TOP international artists will be joined by a Nottingham mosaic maestro in decorating giant sculptures of much-loved film and TV animated dog, Gromit.
Julie Vernon, from Edwalton, is planning on coating her 5ft Gromit, from the Wallace and Gromit series, with up to 15,000 mosaic tiles over the next four weeks as she prepares for it to be showcased in Bristol – home of creators Aardman Animations.
The Gromit Unleashed exhibition is taking place from July 1 until September 7, and will see 70 fibreglass Gromits on show across Bristol for ten weeks.
Julie's design takes inspiration from Bristol's pirate heritage, as well as golden Buddha statues and the golden postboxes from the London Olympics.
She said: "The postboxes were elevated from an ordinary object into something amazing. I want to create something that is really beautiful and stunning – an object of pride and glory."
Julie will be up against some big names, including Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner, illustrators Raymond Briggs and Sir Quentin Blake, designers Paul Smith and Cath Kidston, comedian Harry Hill as well as Sir Peter Blake – who designed the album cover for The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
"I'm really quite fortunate to be chosen, given some of the iconic names involved," said Julie, who was picked from around 500 applicants.
Most of the artists taking part will be painting their Gromits, and Julie thinks this will help her decorated dog stand out from the crowd.
"I want it to be noticed – to help raise my profile and hopefully it will raise as much money for charity as possible when it comes to auction," she said.
The scale of the project is looming large, but Julie sees it as a good challenge rather than a daunting prospect.
"I have ordered six and a half square metres of gold tiles, so it's an opportunity to scale up my work. This is the first time I've done something in 3D, so it's definitely something different.
"But it's not really work, it's fun!"
Julie realises the potential of the project to raise her own profile, given the popularity of the character.
"The sheer size of the work is not just Gromit, it's set to be one of the biggest tourist attractions this year."
Julie saw the Giant Egg Hunt in London last year, and ever since has wanted to get involved in something similar, but was not expecting to be approved so soon.
"I was at a mosaic school in Italy when I found out I'd been chosen. I was shaking with excitement."
At the end of the exhibition, which will include a trail for visitors to follow, the sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds for Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity.
For more information, visit www.gromitunleashed.org.uk.
You can see more of Julie Vernon's work, and follow her step by step blog of the creation, at www.julievernonmosaics.com.
