Bold and bright and standing out from the crowd, this is how the lion sculptures of the Pride in Bournemouth project could be described, until now!

A new lion is set to join the pride that is just as magnificent but will be harder to spot, as he is the ‘invisible lion’.

Bournemouth Fostering has commissioned four artists to create their lion as part of Pride in Bournemouth, a public arts project which will raise money for charity. He has been designed to represent fostering and raise awareness of the many people involved, including carers and children.

He will be painted to blend into the background and be less obvious than his brothers in the pride.

At first glance the Bournemouth Fostering lion will be invisible and you will have to look very carefully to see just how amazing he is, very much like the foster carers themselves who are just ordinary people with ordinary families and lives.

Foster carers and their children do not stand out in a crowd but when you look closely, they too are quite amazing - Invisible lion will represent them perfectly.

With the help of local children, a team of artists will create the lion sculpture. Artist, Norma Rawlins said: “We, that is the four of us artists, are a group called the 'Extreme Team'.

We are all individual artists in our own right with varying qualities, and although friends for some years, decided to get involved with the Extreme project at the Study Gallery in Poole.

“We have since collaborated on a few projects and we are looking forward to this very special one. We are very excited about being involved, especially the association with the fostering unit, and hope to involve some of the children, not only in the initial stages, but following the completion of the project, in many different ways.

“We realise the importance of this project and hope the effect is amazing and that it serves to enhance the main reasons for the project.”

Invisible lion will be placed in Boscombe Gardens for two weeks from 16 – 29 May as part of Foster Care Fortnight, which raises awareness for the urgent need for more foster carers. If you are lucky enough to spot the Invisible lion, let us know by going to Pride in Bournemouth Facebook page