Course details:
“I would like each student to produce a painting that suggests a garden escape, a place to escape the pressures of modern life. It can be a painting of a single flower, an herbaceous border, a path, trees, views, in a garden or out into the wider landscape.”
Materials and additional costs:
- Canvas or board
- Brushes in small, medium and large
- Paints – oil, acrylic, pencils, inks NOT watercolours
- A photo to work from
Suitability:
Beginners – advanced
Spaces:
12
Price: £124 / £158
Back in 2022 Elizabeth Gray, who also used the name Ben Venuto for some of her work, died. She had been a strategic supporter of the establishment of Nature in Art and two of her works were the first to be accessioned into our collection.
On her death we were given access to her studio and in 2023 we exhibited some of the previously unshown works discovered there in a special display ‘Secrets of the Studio’. Since then, her studio has revealed still more secrets including some spectacular reduction linocuts from her 15 year series ‘Ancient Yesterdays’, some unsigned and untitled and others not previously displayed. So, this exhibition brings together some of the highlights from that series and the new discoveries.
She said ‘I cannot remember what set me off on the archaeological trail … but this journey was to take me all over the ancient world through the means of travel, museums and books. I also owe a debt to the authors of those books, which it has been my pleasure to collect, and to the archaeologists themselves who dug up all these goodies in the first place.
Archaeology is not the only facet to reflect light from the gems of the past. For me, history, geography and art all add to the sparkle. To be able to see, and better still to handle, something made thousands of years ago is a privilege. The fact that so much survives is remarkable.
There is nothing to compare with the Egyptians for bringing history to life in their magnificent wall paintings. The geographical location of a civilization affects its art. In the cold, northern world of the Vikings one would never find the quetzal bird of the rain forest, whose scintillating green feathers were so treasured by the rulers of the Maya, and used to such dramatic effect in their carvings. Pottery from the nature-loving Minoan civilization, (3000 – 1500BC), displays a natural skill in design from the octopus to the lily. The remains of their frescoes are vibrant with the colours of the natural world and are full of the sunshine of that island. On the other hand the Assyrians display, not a love of nature, but of war. Nature is portrayed, for instance, in the Assyrian reliefs at the British Museum, but it is subservient to the theme of dominance, whether in hunting or war. The skill in producing their works of art is obvious, but it gives me a feeling of unease and I am glad that I did not live in the Assyrian world. We are fortunate that the pottery of the Greeks has survived in such abundance. The painted scenes which surround their jars and vases give us insight into their traditions and beliefs.
…. It is humbling to see the skills, and sometimes the sheer genius, of men and women all down the ages who have created the objects which have been such a source of inspiration to me ….. We talk disparagingly of the ‘Dark Ages’ but we have only to look at some of the superb treasures made by those ‘primitive’ people to be stopped in our tracks and ask ‘How on earth did they do it?’. We would find it hard to emulate such skill or create such beauty today. Kenneth Clark in his book ‘Animals and Men’, describes beauty as ‘An undefinable word: but since it expresses the difference between our feelings when we look at a gazelle or a horse and those aroused by a crocodile or a wart-hog, it is worth preserving in our limited vocabulary of criticism as the description of a precious human experience’. Well, I have had many such precious experiences making these prints.
The prints are made from lino cuts. The process of cutting and printing is always exciting and I have at times literally jumped for joy as the colours have built up over a particularly intricate piece of cutting. Each print is made from just one piece of lino so a bit of thinking has to be done before starting to cut.
It has been a true voyage of discovery and I have gained a moving insight into the thoughts and lives of the people whose works of art have survived to give pleasure, in some cases, thousands of years later. One can sense the satisfaction experienced by the artisans in making their vases, carving jade or ivory, casting bronze and embossing gold. But these are the smaller things and ones mind can only boggle at those huge, richly carved pillars in Egyptian temples, the carvings on the buildings of the Maya, or the vastness and intricacies of Trajan’s column in Rome.
Each print, which contain either animals or birds, or both, has been a fresh journey into the past, and the philosophy of each different culture has been revealed through its art. The exchange of artistic ideas has been an enrichment of the human soul since time immemorial, and I, for one, am grateful for that enrichment. I hope you will share something of that experience as you look at these treasures made by artists whose lives are obscured by the mists of time but whose art lives on in the things they created’.
Details of a related talk here
We have another amazing Dare to Dabble planned for you!
Designed completely around the absolute beginner, or those who just fancy a dabble, these sessions provide a great opportunity to try out new art techniques and mediums.
Morning Session: 10am – 12pm
Afternoon Session: 1pm – 3pm
Inspiration, materials, guidance and fun are all provided, and as all tasks should, we’ll begin with a brew.
