Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
Sun 10 Jul, 5.30pm (‘doors open’ 4.30pm for picnics)
Tethered Wits Theatre Company present Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward – a delightful summer evening comedy in the museum’s garden.
Socialite novelist Charles Condomine, is living in re-married bliss until a visit from “happy medium”, one Madame Arcati, brings back the ghost of his dead wife during a séance… With both wives watching on, Charles is caught in the middle of a sprightly storm of conflicting personalities.
Expect mayhem and mishaps in Coward’s timeless comic farce which captures the chaos of both life and the afterlife. After all, what mischief would you create when you “pass over”?
Tethered Wits are thrilled to present another of their Summer touring productions, which have been previously hailed as “truly a joy to watch” (Palatinate).
Tickets: £16 Standard, £14 Concessions (students & over 60s), £10 Under 10s
This amateur production of “Blithe Spirit” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
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
THIS COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: 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:
This course will focus on botanical drawing and painting techniques with the option of working in watercolour or gouache. Observational skills are a very important part of botanical art so students will be encouraged to work from life by making detailed studies from either plants, leaves, fruit or vegetable specimens. Course tutor Simon Williams will advise on a practical one-to-one basis, giving guidance in observations, colour suggestions and how to paint from the initial base coats to more controlled techniques. this will include rendering textures, contour definitions and colour transitions.
Gouache is an opaque form of watercolour and is not an inferior medium to watercolour. For much of the time it is used for illustration, book design and publishing for its fantastic reproduction and vibrant colour.
This course is open to all levels, but it is preferential to have some drawing/painting experience, as botanical work requires a precise rather than loose style of painting. Please visit Simon’s website to see samples of the style of painting.
https://www.swillustrations.com
Materials Required:
An equipment and materials list will be sent out on booking a place on the course
Artist’s Profile:
Simon Williams SBA, is an RHS Gold Medalist and regarded as one of the UK’s leading botanical artists.
Simon has been a member of the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) since 2002 and received Certificates of Botanical Merit in both 2001 and 2003.
In 2013 Simon became the Course Director of the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma Course.
Simon is the author of the book Botanical Painting with Gouache published in 2016 by Batsford. In July 2018 Simon was awarded a Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal for a series of paintings titled ‘A Broad Selection of Tropical Pitcher Plants – Nepenthes’, painted in watercolour.
Simon originally trained as a natural history illustrator and tutors botanical and natural history painting workshops throughout the UK and abroad. Each workshop is structured and organized with specific demonstrations. Simon makes plenty of time during class to assist each students’ individual needs and abilities.
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: Improvers – 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:
A materials list will be provided to participants nearer the time of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Ann is one of this country’s leading botanical artists working primarily in coloured pencil and graphite with four RHS Gold Medals to her name. Her drawings take many hours of intense observation and are imbued with a strong sense of design. Taking her inspiration from our rich and diverse plant life, her work is constantly evolving as she tests out new materials and ideas and experiments with different techniques.
Ann is an experienced, enthusiastic and nurturing teacher. She runs workshops abroad and around the UK and has been coming to Nature in Art for many years.
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.
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.
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:
This course is the perfect blend of, learning the anatomy of the horse, and loose expressive sketching.
Horses can be tricky subjects. Emily will be giving students a gentle introduction to the anatomy of the horse, as well as sharing a few of her favourite proportional tricks that have helped her enormously over the years.
Throughout the day you will also be loosening up with timed sketches. Emily has found timed sketching hugely beneficial for improving her drawing skills. It will be fun to see your sketches improve and evolve throughout the day. This will be a day of both learning, one of letting go and having fun.
This course will change the way you see your subjects, and give you a new set of tools to carry forward into all you animal drawings
Materials Required:
All material will be supplied at a cost of £5 per person payable directly to Emily during the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Emily has always had a passion for all things animals ever since she was a young girl. When she couldn’t be with them, she was drawing them.
As a teenager her passion for horses began. This lead her from East Sussex to Gloucestershire, where she studied for 3 years acquiring a degree in Equine Science at Hartpury College.
This love of Science has meant she has always been fascinated by the inner workings of her subjects. She has found the more she learns the better her drawing skills become.
Now, lucky enough to paint horses for a living, Emily uses the knowledge she has learnt over the years in every piece she paints.
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.
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.