Thorntons Chocolate

A recent present for the artist

A Regal Bert

Has Bert Royal blood?  © Burges Salmon

Torch-bearing Bert

A view of the Atrium  © Burges Salmon

A view of a Champion  © Burges Salmon

A view of a bit of sunny Bristol  © Burges Salmon

Considering calorie-consumption for a Champion  © Burges Salmon

Bert has been running around the building at Burges Salmon with his Olympic torch.  A sight to be seen, no doubt - so much so that the staff have been having their pictures taken with him.

Bert Birthday card & Get Well bookmark

Me & Bert on the Birthday card from my nephew Rui Rui (aged 7)

Bert & Me on the Get Well bookmark from Rui Rui

Burges Salmon also very kindly sent me a Get Well card featuring Bert, in a nurse's hat (my nurses didn't have hats!) with a load of sunflowers.

Cupid Bert (St Valentine's Day) - bit belatedly posted!

Bert at Burges Salmon spreading Love for St Valentine's Day  © Burges Salmon

© Burges Salmon

Season's Greetings!

Santa Gorilla © Frances Cony

Bert is on a WOW! Gorilla Mug

Limited edition mugs available from Wild in Art for £10 plus P&P

Features Apescape, Endangered PJs, Apple of my Eye and Lipstick on the Gorilla.  For further information and to order, see the Wild in Art website.

WOW! Gorilla badges available now

Available from Bristol Zoo for £1

Chocolate!!!!

Belated posting of Auction Prices

Spooky Bert - Hallowe'en 2011

Photo © Burges Salmon

Bert is getting into the swing of things at Burges Salmon, his new home.  He's living near the café and has his own security pass.

Bert at Burges Salmon

Bert in Burges Salmon's Atrium (© Burges Salmon)
Looks like he's been picking his nose again!

Photos of the Gorilla Auction

See here for photos of the gorillas and BBC's Points West's Alex Lovell.  Photos taken by the auctioneers Hollis Morgan.

Bert arrives at Burges Salmon

Bert arrived at his new home at Burges Salmon on Monday afternoon.

He must've been anticipating his new home when he got the gift bag dropped off on Friday...!

Thanks to Bert

 On Friday, I found a gift bag on my doorstep...from Bert.

"Thank you" to him for the sweets, and to the person who helped him deliver them.  I don't think Bert delivered them himself as it may just have been noticed...

Gift bag from Bert

Letter from Bert

Bert bought by Burges Salmon

Smiley Bert in anticipation of being bought and going to a welcoming new home

I got a very nice email on Monday  from a partner at the Bristol law firm Burges Salmon, saying that she had bought Bert at the auction on behalf of the firm.  She said that all the staff are very excited; but not as excited as her 7 year old son.

I have been invited to be interviewed for the in-house newsletter and to meet Bert when he arrives at his new home.

Thanks to Burges Salmon for buying Bert for £6.5K, and for offering him a new home!  All money to go to Ape conservation and The Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal in aid of Bristol Children's Hospital.

Bristol Zoo Wow! Gorillas Auction surpasses all expectations

The back of Bert...

Probably won't see him again...depending on who bought him; a business or an individual and whether he's likely to be on display somewhere or live a more private life in someone's home.

The Auction was very interesting and exciting at times.  Spent quite a lot of time wondering what music might be played to accompany Bert onto the stage.  Previously, a choir had sung Autumn Leaves for Su Lees's Distinctly Different (Dee Dee) with her silver-leaved purple body.  An Elvis singalike in a lovely gold jacket had been "all shook up" for Elvis.  Bert in his pyjamas was serenaded with Mr Sandman written by P. Ballard and sung by The Chordettes.

The Auction was introduced by Dr Bryan Carroll, the zoo's director, the Head of Mammals at the zoo, a doctor from Bristol Children's Hospital, and Charlie Langhorne from Wild in Art.

The artists in the audience were made to stand up and take applause at one stage.  The artist sculptor of Wild in Art, Chris Wilkinson, who designed the gorilla sculpture canvas the other artists painted on, was also acknowledged.

Two gorillas were on stage at any one time having been brought there by territorial army soldiers.  They were each on a revolve so that they could be seen from each angle.  The gorilla to be auctioned was spotlighted, whilst the gorilla-in-waiting was draped in black cloth.  The auction was amusingly conducted by Andrew Morgan of Hollis Morgan.


Endangered PJs was lot 56 and was sold quite quickly for £6 500.  The previous gorilla Still Life: Alfred by Arianne Wolodarsky had raised the second highest price of £12 000.  Lot 53, the giant-hatted Brunel lookalike Gorisambard by Tim Miness had started a bidding war and had been sold for the amazing price of £23 000!

Altogether, the Auction raised £427 300 for the Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal for Bristol Children's Hospital and Ape conservation charities.

The BBC's DIY SOS's Custard was sold in aid of Children in Need for £5250.

See photos of the auction by clicking here.

See Gorilla Auction LIVE TONIGHT

See the auction live on a web cam via http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/auction

Frances's endangered PJs (or Bert) is lot 56 (out of 60!).

You can also buy raffle tickets to win a school-size unpainted gorilla, bit of a Formula 1 engine or a ceramic ape.  See zoo site for details.

Bristol Gorillas back in Bristol - Bristol Zoo (24-28 September)

Bert and the rest of the gorillas guys & girls are back in Bristol.  They are now lined up on the central lawn at the zoo.  They can be seen until closing time on Wednesday 28 September.

On Thursday 29 September, 60 of the apes will be auctioned at The Victoria Rooms, in aid of The Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal in aid of Bristol Children's Hospital, and ape conservation.  There are no tickets left for the auction but there will be a live web cam feed of the events at the auction to the auction page http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/auction on Thursday evening.

Bert in London (until Thurs 22 Sept 2011)

Bert would have great views if he could look round about him.  He's surrounded by views of Tower Bridge to his left, and behind him, HMS Belfast, The Gherkin and the Tower of London...and of course 19 other colourful Bristol Zoo Wow! Gorillas.  There is also another NEW Gorilla painted in the last few days.

Bert & Tower Bridge  (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

 

...& The Tower of London (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

...& The Gherkin (photo: Suzy-Jane Tanner)

The Gorillas have already been visited by the press, including Newsround (CBBC), and lots of people, including my cousin and ex-Bath illustrator friend.

Gorillas on Parade (& HMS Belfast)  (photo: Liz Shaw)