He’s Oor Wullie, your Wullie..and a’ artists Wullie: Information packs on how to design your own Oor Wullie can now be downloaded

HE has worn the same dungarees since 1936 so maybe it is time for Oor Wulllie to try a new look.

And artists from across the globe are being invited to transform Scotland’s favourite son and see their design feature in a spectacular national fundraiser.

Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail will see more than 150 sculptures of Wullie – all one-offs – on the streets of our towns and cities and around Scotland’s landmarks in a huge public art trail next year.

The scores of specially designed Wullies will go on display for families to enjoy in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness from June to September.After the 11-week public exhibition, they’ll be auctioned off to raise millions of pounds for Scotland’s children’s hospital charities.

Some have already been designed – but today we launch the search for artists, from gifted amateurs to experienced professionals, to submit their ideas for a brand new look for the spiky-haired Sunday Post icon. Designs for the blank sculptures – which feature a laughing Oor Wullie sitting on his famous bucket – are welcome in any art form, from traditional to new media, fine art to illustrations, graffiti and mosaic.

Backed by First Minster Nicola Sturgeon, Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail, run by Wild in Art, will unite artists, businesses, communities and schools as it raises awareness of the work of the charities helping sick children in Scotland.

Funds raised from the project will be donated to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (GCHC), Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and The ARCHIE Foundation – which together look after nearly half a million of the bravest youngsters in the country every year.

Shona Cardle, GCHC chief executive, said: “With Scotland’s favourite son as their canvas, we eagerly anticipate the submissions from artists hopeful of seeing their design come alive on a lifesize Oor Wullie sculpture. The art programme will inspire patients and create a truly unique trail.”

The summer-long event, which is free to view, follows the hugely successful Bucket Trail in Dundee two years ago, which raised £900,000 for The ARCHIE Foundation’s bid to place a specialist unit at Tayside Children’s Hospital at Ninewells.