This year, Fenwick is bringing a twist on ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ through its 2024 Fenwick Christmas Window display. Cleverly reimagined by celebrated author and illustrator Chris Riddell and brought to life by family-owned British design and production house, Propability.
The window series tells the heartwarming story of Foggy a determined partridge with a special Christmas wish.
Chris Riddell, author & illustrator, comments: “When I was asked by Fenwick if I could transform one of my favourite Christmas carols into a Fenwick window series, I was intrigued by the process. I got to work and created a character ‘Foggy the Partridge’, who’s on a journey to make his Christmas wish come true. My drawings and narrative have been brought to life through brilliant 3D creatives and fantastic moving characters – with the support of traditional mechanical movement. I’m absolutely thrilled with what we have created and hope everyone enjoys the windows as much as I do.”
The journey through Fenwick’s Christmas Window follows Foggy’s quest to find Santa and make his pear tree grow. Beginning in the Broom Cupboard of Santa’s workshop, where our hero tends to his struggling sapling, visitors follow Foggy’s adventure through a series of enchanting scenes.
The story unfolds through Santa’s Design Studio, where Two Turtle Doves, Three French Hens, and Four Calling Birds are hard at work. Moving through to the Secret Workshop, Foggy discovers five golden rings in a dazzling display, before reaching Santa’s Private Office, filled with six geese a-laying and seven swans a-swimming.
Mia Fenwick, CMO at Fenwick, comments: “Our Fenwick Christmas windows exhibits the talent of iconic British illustrator Chris Riddell and the fantastic family-owned production team at Propability, who’s craftmanship has spun a modern take on a festive favourite, ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. We hope people get to see our Fenwick Christmas windows either in person or online and get swept up in the joy of storytelling with family and friends this festive season.”
The tale reaches its crescendo as Santa’s helpers spring into action – eight maids a-milking, nine ladies dancing, and ten lords a-leaping all pitch in to help Foggy’s tree grow. With a sprinkle of Santa’s magic, delivered by eleven pipers piping, and celebrated by twelve drummers drumming, Foggy’s Christmas wish finally comes true.
Paul Baptiste, head of creative at Fenwick, comments: “This festive season, we’re bringing a touch of the unexpected. Our take on the classic Christmas carol honours timeless traditions of a familiar Christmas, while offering a fresh Fenwick perspective, with a dash of surprise.”
Tyrone Cano, head honcho, Propability, comments: “It was a privilege to produce this year’s Fenwick Christmas windows for the flagship store in Newcastle. Having partnered with Fenwick for many years to produce seasonal windows and in-store displays, it was testament to our capabilities and relationship to collaborate for a project of this scale for the festive season. Furthermore, it was particularly special to be trusted with bringing Chris Riddell amazing characters to life and at the same time retaining a level of creative input for the environment these characters would be placed in. We’ve had so much fun and as always it’s been a pleasure to work with the Fenwick team.”
The 2024 Fenwick Christmas window display will be open for all to view from Monday 4th November and throughout the festive season. Visits to the window will be soundtracked by a bespoke rendition of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ created and performed by Tyneside band ‘The Unthanks’ in partnership with The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
Becky and Rachel, Unthank, add: “We grew up visiting the Fenwick windows as kids, and now we have our own, we take them every year, so we were really excited to be asked by The Glasshouse and Fenwick to create the music this year. It ties in beautifully with our own release this Christmas, The Unthanks In Winter. Our version of The Twelve Days of Christmas is inspired by Santa’s workshop, the physicality of the moving characters and the factory line. We can’t wait to go and see it in action at Fenwick.”
Through this year’s Christmas window, Fenwick continue its commitment to supporting the local community with a partnership with Newcastle Foodbank. You can support their vital work helping people in crisis by purchasing a Fans Supporting Foodbanks T-shirt for £20, with all profits going to the Newcastle Foodbank. The shirts, which will be displayed as part of this year’s window, are available from the Fenwick Newcastle Concierge.
The magical world of Foggy the Partridge was unveiled in front of a small number of invited guests, including children and families from Fenwick’s partner schools, hospitals and charities as well as the Christmas Window Reveal competition winners.
Visit your nearest Fenwick store or Fenwick.co.uk as we share in Foggy’s journey and celebrate this unique interpretation of a Christmas classic.
Re-watch the moment our Christmas Window was revealed on the Fenwick Official YouTube channel.
