An exhibition inspired by some of the conservation and environmental achievements of Peter Scott, renowned not only as an artist, but as one of the most important conservationists of the twentieth century. Work by Peter Scott will be displayed with other works by well-known artists that draw attention to some of Peter Scott’s passions. The exhibition will include Peter Scott’s painting ‘The Natural World of Man’, which represents man’s dilemma in his relationship with nature, and a ‘Self-portrait with Humpbacks’, both works rarely seen in public.
Natural World of Man – The Art of Conservation is an exhibition inspired by some of the conservation and environmental achievements of Peter Scott, renowned not only as an artist, but as one of the most important conservationists of the twentieth century. Work by Peter Scott will be displayed with other works by well-known artists that draw attention to some of Peter Scott’s passions. The exhibition will include Peter Scott’s painting ‘The Natural World of Man’, which represents man’s dilemma in his relationship with nature, and a ‘Self-portrait with Humpbacks’, both works rarely seen in public.
Join members of Sir Peter Scott’s family, to view this unique display of work by Sir Peter and other renowned artists.
FREE to attend but booking is essential
‘Murmur’ is a collaborative exhibition by four artists.
A Whisper, a susurration, something caught on a breeze, a congregating of birds; but also perhaps, a word going round; the beginning of a movement, an uprising.
We have forgotten nature and now we are having to learn to mend what our forgetfulness has wrought. Art has forgotten nature too and it is equally imperative that we have to relearn a response as part of the healing process.
Artists:
Jo Biggadike
The work of Jo Biggadike explores what it means to be a woman, walking alone, connecting with the rural landscape. Her collagraph prints are created from her drawings whilst out walking. She wants to capture the feeling that a place evokes.
Andrew Morrison
Although a lifelong naturalist, it has taken years for natural history subjects to come to prominence in Andrew’s art. His work is prints and books; heavily text-based. Birds and their interrelationship with mankind are increasingly becoming his metaphors and subjects.
Julie Smith
Julie’s artwork dwells on qualities of quietness and intimacy, cherishing the extraordinary within the ordinary. As an Arteologist enjoying discoveries from the natural world, archives and imagination, pondering, noticing and wondering is delightful. Key threads explored within her oracle include fragility, protection and preservation.
Shelley Winnett
As a naturalist, wildlife illustrator and artist, Shelley feels an increasing motivation to create work for the purpose of conservation education. Drawing directly from life she endevours to make work that is characterful, authentic and engaging. With a passion for birds they feature frequently in her work.
Image by Shelley Winnett
Rarely seen, yet glittering to behold, this is a display of gold, silver and metal thread embroidery to dazzle and delight, embracing nature in all its forms. All the pieces are made by members of the Goldwork Guild, at least one of whom will be demonstrating this ancient craft daily within the exhibition.
Paul Walkden, Nature in Art’s chairman, will share with us the life of this great man, referred to by Sir David Attenborough as ‘The Patron Saint of Conservation’.
Scott established WWT, was instrumental in establishing the WWF, was an artist, a war hero, sportsman, broadcaster, author and Nature in Art’s first President.
Paul came to live in Gloucestershire with a view to meeting his childhood hero and was fortunate in getting to know Sir Peter and was invited to be his bibliographer. He was a founder member of the volunteer group at WWT, sat on its governing Council for six years and is currently a Scott house museum guide.
Doors open 7.00pm to view the galleries, buffet 7.30pm followed by talk.
A retrospective exhibition of work by Robert Gillmor MBE SWLA (1936 -2022)
A founder of the Society of Wildlife Artists, Gillmor is a renowned wildlife artist who has left a remarkable legacy through his art. He is perhaps best known for his instantly recognisable lino-cut prints produced on his 1860 Albion press. His hugely influential career is celebrated in this unique selection of his work which follows his creative and conservation journey, particularly in relation to birds. Gillmor’s work has appeared in over 150 books. In 2015 he received an MBE for services to art and conservation. Work by Gillmor is held in the permanent collection, and he was a regular artist in residence, exhibitor and lecturer at Nature in Art, having been involved with the museum since its very earliest days.
The exhibition includes around 80 items representing a fascinating range of work from his early days in Reading Art Club, to ornithological expeditions to Iceland and Svalbard in the 1950’s, to some of his illustrative work and items representing the amazing span of his linocut prints right up to recent times. Also included are a number of works that Robert had done whilst artist in residence at Nature in Art, discovered in his studio and marked and dated ‘Wallsworth Hall’. Amongst the drawings and paintings are examples of original artwork from some important publications such as titles from the New Naturalist Series, Birds of the Western Palearctic etc. and other projects like British Post Office Stamps, covers for Birds Magazine and the like.
