Leading contemporary artists come together to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 25^th Anniversary.

LONDON – October 11th 2016; SEGA Europe Ltd. have partnered with the UK’s leading fine art publisher Washington Green to pay homage to a global gaming icon celebrating his 25^th anniversary.  The unique project will allow fans and collectors the opportunity to see Sonic the Hedgehog in a way never seen before.

Critically acclaimed artists have come together to produce a collection of fine art pieces inspired by the iconic video game character, and his 25 year legacy.  The collection is designed to be a unique celebration and tribute to Sonic comprising a diverse range of original works executed through a number of mediums and creative styles, including sculpture, painting and mixed media.

A selection of these original pieces will go on to be reproduced as signed limited editions and retailed through Washington Green’s nationwide network of Castle Fine Art galleries across the UK. Each signed limited edition piece will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, hand signed by Naoto Oshima, one of the founding members and designers of the original Sonic franchise. A leading figure on the contemporary art scene for the last 30 years, Washington Green specialises in selling original works and publishing limited edition collections from acclaimed artists across the globe. The company has previously seen great success through partnerships with other global entertainment franchises.

“Our goal when it came to Sonic’s 25^th Anniversary was to celebrate, but also mark the occasion with a series of initiatives which take a unique view on what is one of the world’s most iconic video game characters” said SEGA Europe’s Director of Brand Licensing Jason Rice. “The Sonic licensing programme is already well known for its art programmes but we wanted to really push the boundaries with this project.  With Washington Green we have been able to create a one-of-a-kind collection for the franchise.  They have given us access to some of contemporary art’s most celebrated artists not to mention a number of new up and coming talents.  The result is a collection of truly stunning and innovative works from some of the finest painters and sculptors around today.”

The partnership with Washington Green is the pinnacle to round off a year of anniversary celebrations for Sonic the Hedgehog.

Glyn Washington, Founder and Director of Washington Green Fine Art, said:

“SEGA has had a huge impact on popular culture and no doubt, many of the artists producing work for this celebratory art collection grew up playing Sonic the Hedgehog themselves. This collection will appeal to both art collectors and SEGA enthusiasts alike with each artist involved interpreting the gaming icon in their own style – showing a side of Sonic that fans won’t have seen before!”

The signed limited edition pieces are currently in development and will be launched across Washington Green’s network of 34 Castle Fine Art galleries across the UK on Friday 2^nd December 2016.  A public exhibition of the original works produced by the artists, along with the signed limited edition pieces, will be on show at Castle Fine Art, South Molton Street, London, W1K 5RR from Friday 2nd December following a VIP launch the previous evening.

About Washington Green

As the UK’s leading art publisher, Washington Green Fine Art brings new talent from around the world to the contemporary art market. Since its launch in 1986, Washington Green has specialised in selling original works and publishing limited edition collections from hundreds of acclaimed artists. Its unique artworks are available to purchase through its subsidiary, Castle Fine Art, and other independent fine art retailers worldwide. www.washingtongreen.co.uk

About SEGA® Europe Ltd.

SEGA Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Games Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe’s website is located at www.sega.com.