Illustrator and campaigner, Hercule Van Wolfwinkle joins Street Vet for 26 miles

Illustrator and campaigner, Hercule Van Wolfwinkle will walk 26 miles from Worthing - Brighton on Sunday 14th May, taking regular pit stops to share his ‘rubbish’ pet portraits with bemused crowds along the way.

All funds raised will go directly to national charity StreetVet which supports pets and their owners experiencing homelessness and local charity Turning Tides

On Sunday 14th May, inimitably ‘rubbish’ animal portrait artist, Phil Heckels (aka Hercule Van Wolfwinkle) will take on a ‘portrait marathon’, raising funds in his signature style for StreetVet, supporting the charity’s mission to provide free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness.

On his 26-mile round coastal trip from Worthing to Brighton - and back again - Hercule will make regular pit stops every mile to bemuse local crowds with a beautifully terrible portrait of their beloved animal companions. Hercule will also be joined for part of his adventure by Jade Statt, co-founder of StreetVet.

Under the alias of Hercule Van Wolfwinkle, Phil began drawing self-proclaimed ‘rubbish’ portraits of people’s pets in 2020, in an attempt to amuse his son while in lockdown. His ‘ultra-realistic’, ‘child-like’ style quickly garnered a loyal following which he has since used to raise money for chosen charities, Turning Tides and StreetVet.

Since their partnership announcement in 2021, those requesting an imperfect portrait of their pet - among them the late Paul O’Grady - are able to choose to donate their commission cost to StreetVet, to support its work in keeping those experiencing homelessness and their pets, healthy and together.

Following previously successful ‘drawathon’ campaign efforts, his latest fatigue-fighting endeavour will push man and pencil to the limit, as Hercule embarks from the bottom of George V Avenue, the western most point of the Worthing promenade, on a 12-14 hour round trip to the ‘Concorde 2’ on Madeira Drive in Brighton - and back again. With an easily accessible route along the coast, Hercule is encouraging supporters to join him on his way and at scheduled stops each mile, where they can watch his unique portrait process in person.

Jade Statt, Clinical Director & Brand Ambassador/Co-Founder, said: “We are so incredibly happy to have Hercule supporting us, his drawings are hilarious and never fail to make us laugh. His fundraising efforts have been of incredible help to us and we love the idea of his portrait marathon”.

Those wanting to support are encouraged to join the marathon even for a mile or a stop, together with their loved four-legged pets, or to donate at fundraising.streetvet.co.uk