Exclusive ape art goes on sale
The wraps are off – today we’re thrilled to reveal the stunning ape artwork being sold in aid of our £800,000 orang enclosure appeal.
Just 100 signed limited edition canvasses of our Bornean orangutans Benji, Jorong, Jazz and Sprout have been produced exclusively for DZG from an original drawing donated by award-winning artist David Skidmore.
And the specially commissioned montage called ‘We are appealing!’ – which each cost £49.99 – have already started selling. Each one has been individually signed by the generous artist and comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity.
The 59-year-old artist, a committee member of The Wildlife Arts Society International, completed the piece in graphite pencil before Cradley Heath printers Dunns Imaging transformed the work into the beautiful canvasses.
David, who works from the studio of his Bromsgrove home, kindly gave the piece to the zoo in support of our conservation work and Dunns printed the canvasses at greatly reduced costs to back our appeal.
Thanks to numerous other fundraising efforts and DZG putting all purchases of adult and little zoo keeper experiences towards the outdoor enclosure project, the current total has just hit the £350,000 mark.
The wonderful offer to draw our orangs came about after David sketched our gorgeous Sumatran tiger Daseep earlier in the year for a piece being auctioned in aid of a global campaign helping protect African elephants from poachers.
David said: “I’m really pleased with the outcome and now just want the artwork to raise as much money as possible towards building a spacious new home for these creatures I have become fascinated by.
“It’s strange but while working on this piece I feel I’ve developed a real affinity with the orangs. It’s a kind of connection, which makes the artwork title “We are appealing!” all the more appropriate.”
Zoo Director Derek Grove said: “Dudley Zoo is hugely grateful to David who has given his time and talent to draw this amazing montage of our four loveable orangs in aid of our enclosure appeal.
“The generous gesture is a wonderful way to show his appreciation for the work we do at Dudley and conservation projects we support globally.
“We must also thank Dunns Imaging as their support will allow as much money as possible go towards our fundraising. The whole artistic project should be a huge help in providing an impressive new environment for our great apes.”
Marketing Manager for Dunns Imaging, Catherine Peakman, said: “At Dunns, we are very proud to be able to support Dudley Zoo’s fundraising activities. We are delighted with the opportunity to turn a wonderful illustration into canvas wall art to help raise funds for the new orangutan enclosure.”
