We’ve partnered with Amaze, the Sussex charity that supports families raising children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, to sponsor a bench on The Story Trail. This brand-new public art trail is landing in Brighton & Hove courtesy of Wild in Art, and our bench, designed by local artist Katherine Griffin, will take its place among a citywide collection of art pieces meant not just to be admired, but sat on and enjoyed.
Scott Clayton, Managing Director, said:
“Renaissance Trust has grown up alongside Amaze over our 15 years, and their commitment to families, children and accessibility has always resonated with us. Getting to take part now, alongside our colleagues at Renaissance Legal and Renaissance Financial, means a lot. This trail is about more than public art — it’s our chance, as a firm born in Brighton, to give something back to the city, help bring its communities closer together, and support Amaze’s mission in a way people can actually see and touch.”
Follow this page as the story unfolds, from how our bench came to life, through to this autumn’s launch, and the real impact of Amaze’s work.
You’ll find our bench at St Peter’s Church, a great central spot on multiple bus routes and just a 16-minute walk from our office, making it easy for staff, clients and visitors alike to stop by and see it for themselves.
We are offering a prize for those people who visit and capture a selfie of the Renaissance bench on their smartphone. Ten winners will be selected in a random draw; each will receive a gift voucher to spend at Cafe Domenica, so two people can enjoy coffee and cake on us as a thank you for taking part in the Story Trail.
Simply upload your photo of your visit to the Renaissance book bench using the form to the right between 12th September and 8th November to be entered into the randomised draw. The winners will be notified once the competition closes.
12 September 2026 – The Story Trail goes live
The trail opens to the public across Brighton & Hove, with our bench taking its place among others from organisations across the city.
1 November 2026 – Trail closes
The Story Trail comes to an end after almost two months on display.
27–29 November 2026 – Farewell weekend
All of the trail’s benches come together for a farewell weekend at The Brighton Centre, giving the public one last chance to see them before they go to auction.
30 November 2026 – Charity auction
The benches are auctioned at The Brighton Centre, with proceeds going directly to support Amaze’s work for families across Sussex.
Brighton-based artist Katherine Griffin is the creative force behind our Story Trail BookBench, known for detailed, colourful work that draws on nature, storytelling and the everyday world around her.
Her design, titled Birds and Other Stories, celebrates Brighton, birds, books and the spirit of discovery. Take a closer look and you’ll spot familiar local landmarks woven in alongside 13 hidden literary titles, giving visitors their own treasure hunt as they explore the bench.
We sat down with Katherine to talk through the thinking behind the artwork, what Brighton and its communities mean to her, and how Amaze’s mission and Renaissance Trust’s involvement helped shape the final design.
Read our interview with Katherine Griffin
Discover more of Katherine’s work on her website: katherinegriffinart.com
