From Essex to Plymouth in search of Guiding Lights

Some people plan their short breaks around beaches, shopping or sightseeing but Essex sisters Maria Wallis-Holloway and Emma Wallis love nothing better than a charity art trail.

The lure of St Luke’s Guiding Lights – running until 13 September – enticed the adventurous pair from Epping to come to Plymouth for the first time and spend three days out on the streets exploring the trail’s lighthouse sculptures, with the bonus of discovering all the other attractions the city has to offer.

Maria and Emma are dedicated followers of our partners Wild in Art, who co-produce several trails and auctions each year for charitable organisations around the UK.

It’s Maria’s job to keep an eye on their website for new trails and plan trips to fit around Emma’s four-days-on, four-days-off shift pattern working in security.

They have been following the trails for around five years, starting with one much nearer to home at Southend, which gave them the bug. Since then, the intrepid duo have travelled across the country, making the most of rail travel and the occasional car journey to explore new places and new art.

Emma said: “It gives us exercise and a chance to see different cities. We like to support the artists and at the same time we find lots of other things to do, like museums.”

Maria’s own experience as a full-time carer for her husband before he died gives the fundraising aspect of the trails a special significance.

“I think we do this because my husband was disabled and it’s good to know that it’s not just about the art – you are supporting a charity.”

“We make a point of buying trail souvenirs or picking up something from the charity shop along the way to support the causes behind the events.”

When we caught up with the sisters at lunchtime outside the Arts University, admiring the Greenhouse lighthouse by Charlotte Pepper, they were trundling their suitcases on their third day of walking the city and had collected 34 sculptures on the Guiding Lights app along the way.

They were determined to tick off all the full-size sculptures before catching the train back to Essex in the afternoon.

“We walked 10 miles yesterday,” said Maria. “And we discovered there’s quite a lot to do in Plymouth – I don’t think people realise how much there is here.”

The sisters love how the lighthouses have been brought to life in such inventive ways by local and national artists.

“A lot of the trails are animal sculptures,” said Maria. “We’ve really liked seeing the lighthouses because they’re a bit different.”

They were reluctant to pick an all-out favourite but they did confess to a particular affection for Spotlight by Natalie Ratcliffe, the disco ball effect lighthouse at Royal William Yard.

Emma was also full of praise for the layout of the Guiding Lights trail, with sculptures grouped in walkable areas across the city.

“This is a really good trail because the lighthouses are concentrated in certain areas so it’s easy to get around and see them all,” she said. “You haven’t got to go searching high and low.”

They also enjoy the social side of the art trail experience.

“We really like meeting and chatting to other people doing the trails as we go round,” said Maria. “Everyone in Plymouth has been really friendly.”

With comfy memory foam trainers and railcard at the ready, the sisters have no plans to slow down – next stops in the coming weeks are trails Dartford and Portsmouth.

“We do it all year round. It’s a great opportunity to get out and about for a little while and it’s wonderful for families too,” said Maria as the pair wheeled their suitcases up to The Box for a pitstop and a chance to see some of the Little Lights decorated by children and young people, and tick off Classic Games by Mandii Pope.