From the Workshop to the Gallery: Why I’m So Proud of Andy and Bigbert
If you’d told me a few years ago that one of my husband, Andy’s scrap-built robot sculptures would be on display at the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, I’d have laughed, or cried, depending on the day. And yet here we are, writing this with a full heart and a big smile: Andy’s sculpture Bigbert has been selected for this year’s Shrewsbury Arts Trail and will be proudly exhibited from 1st July to 31st August 2025.
Bigbert isn’t just a sculpture. She’s a symbol of how far Andy has come, and how far we have come.
Bigbert is part of Andy’s ongoing collection of scrap art robot sculptures, lovingly known as The Berts. She’s built from reclaimed vehicle drive shaft CV joints, aviation parts, a vintage volt meter, and other mechanical bits most people would walk right past. But Andy sees potential in things others throw away. That’s true of materials, and maybe true of himself too.
Bigbert invites you to ask:
What do we discard too quickly?
What beauty might still live in the broken?
And how can imagination turn waste into wonder?
This isn’t just about upcycling or steampunk art. Andy’s scrap-built robots are each one-of-a-kind, handcrafted with skill and heart. And they’re not like the Berts you’ll meet in our stories, these real-world Berts are available to buy, meaning you can own your own piece of Weebert’s World. Whether you choose an existing character or commission something bespoke, you’re getting far more than a sculpture. You’re getting a piece of Andy’s journey.
People often ask where the idea for Weebert came from, and the honest answer is: from the dark.
Andy served for 27 years in Army aviation and spent another 16 years in civil aviation. He’s practical, precise, and incredibly skilled, but like many veterans, he faced a steep and silent battle with his mental health after leaving that world behind. He didn’t talk about it much. Still doesn’t.
He wasn’t drawn to mindfulness apps or therapy circles, not his thing. Instead, he started making things. He’d take apart old cameras, broken tools, aircraft parts, and odds and ends, and turn them into something new. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the beginning of his recovery. He calls it “meditation for engineers.”
And one day, from a Cold War spy camera, some opera glass lenses, and copper wire, Weebert was born.
What started as a quiet way to cope became something bigger than either of us imagined. Now, Weebert’s World is our business, our passion, and our purpose. The stories, the outreach work in schools, the dream of an animated children’s series, all of it began with Andy in the workshop, finding his way back to himself, one bolt and wire at a time.
I will never forget those hard days. They shaped us. And maybe that’s why I’m so proud of where we are now. Having Bigbert selected for the Shrewsbury Arts Trail, which has featured artists like Hockney, Emin, and Hirst, is more than just an artistic achievement. It’s a moment to pause and say, “Look how far you’ve come.”
Andy would never call himself an artist. But he is one. He brings precision, imagination, and integrity to every Bert he builds. And for those of you who love Weebert’s World and want a physical piece of that magic, you can commission a Bert of your own or choose from Andy’s finished sculptures. Each one has its own personality, its own charm, and its own little story tucked inside.
You can see Bigbert for yourself at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery from 1st July to 31st August 2025. And if you’re inspired to bring a Bert into your home, pop over to our website or drop us a line.
We’re proud of Weebert’s World. But today, I’m especially proud of the man who makes The Berts!
Lotty x
