From July to September, it will take its place on ellenor’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt art trail – the first of its kind for both the charity and the Borough of Dartford – bringing decorated sculptures to streets, parks and public spaces.

Inspired by the animated adaptation produced by Lupus Films, the trail aims to raise funds and awareness for hospice care.

Surrounded by brushes and acrylic paint in the studio at the back of the gallery, Pastoral is slowly being transformed with scenes of a majestic tree, woodland and meadows. By the summer holidays, the design will be complete.

Working on a sculpture has been very different from painting on canvas. Instead of a flat surface, Stephen has had to adapt to the curves of the bear’s head and body, using acrylics rather than the oils he usually favours.

“Sometimes a rag is all I need to apply paint to the surface. This method helps to create texture, I can then use a brush for the details.” he said.

The large tree Stephen is painting on Pastoral’s flank was inspired by one he regularly passes on his way to the studio when walking through Dartford’s Central Park – the pollarded tree had been cut back to encourage new growth. The flower meadows in front of the woodland were inspired by areas in Darenth Country Park.

Stephen’s design was one of 200 submissions sent to ellenor. From those, 50 were shortlisted and displayed at the Orchard Theatre where potential sponsors were invited to choose the bears that most appealed to them. Stephen’s design was selected by Kent based logistics company TPS Global as part of the final trail line-up.

“We’re Going on a Bear Hunt appealed to me primarily as an artist,” he said, “but also because it will be something for the local community to be involved in, and something we are putting out there into the world for everyone to see.”

Stephen, once an electrician, was inspired to take up art professionally by his cousin, a successful cartoonist. He has now worked as an artist for 18 years and has had his gallery in The Orchards for the past 14. For him, the space was never intended to be just a gallery, but somewhere people could get involved with art and take part in occasional community projects. For example, in 2014 he invited 60 people, some of whom had never painted before, to help paint a scene of the Saturday Market in Dartford High Street. The finished work now hangs in Dartford Library.

The centrepiece in his gallery today is a large canvas covered in handwriting consisting of languages from around the world. Each person who has contributed has written their own version of the words ‘peace and harmony’ – a message that carries real meaning at a difficult time for many. As Stephen notes “the people who take part in projects like this appreciate it as do the people who see it.”