A LOCAL artist says she is “chuffed” to have painted a Gromit as part of the upcoming, star-studded Gromit Unleashed 3 trail.
Jenny Urquhart, who is renowned for her vibrant paintings and collages of sights around Bristol and has painted sculptures on the previous Shaun the Sheep and Gromit trails, will have her Gromit featured outside CrossFit in Henleaze.
The dazzling trail of sculptures, based on Aardman’s much-loved Wallace and Gromit characters, will be inspired by the movies and is set to be unveiled from June 30 across various locations in Bristol.
Stretching from the city centre and throughout the wider region, the trail features Wallace, Gromit, Feathers and Norbot, Wallace’s smart robot gnome from Aardman’s latest film Vengeance Most Fowl.
Speaking about her involvement in the trail, Jenny said: “I was so chuffed to be involved in Gromit Unleashed 3, having painted a couple of Shaun the Sheeps and a Gromit in previous trails.
“This year’s theme is the movies and hopefully my Gromit, that will be displayed outside CrossFit in Henleaze, will remind people of this classic film that most people (of my age) will have watched!
“He took about a week to paint, and each leg, took about a day with the multiple layers.
“I can’t wait to see people’s reactions to him, when they walk past as he won’t really blend in with Henleaze high street.”
A recent announcement by charity organisers The Grand Appeal and Aardman revealed that trail-goers can discover two glittering sculptures inspired by Road Dahl’s classic the BFG and Netflix’s Wednesday.
For intrepid sculpture hunters, there is a dedicated app and printed map to guide families, residents and visitors around more than 50 different locations.
While there are no sculptures located in Bishopston or Redland, many can be found nearby in Clifton and the city centre.
Nicola Masters, director, The Grand Appeal, commented: “We are thrilled to be bringing the magic and wonder of cinema, film, stories and legends to our third Gromit Unleashed trail this summer, turning the streets of Bristol and beyond into a living storybook.
“Each Aardman sculpture is a character, each corner a scene, and together they form a spectacular adventure – all to raise funds for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.
“By following the trail, families, friends, residents of Bristol and visitors from the UK and all over the world won’t just be part of a city-wide celebration of creativity – everyone will be helping to create a brighter, and better future for young patients in the children’s hospital. This year, Gromit unleashes the magic of cinema grounded in a very real cause.”
The 2025 trail builds on the runaway success of Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2 – which collectively have generated over £20 million for The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity and Cots for Tots, the dedicated charity for the neonatal intensive care ward at St Michael’s Hospital.
The full list of locations can be found at www.gromitunleashed.org.uk