A hand-painted Lincoln Imp by a local artist

The Chronicle

Artist
Gallery

Local artists transformed blank imps for the St Hugh Foundation for the Arts Charity Event 2025, celebrating Lincoln's creativity and community spirit.

We handed a blank imp to artists from across Lincoln and let their imaginations run wild. From steampunk timekeepers to stained-glass tributes, no two were alike. Every piece was created in aid of the St Hugh Foundation for the Arts, a celebration of the talent and generosity that runs through our city.

The Collection

Bertie, a Lincoln Imp painted by Felix Francis — Bertie
by Felix Francis
This naughty imp finally got a taste of its own medicine, falling head first into a big glob of egg tempera paint. At least you'll be able to spot him from a distance with his new pink do.

The Timekeeper, a Lincoln Imp painted by Gina Munton — The Timekeeper
by Gina Munton
This steampunk-inspired imp pays homage to Lincoln's vibrant alt-Victorian scene. With brass goggles, a tailored waistcoat, and clockwork detail, The Timekeeper looks ready to tinker with time itself.

Lenny, a Lincoln Imp painted by Sally Victoria — Lenny
by Sally Victoria
Painted with my fingers, this bright, sparkly imp reflects the playful chaos of a colourful mind. Inspired by pure colour, he's a cheeky little dyslexic imp and a fellow artist; his lively energy captures the unique way he sees the world.

Caught in a Web, a Lincoln Imp painted by Meg Ferry — Caught in a Web
by Meg Ferry
Decorated with webs, bats, moons and sparkles. Inspired by everything spooky and my own tattoo work.

Skeletal Scamp, a Lincoln Imp painted by Poppy Brown — Skeletal Scamp
by Poppy Brown
A dark purple imp painted with a pastel pink, purple and blue gradient skeleton. He has fancy golden hooves, horns and beady gold eyes looking back at you. I wanted to make something both spooky and cute, which is very much a theme in my artwork.

Sunflower, a Lincoln Imp painted by Toni Stefaniuk — Sunflower
by Toni Stefaniuk
Painted in memory of my late father-in-law and as a token of friendship for all Ukrainians who have made their homes in Lincoln during and since the Second World War and during the current war. There was a thriving Ukrainian club in Lincoln for many years.

Starry Night, a Lincoln Imp painted by Ren Dorman — Starry Night
by Ren Dorman
This imp has been inspired by The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. It is a favourite painting of mine, and as a Fine Arts student at the University of Lincoln I really wanted to create an art-themed imp.

Midnight Garden Imp, a Lincoln Imp painted by Kerry Wint — Midnight Garden Imp
by Kerry Wint
This particular imp was caught in the local gardens causing mischief by moonlight. The Midnight Garden Imp is painted ink blue with mystic, botanical details.

IMPtuitive, a Lincoln Imp painted by Zoe Innes — IMPtuitive
by Zoe Innes
As a proud yellowbelly (the colloquial term for Lincolnshire folk) and an artist mad on bold, bright colours and intuitive, cheery, quirky designs, it was IMPerative that my trademark eye-catching sunny yellow got a big look in for this cheeky charmer.

Inked, a Lincoln Imp painted by Olivia Stewart — Inked
by Olivia Stewart
A modern interpretation of the mischievous Lincoln Imp, with piercings, tattoos and dyed golden hair.

Sir Spicious, a Lincoln Imp painted by Andrew Hunter — Sir Spicious
by Andrew Hunter
I wanted mine to look like it had some heritage that sat with Lincoln, its cathedral and castle in particular, so I thought a suit of armour would be ideal. I added Lincoln crests on its arms to further the idea.

Queenie, a Lincoln Imp painted by Zoe Kingston — Queenie
by Zoe Kingston
Queenie is a circus performer from the 1920s, cheeky whilst shy. Her favourite thing to do is browse (and cause havoc) in the local markets and antique shops. Queenie is both my personal style and inspired by Lincoln's amazing 1940s weekend. Lincoln holds so much history and beauty, so Queenie is a testament to that.

The Doodle Imp, a Lincoln Imp painted by Andrew Bailie — The Doodle Imp
by Andrew Bailie
The Doodle Imp is bright, bold, and bursting with cheeky charm. Hand-painted with vibrant colours, squiggles, and abstract designs, he's a walking (or sitting) canvas of mischief and fun. His playful expression and electric pink curls reveal a spirited personality ready to cause impish antics.

The Bishop's Eye Imp, a Lincoln Imp painted by Niamh East — The Bishop's Eye Imp
by Niamh East
Inspired by the home of the Lincoln Imp itself. Adorning the south side of Lincoln Cathedral you will find the Bishop's Eye, a stunning rose stained-glass window. The imp is painted so that it has tried to disguise itself amongst the stained glass, and if held up to the window, it blends in with its backdrop.

Red 1, a Lincoln Imp painted by Lauren Snow — Red 1
by Lauren Snow
This is 'Red 1', inspired by the iconic Lincolnshire-based Royal Air Force Red Arrows.

Sweetie, a Lincoln Imp painted by Sweetheart Satan Tattoo — Sweetie
by Sweetheart Satan Tattoo
Pink nail polish and shimmery eyeshadow with eyeliner detail. Girly but dark all in one, inspired by my tattooing styles.

Violet, a Lincoln Imp painted by Vicky Luckman — Violet
by Vicky Luckman
When painting my imp I wanted to continue the celebration of Lincolnshire, so I based my design on the county flower, the Common Dog Violet. Working with acrylic, I carefully built up the layers of paint to create an enchanting floral design, capturing the beauty of this anything but common flower.

Flora, a Lincoln Imp painted by Megan Kissack — Flora
by Megan Kissack
I was inspired by British wildlife, which is often untamed and always beautiful. Using inks and acrylic paints I covered my imp in wildflowers, which you can see in abundance at this time of year. I wanted it to look overgrown and slightly chaotic, so I let my paintbrush guide me instead of making a plan, as nature will grow wherever it chooses.

Harley, a Lincoln Imp painted by Sue Barter — Harley
by Sue Barter
My little imp is called Harley. He used to be the resident imp at the old Harlequin bookshop on Steep Hill, busily rearranging all the old books and generally causing mayhem. I really enjoyed painting him and am pleased to have been given the opportunity to take part.

Impnaturalia, a Lincoln Imp painted by Polly Roylance-Smith — Impnaturalia
by Polly Roylance-Smith
Nature taking back evokes imagery of insects exploring and forests reclaiming what was once theirs. The imp's features are masked by foliage and bugs, flipping the script so that nature becomes the dominant force and the manmade structure becomes the relic.

Splatterwick, a Lincoln Imp painted by Lisa Pool — Splatterwick
by Lisa Pool
Splatterwick is a mischievous little imp who loves to leap through rainbows and roll in paint puddles. His colours shift and shimmer like magic, leaving trails of mischief wherever he goes. I painted him using an abstract style I have experimented with over the last two years, using sprayed and flicked paints in multiple layers.

Skelly, a Lincoln Imp painted by Stuart Horwood — Skelly
by Stuart Horwood
This imp's gone through the X-ray. We're all the same on the inside, even fictional minions of the underworld. He was spray painted with several coats of matte black, then his skeleton was added with white Posca paint pens and finished with a few coats of matte varnish.

Paint Your Own Imp

Feeling inspired? Join one of our guided Sip & Paint sessions and bring your very own Lincoln Imp to life, glass in hand.

Explore Sip & Paint