A retrospective exhibition of work by David Burnham Smith who died in 2019. His instantly recognisable ceramics display humour, beauty and creativity. Trained as a draughtsman, David turned to ceramic restoration and then, later, applied that attention to detail to his own work inspired by history, nature, spirituality and the rich heritage of the ceramic world.
CLICK HERE for further information about David Burnham Smith.
In the summer of 2021, the Cotswold National Landscape launched the Glorious Cotswold Grasslands (GCG) Art Competition, calling for artworks from young artists. This exhibition displays the inspiring artworks submitted.
The GCG is an ambitious long term project aiming to restore the largest network of flower-rich Jurassic limestone habitat in the UK! Over the last three years the project has collected and sown wildflower seeds across the Cotswolds, resulting in the restoration of more than 200 hectares of limestone grassland – double its original target. Every hectare restored helps to reverse the decline of this unique and precious habitat, and helps wildlife thrive.
The display features the creative responses of young artists, aged 11-19, to the GCG project. The artworks are inspiring depictions of meadow scenes, wildflowers and climate-aware messaging, in a range of styles and media.
Alongside the display of artworks by the young artists there will be further events and activities to take part in. The winners of the competition will also be participating in an exciting and exclusive workshop for them, with model maker and character designer Jim Parkyn creating an amazing wildflower scene!
When visiting, why not also check on progress of the wildflowers sown in our own nature garden with the help of Harvey Sherwood, GCG Project Officer.
Come and meet people associated with the project and plant some wildflower seeds in our garden on Saturday April 9th.
Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Advanced
Maximum Participants: 12
*Every effort will be made to maintain social distancing during the course and the wearing of masks will be encouraged.*
Course Description:
All tools and materials will be provided at a cost of £10 per head.
Please bring a hairdryer is possible and any ideas you have for a design.
Artist’s Profile:
In 1981 Jackie had her first exhibition in Tewkesbury and since then has exhibited her work around the UK and abroad.
She moved to the Forest of Dean in 2001 where she had the opportunity to take over a local art class.
“I have always been interested in trying out different mediums and surfaces and this has stood me in good stead now that I am an art teacher”.
Jackie regularly exhibits with the Society of Feline Artists, the UK Coloured Pencil Society (of which she is a member and has won several awards) the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (another award!) and has exhibited with the Society of Equine Artists and the Society of Wildlife Artists.
“These successes have spurred me on to further experiment in new mediums, concentrating even more on light, shadows and nuances of colour”.
https://www.sindencox-art.co.uk/jackie.html
Art Course Cost: £45 NiA Members, £55 Non-members
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
Places will be offered on a first come first basis.
To secure your place on this course a £20 non-refundable deposit is required. If you would like to book a place please CLICK HERE
Alternatively, you can call 07467 138355 (Tues – Thurs) or 01452 731422 and we will be happy to assist you with your booking.

In celebration of The Queen’s Green Canopy project, Regeneration is a new exhibition to help promote tree planting: a vital strand of the environmental crisis recovery strategy. Trees are the lungs of the planet and this exhibition showcases a diverse range of approach, style media, and scale – and interpretation of this uplifting and positive subject.
Trees provide a wonderfully versatile subject for artists, not only in terms of the rich variety of form, texture and colour they provide, whether individually or collectively, but also through the wealth of association – myth, folklore, religious and symbolic significance, that they have come to embody over many centuries. In Britain, trees as a subject have inspired artists from Gainsborough and Constable through to the Pre-Raphaelites, the Neo-Romantics and the Ruralists. Piet Mondrian and Victor Pasmore used the tree as a device to turn abstract and Paul Nash famously stated that he loved and worshipped trees and believed they were people.
The Arborealists were founded in 2013 by artist and curator Tim Craven following the seminal exhibition Under the Greenwood: Picturing the British Tree, staged at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, Lymington, in the heart of the New Forest. The Arborealists are a loose association of some 50 professional artists of diverse art practice who share the subject of the tree. Although united by their subject, the artists employ a diverse range of working practices: scale, medium, philosophy, style and technique. The results are by turn dramatic and contemplative, expressive, abstracted, hyperreal and surreal and they demonstrate that trees still have a deep relevance in contemporary art and retain their power to move us as a vital element in our landscape
The group is far flung with members from Wales and the borders to East Anglia and London and every southern county from Kent to Cornwall. The group enjoys a national profile and have already staged 26 exhibitions to critical acclaim in the UK, France and Gibraltar with many more planned for the future, including site-specific projects. The Arborealists have forged successful partnerships with National Park Authorities, Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and The Woodland Trust and The National Trust.
Image: ‘Amongst the Trees, Bluebell Wood, Perivale’ by David Wiseman, acrylic on canvas.
Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre Atrium
Saturday 30th April & Sunday 1st May
10am – 5pm
Free entry to the market
Stallsholders:
- Jackie Cox (silk painting, stained glass pics, jewellery)
- Maz (nature artist)
- Hazel Locke (crochet items and quilling)
- Sue and Tony Chandler (wood work, pebble pictures)
- Irene Crawshaw (hand made bags, textiles)
Image: ‘Pink Orchids’ Silk Scarf by Jackie Cox

THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Advanced
Maximum Participants: 12
*Every effort will be made to maintain social distancing during the course and the wearing of masks will be encouraged.*
Course Description:
Materials Required:
All tools and materials will be provided at a cost of £10 per head.
Students will need to bring pencil and paper, some ideas to use as a starting point (we will be working on A5 and A6 blocks), gloves to avoid inky hands and an apron or old clothes.
Artist’s Profile:
Beth Jenkins is an experienced artist and tutor. Her love of the natural world is shown in her landscape prints, often of trees and water. Following her residency at Slimbridge, birds are now becoming a regular feature of her work.
Beth is a member of Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative. Her work was selected for the inaugural Masters of Relief Print Exhibition by the Royal Society of the Painter Printmakers. She exhibits widely in the UK and beyond and has work in private collections in the UK, Europe and North America.
Art Course Cost: £90 NiA Members, £110 Non-members
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
CLICK HERE to book other courses & events.

THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Beginners – Intermediate
Maximum Participants: 12
*Every effort will be made to maintain social distancing during the course and the wearing of masks will be encouraged.*
Course Description:
This two day workshop will guide you through the painting of a popular wildlife subject, the Eagle Owl, with a portrait study in acrylics.
Tackling this subject will introduce participants to the tutor’s techniques for painting eyes and feathers as well as applying glazes and layers and the fine details that are a feature of her wildlife art and illustration. Participants will leave with a better grasp of this versatile medium and how to progress a painting from drawing to final brush strokes.
The course will appeal to those looking to achieve an understanding of working in acrylics or who have already tried acrylics and want to learn more. Kim is a considerate and encouraging tutor and will bring a relaxed approach to the two days.
Materials Required:
Kim will supply all the paint and painting surfaces at a cost of £15 per person payable directly to Kim during the course.
Please bring:
– Large palette
– Water pot
– Any brushes you like to use although I will be supplying some brushes.
– Please feel free to bring any acrylic paintings you might like to show to the group or discuss with Kim.
Artist’s Profile:
Kim Thompson enjoys painting the intricate textures and patterns found in nature and her vibrant artwork is characterised by these details.
Working as an illustrator, much of Kim’s work has been for magazines and books but she also exhibits at the Mall galleries and various UK art events. She has led painting safaris and wildlife conservation projects with children in Botswana where she finds much inspiration for paintings.
Kim’s work has been sold to collectors from around the world, including HRH Princess Michael of Kent and she has been commissioned by clients such as Royal Doulton and Blenheim Palace.
Art Course Cost: £90 NiA Members, £110 Non-members
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
CLICK HERE to book other courses & events.
The always highly anticipated annual selling exhibition of The Wildlife Art Society International. Over 350 works by members in a wide variety of styles and media. The Society provides an active focus for wildlife artists, painters, sculptors and photographers whether they are professional, amateur or leisure artists. See artists at work every day.

Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Advanced
Maximum Participants: 12
*Every effort will be made to maintain social distancing during the course and the wearing of masks will be encouraged.*
Course Description:
Inspired by the decorative works of the golden age of illustration and the Arts and Crafts movement, this course will show you how to include gold-leaf in your paintings.
Gold-leaf is a very versatile medium. It can be used either to highlight small areas of your paintings or bring glow to the complete background. it is a stunning and decorative way to bring a surprising new element and shine to your work.
This course is suitable for absolute beginners as well as advanced participants, but please be aware that working with gold-leaf, which comes in thin, fragile sheets, is painstakingly fiddly: you need to bring patience!
Materials Required:
Participants will be required to bring their own work to embellish with gold-leaf. Gold-leaf can be used on any ground: watercolour paper, canvas, board, wood panel or even acrylic or glass surfaces.
Artist’s Profile:
Claudia grew up in the Black Forest and studied graphic design & illustration in Freiburg, Germany.
Claudia is a published freelance illustrator and wildlife artist based in the UK. She has been around the globe on assignments, commissions, missions and exhibitions for new inspiration. Her love for detail and vibrant choice of colour combinations are trademarks of her work.
Claudia is an enthusiastic fossil hunter and birdwatcher, a lover of owls and the brief owner of a pet magpie. She has an interest in everything natural history and science has to offer and is active in conservation projects
Art Course Cost: £45 NiA Members, £55 Non-members
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
Places will be offered on a first come first basis.
To secure your place on this course a £20 non-refundable deposit is required. If you would like to book a place please CLICK HERE
Alternatively, you can call 07467 138355 (Tues – Thurs) or 01452 731422 and we will be happy to assist you with your booking.

THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Improvers
Maximum Participants: 12
*Every effort will be made to maintain social distancing during the course and the wearing of masks will be encouraged.*
Course Description:
All materials will be supplied free of charge to use during the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Karen is a self taught award winning coloured pencil artist and tutor, painting mostly wildlife subjects. She is a gold member of the UKCPS (United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society).
Karen exhibits nationally and has won many awards for her detailed pencil work. She runs regular courses in the Pencil Museum, Keswick and Nature in Art, as well as many classes in Hampshire where she currently lives.
Art Course Cost: £45 NiA Members, £55 Non-members
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
CLICK HERE to book other courses & events.
