From the 23 to Cumberland Rose, Local Artist’s Portsmouth story comes full circle

For Portsmouth artist Katherine Griffin, the journey to creating Cumberland Rose began long before she picked up a paintbrush for the project. It began on the No. 23 bus.

Growing up in Portsmouth, Katherine remembers catching the No. 23 as a teenager, with the bus stopping close to her home. Now, years later, she has come full circle, creating a lion celebrating her hometown, sponsored by Stagecoach South, with the No. 23 providing a direct connection to Cumberland Rose at Canoe Lake.

Katherine has been a professional artist for more than 20 years. After studying at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, she returned to the South Coast and now lives and works in Brighton, while continuing to maintain a strong connection to Portsmouth.

Her work spans figurative painting, murals and large-scale public art, with nature a recurring theme. Her dreamlike pieces often explore the relationship between the natural world and the things humans leave behind.

For Cumberland Rose, Katherine turned to one of her favourite places in Portsmouth. Having loved visiting Cumberland House as a child, she still visits Canoe Lake with her own children today. The lion celebrates the lake, swans, gardens, pedalos and surrounding attractions, with roses inspired by Southsea’s Rose Gardens and the distinctive paving pattern of the promenade.

Katherine said: “Portsmouth is my hometown, so I jumped at the chance to be part of the trail. It’s really exciting to have the opportunity to create a piece of work that celebrates Portsmouth and a place that means so much to me.”

Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, said: “We’re delighted to support Katherine and celebrate a piece of artwork that has such a strong connection to Portsmouth. There’s something particularly fitting about a local artist who grew up travelling by bus now creating a sculpture that visitors can reach by the same network. We hope it encourages people to explore the trail, discover more of the city and enjoy the connections that make Portsmouth such a special place.”

The No. 23 continues to serve Canoe Lake, making it easy for residents and visitors to follow in Katherine’s footsteps and travel by bus to see Cumberland Rose for themselves.

Visitors can also enter Stagecoach South’s competition by scanning the QR code on the sculpture and completing a short feedback form about local bus services, with one lucky winner receiving a year of free travel across Stagecoach services in the South.

From a childhood bus journey to a lion celebrating the city she loves, Cumberland Rose brings Katherine’s Portsmouth story full circle.