25 Arcimpboldo the Healthy Imp


26: Wishing Imp – £4,500

Designed by Lissie Art

Sponsored by Lincolnshire Freemasons

No 26 Wishing Imp


27: Steam Explorer – £4,000

Designed by Rosie Ablewhite

Sponsored by Jacksons Workwear Rental Ltd

No 27 Steam Explorer


28: Woodland Imp – £4,000

Designed by Donna Newman Eden-designs

Sponsored by Branston Potatoes

No 28 Woodland Imp


29: Screen Legends – £2,000

Designed by Rosie Ablewhite

Sponsored by GAME Engineering Ltd

No 29 Screen Legends


30: Forest Imp – £2,000

Designed by Lissie Art

Sponsored by City of Lincoln Council

No.30 Forest Imp


31: Lincoln Vik-Imp – £3,500

Designed by Deven Bhurke

Sponsored by Lincolnshire Coastal BID

No.31 Lincoln Vik-Imp


32: Blank – £2,500

A fresh faced design, somewhat of a blank canvas for the new owner to do as they please.

An Imp sculpture with Sarah Loftus, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive. | Photo: Mick Fox