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Heaton music shop turns a one-off guitar into a fundraiser for Northumberland’s wild future

Curvy Sounds has created a bespoke Tokai Les Paul worth around £1,000 for a raffle supporting the campaign to secure the Rothbury Estate for nature.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

A bespoke pearl-pattern Tokai Les Paul guitar being raffled for the Rothbury Estate campaign Image: Northumberland Wildlife Trust / Chronicle LiveOriginal source

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A Newcastle music shop has turned a custom guitar into a rather beautiful fundraising tool for one of the North East’s biggest nature campaigns.

Heaton-based Curvy Sounds is raffling a bespoke Tokai Les Paul customised by founder Andrew Mills to raise money towards the purchase of the Rothbury Estate in Northumberland.

The guitar, valued at around £1,000, is covered in iridescent pearl shapes arranged in a pattern inspired by sunflowers, shoals of fish and flower petals. The shop’s owners have strong links to and the Northumberland countryside, making the project a fairly natural collision of music, art and wildlife.

The raffle forms part of a wider community effort supporting Northumberland Wildlife Trust and The Wildlife Trusts as they work to secure the estate for long-term . Local singer-songwriter Nev Clay has also offered another guitar for the campaign, while supporters are organising walks and creative fundraising.