From September through October 2025, the Gavel Trail will feature more than a dozen striking, artist-designed sculptures—each in the shape of an auctioneer’s gavel and block—on display across the UK and internationally. These unique artworks will culminate in a high-profile auction.
Proceeds will go to:
- The Brain Tumour Charity
- The National Brain Appeal
- ICPCN (International Children’s Palliative Care Network)
Lot 1 - "Going Once, Going Twice… SOLD!"
Created by Nicolette Alexander
“Going Once, Going Twice… SOLD!” captures the thrill of the auction moment in bold Pop Art style. Bursting with color and comic energy, this hand-painted gavel transforms tradition into playful storytelling and joy.
Gavel Host: Simon Charles
Gavel Location: Simon Charles Auctioneers, Stanley Court, Stanley Green, Handforth, Cheshire, SK9 3RW
Lot 2 - "FAC Up The System"
Created by Amanda Quellin
A tribute to Madchester's explosive 80s/90s music revolution, “FAC Up the System” transforms a traditional symbol of authority, the gavel, into a riot of sonic and visual history. This hand-painted sculpture immortalises music forces that shaped not just a city, but an era and a youth culture, pioneered by Factory Records: Joy Division, New Order, The Fall, The Smiths, James, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, 808 State, Oasis, and legendary nightclub The Haçienda. A visual mixtape of Manchester’s music scene, this piece was created for the Gavel Trail 2025 in support of our charity partners, celebrating radical creativity and the power of community.
Gavel Sponsor: British Medical Auctions
Gavel Location: Unit 1, Sterling Centre, Eastern Rd, Bracknell RG12 2PW
Lot 3 - "The White Rose Gavel"
Created by Cathy Simpson
This bespoke gavel symobolises the second chance at life that auctions provide for assets. It reflects a commitment to sustainability by celebrating the reuse and repurposing of equipment — breathing new life into pre-owned items. As a tribute to its heritage, the gavel also features the iconic Yorkshire Rose.
Gavel Sponsor: BPI Auctions
Gavel Location: BPI, Unit 1, Ripley House, Ripley Drive, Normanton WF6 1QT
Lot 4 - "The Gavel"
Created by Helena Traill
This gavel sculpture and painting depict Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey - a place Helena often visited with her father, who lived with a brain tumour for 24 years. The piece honours their shared love of nature and supports causes close to her heart.
Please note that Helena is offering her painting alongside the gavel
Gavel Sponsor: Chiswick Auctions
Gavel Location: 10 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London, W4 4DH
Lot 5 - "Art Is Fun"
Created by Dave Buonaguidi a.k.a The Real Hackney Dave
A giant gavel, resin with pink spray paint and applied stickers.
Gavel Sponsor: Forum Auctions
Gavel Location: 4 Ingate Pl, Nine Elms, London SW8 3NS
Lot 6 - "No Regrets!"
Created by Mario Dalpra
Bursting with contemporary artist Mario Dalpra’s typical use of bold colour, No Regrets! nods to a common refrain from the auctioneers at the Galerie Zacke podium, borrowed from the French sans regret. The piece captures the energy and theatre of the auction room while reimagining the gavel as an expressive canvas.
Painted in vivid layers of orange, pink, purple, green, and turquoise, with dynamic drips and splashes of colour.
Gavel Sponsor: Galerie Zacke
Gavel Location: SZA Versteigerungen und Vertriebs GmbH, Zelinkagasse 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Lot 7 - "A Lot Of Wisdom"
Created by Millie Wicker
A Lot of Wisdom is a Unique Striking & Playful Hand Painted Auctioneers Gavel Sculpture, Bursting with Vibrant Colour. The Gavel is Painted in Bold Yellows, Reds and Blacks with Whimsical Stencil-Style Owl & Gavel Motifs. The Base is Painted to Resemble a Brick Wall, Grounding the Piece with an Urban, Street-Art Aesthetic.
The Work Combines the Formal Symbolism of an Auctioneers Gavel with a Rebellious Pop-Art Twist, Making it Both Humorous and Thought-Provoking. Its Oversized Scale and Vivid Spray-Paint Finish give it an Eye-Catching Presence, Perfect as a Statement Piece for an Office, Gallery or Creative Workspace.
Key Features: Oversized Gavel Sculpture on Painted Plinth; Bright Spray-Painted Design with Stencil-Style Owls & Gavels; Mix of Urban Graffiti and Pop Art Influences; A Unique Conversation Starter and Collectible Original Art Piece
Gavel Sponsor: G.J. Wisdom
Gavel Location: Unit 1, 2 Faraday Way, Orpington BR5 3QW
Lot 8 - "Hansons Golden Gavel"
Created by Charles Hanson
Going, going… GOLD!
TV auctioneer and personality Charles Hanson (Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, Flog It!) has swapped the saleroom for the studio to create his very first artwork – a giant gavel painted in shimmering gold.
The “Golden Gavel” is a bold and playful celebration of the hammer as the ultimate symbol of the auction world. With a gleaming finish and Hanson’s trademark energy behind it, this unique piece captures the theatre, drama and excitement of life under the hammer.
This is Charles’s artistic debut – and, fittingly, his golden touch will raise funds for three incredible charities. Hammer down… who will bid for the Golden Gavel?
Gavel Sponsor: Hansons
Lot 9 - "It Was A Nice Picnic Until..."
