Eighty sculptures of Aardman’s famous Gromit, each five feet high, have been unveiled as part of Gromit Unleashed – a ground-breaking public art exhibition sponsored by Burges Salmon and dozens of other leading UK organisations.
Spearheaded by Aardman, the trail of giant Gromits will animate the city of Bristol for ten weeks between 01 July and 08 September this year, with the aim of raising funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.
Each sculpture has been individually decorated by an eclectic mix of well-known and local artists, designers and celebrities and will be auctioned later this year to help support the expansion of Bristol Children’s Hospital. High profile names involved include Cath Kidston, Raymond Briggs, Paul Smith, Harry Hill, Jools Holland and Joanna Lumley.
Yet while 79 of the sculptures are Bristol-based, one Gromit has been unleashed further than most! The ‘Classic Gromit’ painted by Aardman is recognisable from all the famous Wallace & Gromit animated adventures. Sponsored by Burges Salmon, this particular Gromit is located at London’s Paddington train station. He can be found between platforms 8 and 9 and visitors do not need a travel ticket in order to access the sculpture.
The Grand Appeal has pledged to raise an initial £3.5 million for state-of-the-art equipment, including an intraoperative MRI scanner, family facilities and child-friendly artwork. Founded in 1995, the Appeal has raised over £21 million towards the first purpose built children’s hospital in the UK and continues to support by funding pioneering medical care and equipment, arts, music and play programmes and accommodation for the sickest children and their families.
If you would like to explore the Gromit Unleashed trail this summer visit the Gromit Unleashed website where you can access a full location map or interactive phone app – as well as information on where you can buy a range of Gromit merchandise.