The lowry celebrates 4th dog birthday with doggie double!

After a nation-wide search, The Lowry has appointed its first ever mascot; five year old Molly the Mongrel. Winning a competition to find the best look-a-like of dogs painted by LS Lowry, Molly kicked off The Lowry's 4th Birthday celebrations.

The competition, launched in February, set out to find 'real-life' Lowry dogs; those with a striking resemblance to the ones found in Lowry paintings. Molly beat off stiff competition from 90 canines from around the country, impressing judges with her Lowryesque big ears, lean physique and cute curled tail.

Molly was originally a stray, abandoned at six months old and was in very poor health. However, she was rescued from a dog home and now lives happily and healthily in Salford with her proud owner Stephen Hepworth.
In an official ceremony, Molly was presented with a list of official duties, took a guided tour of the current A City's Pride exhibition and was given a special cake to mark The Lowry's fourth birthday. Lowry staff declined a slice when it was discovered the cake was made of liver, carrot, garlic and stout and had been baked specifically for Molly's consumption by a dog cake maker in Sheffield. Owner Stephen said: "I always thought Molly looked like something straight out of a Lowry picture. She is at her happiest when walking the streets of Salford, getting into mischief and meeting people. We're thrilled she has won and I'm sure she will be outstanding in performing her official duties."
The competition was originally devised by staff at The Lowry in response to the numerous claims by visitors that many dogs in LS Lowry's pictures bear an uncanny resemblance to their own pets.
Lindsay Brooks, curator of The Lowry said: "Lowry didn't paint well groomed pedigree poodles and spaniels - he painted real-life dogs on the street with all their irregularities, charm and character. Molly is a living example of the type of dogs Lowry celebrated in his paintings and having her appointed as our official mascot is a great way to commemorate our fourth birthday." Pictures of Molly and the best runners-up can all be viewed online at www.thelowry.com

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