Created by George Clarke
This design tells the story of a quaint summer picnic on the verge of disaster. Featuring a gingham table cloth, bunting and a teetering tiered sponge cake decorated with summer fruits. This playfully decorated sculpture intends to evoke fond memories of summer, sun and celebration.
Gavel Sponsor: Roseberys
Gavel Location: 70-76 Knights Hill, Norwood, London SE27 0JD
Lot 10 - "Yorkshire: From the Dales to the Sea"
Created by Jonathan Armigel Wade
Tennants was delighted to commission their gavel from Northern artist Jonathan Armigel Wade, who has had a longstanding relationship with the auctioneers. Jonathan has created a dynamic and vibrant 3D representation of Yorkshire in his unique ‘curvispective’ style. Capturing a slice of Yorkshire life, the gavel depicts the county from summer to winter, from the Dales to the sea, with a picturesque market town, the rolling hills of the Dales, farms, cricketers, a racecourse, and the dramatic coastline with Whitby Abbey in the distance. With his characteristic sense of humour, Jonathan has added in amusing details, such as a tiny cat waiting to be let in by its owner and a Yorkshire Pudding shop. He has even included four tiny white roses to represent the four Ridings of Yorkshire.
Jonathan was inspired by the memory of an article Tennants’ Chairman Rodney Tennant, himself a passionate Yorkshireman, had written many years ago, championing the county and describing how much he loved the variety of landscape Yorkshire offers, from the scenic Dales through the green fields of the Vale of York to the North Yorkshire Moors and the beaches and cliffs of the coast.
Gavel Sponsor: Tennants
Gavel Loaction: The Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5SG
Lot 11 - "Beryl & Dot At The Queen of Hearts"
Created by Lucy Manfredi MA, MAFA
A striking and deeply personal sculpture, with each element thoughtfully chosen to reflect the artist’s own style and The North. The Blue Willow patterned plate stack nods to the ceramic industry, while the beer pump, a familiar motif in many of the artist’s works, adds a touch of nostalgia. At the heart of the sculpture are the artist’s signature figures, the ladies enjoying a sherry surrounded by a selection of baked goods from the local café, a Jammie Dodger adorns the head of the gavel.
The border pays homage to Wade Whimsies, the beloved miniature collectable ceramics including the iconic sheep and hedgehog, along with the charming KP Friars monks series. These celebrate George Wade’s family’s rich ceramic heritage and his courageous journey after a double brain tumour diagnosis in 2024, which inspired this heartfelt initiative supporting incredible causes. On the opposite side are playing cards, ceramic cups and saucers, while a tucked away corner quietly celebrates horse racing.
Every detail captures the warmth and character of Northern life. Each time you look, you’ll notice something new, and it will be sure to bring a smile to your face!
Gavel Sponsor: Wilson55
Gavel Location: Victoria Gallery, Market St, Nantwich CW5 5DG
Lot 12 - "Industrial Strength Bidding"
Created by Megan Smith-Evans
This gavel is reimagined in a bold, futuristic design, rendered in metallic silver, deep grey, and vivid yellow. The piece incorporates industrial motifs, from rivet-like detailing to hazard-striping, alongside a lightning bolt emblem set within an intricate network of coloured lines on the base.
With its dynamic palette and mechanical aesthetic, the gavel evokes themes of power, energy, and modern industry. Both sculptural and symbolic, it transforms a traditional auctioneer’s tool into a commanding statement piece of contemporary decorative art.
Gavel Host: Aberdeen & Northern Marts
Gavel Location: Aberdeen & Northern Marts, Thainstone Business Centre, Inverurie AB51 5XZ
Lot 13 - "The Delft Gavel"
Created by Jodie Silverman
Hand-painted in a Delftware-inspired blue and white palette. The surface of this gavel is richly decorated with intricate floral motifs and folkloric imagery, including hares, horses, and birds. The dynamic design merges traditional decorative art with contemporary expression, elevating a familiar object into a striking work of art.
Both sculptural and symbolic, this gavel stands as a unique statement piece that celebrates craftsmanship, imagination, and the transformation of everyday forms into decorative art.
Gavel Host: Halls
Gavel Location: Halls Holdings House, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury SY4 3DR
Lot 14 - "The Mighty Striker"
Created by Jess Perrin
This gavel is transformed into a playful spectacle of colour and pattern, inspired by the visual language of vintage fairgrounds and circus attractions. Bold stripes, stars, and gold detailing adorn the handle and head, while the base is styled like a traditional strength tester, emblazoned with the words “Mighty Striker.”
Brimming with nostalgia and theatricality, the piece captures the energy and exuberance of classic carnival design. Both whimsical and commanding, it reimagines the auctioneer’s gavel as a celebratory symbol of entertainment, performance, and spectacle.
Gavel Host: Helen & Douglas House
Gavel Location: 14A Magdalen Rd, Oxford OX4 1RW
Lot 15 - "Where Tradition Meets Technology"
Created by Nicolette Alexander
“Where Tradition Meets Technology” reimagines the gavel as a bridge between the antique rituals of the saleroom and the digital networks that now connect global audiences. With gilded topography, silver circuitry, and warm wood tones, it celebrates auctions as both timeless and transformed.
Gavel Sponsor: Bidpath
70 Wapping Wall
London
E1W 3SS
UK