Richard, as well as being an artist, working as a painter and in textiles, he is also an art historian and is a long-standing lecturer for the Arts Society ( formally NADFAS ).
Flowers are amongst the most beautiful treasures that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us. Consequently, many cultures have attributed particular species to mythological mortals and even to their immortals. Some even have those whose sole occupation is to preside over the entire floral kingdom. Using colourful examples of the fine and decorative arts from world-wide cultures and from far reaching historical periods this lecture is all about the various, and sometimes differing, symbolic meanings of flowers and their attributions. For your amusement as well as erudition, it will also include many fascinating stories from ancient mythologies and folk lore.
Doors open 7.00pm to view the galleries, buffet 7.30pm followed by talk.
Water Universe by Julie Askew
“Water is the driving force of all nature” Leonardo da Vinci
Over the years Nature in Art has presented a good number of exhibitions that have explored subjects that bring art and science together. From spectacular photographs from the Hubble telescope to photo- micrographs and images inspired by those taken using a synchrotron, such displays have given a whole new perspective on nature and helped us focus not just on ‘nature in art’ but ‘art in nature’. This exhibition is such a display, drawing together a collection of works resulting from a fascinating project being undertaken by artist Julie Askew, which are being displayed with a number of other items, mostly from Nature in Art’s collection that resonate with the theme.
Julie Askew has a long association with Nature in Art as both an artist in residence and exhibitor, principally of her wildlife art. The new works in this show are the first results of her most recent passion, researching aspects of water.
There are three main states of water – solid (ice), liquid and gas (vapour). We are familiar with them all, from ice in a drink to tap water and steam from a kettle. We understand how water in various forms can soothe by touch, sight and sound and how that can contrast with the devastation of flooding or the effects of drought. In our ever changing world, these extremes are becoming more evident and impactful.
In this latest project Julie has been considering whether we really know water at all? Through these new works she aims to take the viewer into new worlds within water and to discover beauty within.
Water Universe is an interdisciplinary science and art research project, examining and interpreting water patterning and its potential application in the environmental and physical sciences, focusing on Glaciology and Polar Science. Julie is working with the British Antarctic Survey, Bath Spa University and is proudly sponsored by ZEISS.
Every watery liquid when dried on a surface leaves a residue. Sometimes this is visible like, as Julie says ‘a coffee stain left on Auntie’s favourite antique table!’ When viewed at low magnification, 20x – 200x, beautiful patterning can be seen within the dried liquid. This phenomena was first observed by the German artist Ruth Kübler who used the patterns in her artwork before taking them to Stuttgart University where Prof. Bernd Kröplin began the first scientific research on the patterns. He discovered that everything contacting with pure water results in a different unique pattern.
Julie decided to expand on this research and use a source of ‘pure’ water that already contains different substances – ice cores, cylinders of ice drilled from ice sheets and glaciers. Like tree rings, ice cores can be very revealing as every year a new layer is created which holds climatic and environmental event records within, in the form of trace metals, volcanic ash, and CO2. (For climate scientists ice cores are a vital source of information). Would water drops from different layers of ice cores over 120,000 years old give a visual indication of the cores content and of its history?
In the build up to this research, Julie used labs at Bath Spa University to test different water drops from ponds, streams and fresh springs, and to observe their resulting intricate patterns. She needed to show that the patterns in water drops could identify nitrate and phosphorus in water. Being science, the drops had to be quantitatively analysed and being an artist, Julie also photographed and scientifically illustrated the drops. The results were positive.
In this first Water Universe exhibition Julie reveals the exciting patterns of water, with dramatic photography and previously unseen 3D painted artworks of the most special drops. Julie says ‘be prepared for the unexpected, a show of contrasts and light’ and goes on to say ‘what about the ice cores and drops from up to 120,000 years? – you will have to come to the exhibition and be the first to see the results!’
Julie will be artist in residence November 1st – 13th. In addition, she will be giving an illustrated talk as part of our Wallsworth Evening series on Thursday November 10th.
At the same time, a selection of other items, primarily from Nature in Art’s collection, that relate to water will also be on display during this exhibition.
The Water Universe Exhibition at Nature in Art is the first showing of Julie Askew’s water research project, in collaboration with British Antarctic Survey, the Cabot Institute and Bath Spa University.
Join Julie Askew as she takes you on a visual feast to discover where art and science meet in a breathtaking microscopic watery world. Observe ice and water as you have never seen it before, learn the story behind the dramatic photographs and how the 3D painted artworks evolved from paper to sparkling cubes.