This autumn, Renaissance Legal is taking part in something a little different, and something we’re genuinely excited about.
We’ve teamed up with Amaze, the Sussex-based charity supporting families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, to sponsor a bench on The Story Trail, a brand-new public art trail coming to Brighton & Hove in partnership with Wild in Art.
Designed by local artist Katherine Griffin, our bench – Birds and Other Stories – will form part of a city-wide trail that brings communities together through art that can be seen, explored, and importantly sat on.
For us, this isn’t a one-off gesture. It’s a continuation of a relationship with Amaze that goes back almost as far as Renaissance Legal itself. Supporting disabled people and the families who care for them sits at the heart of everything we do, and Amaze’s work in championing accessibility, inclusion and the wellbeing of children and families has always reflected values we hold ourselves as a team.
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.
This page will follow our journey through the trail — from the story behind our bench’s design, to the launch this autumn, and the difference your support can make to Amaze’s vital work.
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.
January 2026 – Designs submitted and shortlisted
Artists submitted their initial designs, which were then shortlisted by the Amaze team together with young people supported by the charity — ensuring their voices shaped the trail from the very start.
February 2026 – Sponsors and artwork selected
Learner groups signed up to take part, and sponsors had the opportunity to choose the artwork they wished to bring to life on their bench.
March 2026 – Sponsors matched with artists
Renaissance Legal was matched with Brighton-based artist Katherine Griffin, marking the start of our collaboration on the design for our bench.
May 2026 – Sculptures delivered and painting begins
The bench sculptures arrived with Amaze, and artists and learner groups began the work of bringing their designs to life.
July 2026 – Artwork completed
All artwork is finished, with the sculptures photographed ahead of the trail’s launch.
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.
Our Story Trail BookBench is being brought to life by Brighton-based artist Katherine Griffin, whose colourful, highly detailed work explores nature, storytelling and the world around us.
Katherine has created Birds and Other Stories, a vibrant design inspired by Brighton, birds, books and the idea of discovery. Look closely and you’ll find familiar local landmarks alongside 13 literary titles hidden within the artwork, turning the bench into a treasure hunt for visitors to enjoy.
We recently caught up with Katherine to find out more about the ideas behind the design, her connection to Brighton and its communities, and how the work of Amaze and Renaissance Legal helped shape her approach.
Read our interview with Katherine Griffin
Learn more about our artist on her website https://www.katherinegriffinart.com/