Follow this link to see what we have going on in the session today: Dare to Dabble
Course details:
Participants will be needle felting a version of a peeping Barn owl . I will teach how to use felting needles, mix wool colours with some silk and this popular British bird of prey that you can hang on your wall. All materials will be provided, but if you have done needle felting and you have your own favourite felting needles, mats, scissors or other tools, please bring them along. You will be learning techniques taught by an experienced award winning artist Agnese Davies (A.D.Woolcraft).
Materials and additional costs:
- £10 material charge to be paid to tutor, cash
Suitability:
Absolute beginners
Spaces:
12
Price: £62 / £79
Course details:
Discover how to embed beautiful dried botanicals grown in the grounds of Nature in Art on this full day workshop with tutor Emma from Nature’s Inspiration.
Create coasters working with flowers, foliage and vegan non-toxic epoxy resin learning how to use this incredibly complex medium in the morning. Break for lunch and whilst your coasters are curing this afternoon we will switch to a UV cured vegan non toxic resin which is premixed and cured using LED lamps. Working with more intricate flowers to create your very own botanical jewellery, or accessory up to 3 (choose from earrings, ring, pendant, cufflinks, broach, bookmark, keyring or hairgrips). Demould your coasters and learn how to finish your jewellery before the end of the workshop.
Materials and additional costs:
All materials will be provided. £20 in materials will need to be paid on the day with an additional £5 if you’d like to make an extra set.
Suitability:
Beginners to improvers
Spaces:
12
Price:
£62 / £79
Please call for details. Thank you.
Course details:
Explore the Colour Pencil techniques to draw this beautiful portrait using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils on Mount Board Including Colour blending for subtle colour changes in the fur.
Line drawing supplied to trace or copy.
Materials
Supplied by tutor, £3 charge (cash)
Suitability:
Suitable for all
Spaces:
12
Price: £124 / £158
Kaspar: Prince of Cats
Based on the book by Michael Morpurgo
Step into the heart of the Savoy Hotel with Kaspar: Prince of Cats, a magical family adventure brought to life through enchanting puppetry, original music and vivid storytelling.
Follow Johnny Trott, a young bellboy, and Lizziebeth, a spirited American girl, as they form an unlikely bond with the extraordinary cat Kaspar. Their journey takes them across oceans, in a story of friendship, courage and survival that will captivate audiences of all ages.
👨👩👧👦 Age Guidance: 3+
🕒 Running Time: 1 hour (no interval)
🚪’Doors open’ 45 minutes before the performance begins for picnics
Find out more at alfrescoactors.com
Reviews from our previous shows by the same team:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Great fun’ ~ The View From the Stalls
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ‘Absolutely outstanding. I was captivated throughout’ ~ What’s Good To Do
★ ★ ★ ★ ‘A magical sixty minutes of skilfull puppetry and acting’ ~ North West End
Around the World in 80 Days
Pack your bags and hold onto your hats – the race is on! 🌍⏱️
Join a fearless troupe of actor-musicians as they hurtle across continents in this riotously entertaining, globe-trotting show inspired by Jules Verne’s much-loved classic.
With the clock ticking, Phileas Fogg and his quick-thinking companions attempt the impossible: travelling around the world in just 80 days.
Expect dazzling live music, outrageous characters and inventive storytelling as London, Bombay and beyond burst into life. Featuring trains, boats and plenty of theatrical mayhem, this joyful open-air adventure is packed with fun, flair and surprise at every turn.
Based on the novel by Jules Verne, Adapted by Chris Fung, Directed by Tara Noonan.
👨👩👧👦 Age Guidance: 10+ (perfect for families and explorers of all ages!)
🕒 Running Time: 2 hours (including a 20 minute interval)
🚪’Doors open’ 45 minutes before the performance begins for picnics
Course details:
Explore colour pencil techniques to draw this Cute Puma portrait using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils on Mount Board including indenting and soft fine pencil strokes for fur texture.
Line Drawing supplied to trace or copy.
Materials
Supplied by tutor, £3 charge (cash)
Suitability:
Suitable for all
Spaces:
12
Price: £62 / £79
We have another amazing Dare to Dabble planned for you!
Designed completely around the absolute beginner, or those who just fancy a dabble, these sessions provide a great opportunity to try out new art techniques and mediums.
Morning Session: 10am – 12pm
Afternoon Session: 1pm – 3pm
Inspiration, materials, guidance and fun are all provided, and as all tasks should, we’ll begin with a brew.
Follow this link to see what we have going on in the session today: Dare to Dabble