Fans of The BookBench Trail are being invited to attend the auction event online or in person next week, with the sculptures going under the hammer in Aberdeen to raise money for Clan Cancer Support.
Multiple bids have already been submitted for the artworks, with sales due to be finalised by TV personality and auctioneer Natasha Raskin Sharp at The Chester Hotel next Wednesday (October 8, 2025).
Sales of the items - which include 32 large and five small individually designed BookBench sculptures - will help raise vital funds for Clan Cancer Support, with bids starting at £3,000.
The charity recently revealed two new exclusive designs including Worth the W-Eight by local artist Ewen Milne to celebrate Aberdeen FC’s Scottish Cup victory and Bees and Blooms, a mini BookBench designed by internationally acclaimed illustrator Johanna Basford.
Interested buyers can now view all auction lots and make an expression of interest or place a bid by checking out the online auction catalogue.
Bidders can raise their paddle in person at The Chester Hotel, or they can opt to bid online throughout the event using a secure online platform.
Members of the public are very welcome to buy tickets to attend the event, or they can watch every bid online via a dedicated livestream for spectators.
All sales from the event will help the charity provide physical and emotional support to people impacted by a cancer diagnosis across the North-east, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.
Fiona Fernie, Clan’s chief executive officer, said: “The excitement is growing as we look ahead to the live auction for The BookBench Trail. We’ve already had interest from buyers and expect this to intensify in the coming days.
“No sale will be final until the hammer comes down on the night at The Chester and every winning bid will support our mission of helping people in our communities who are impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
“Members of the pubic are warmly invited to join us to see all the action in person at The Chester or online. We wouldn’t have a trail project without our amazing trail goers, and we look forward to sharing the final chapter of this wonderful project with them next week.”
In partnership with Wild in Art, The BookBench Trail aims to raise awareness of the leading north-east cancer charity which runs five support centres and additional outreach programmes across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney and Shetland and generate vital funding for its services.
The project showcased 41 BookBench sculptures displayed across a public art trail measuring more than 500 miles across Clan’s geography for nine weeks during the summer.
Charlie Langhorne, managing director and co-founder of Wild in Art said: “It’s been wonderful to see how much joy The BookBench Trail has brought to thousands of people this summer.
“Now it’s time for us to find forever homes for these wonderful BookBenches. Every winning bid will not only secure a beautiful piece of art,but will also help to create a lasting legacy for Clan Cancer Support.”
Clan chose the 1.4metre wide BookBench sculpture, which depicts an open book, because of its lifeline listening support service which enables anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis to open up and tell their story.
Clan’s previous trail projects Light the North (2021) and The Big Hop Trail (2023) have raised a combined total of more than £520,000 for Clan services.
Tickets for The BookBench Trail Auction cost £25 and include a drink and canapes. Guests can arrive at The Chester Hotel from 5.45pm on Wednesday, October 8, with the auction due to start at 6.30pm.
For more information, please visit: www.clancancersupport.org/the-book-bench-trail/auction/