Large paintings by Rosalind Wise in response to a visit to Transylvania in Romania where she says she ‘saw fields of many different flowers, carpets of shimmering colour disappearing into the distant landscape. This made me realise how much since the Second World War we in Britain have lost, and how important it is for us to preserve this living treasure’.
Having enjoyed a viewing of Ros’s exhibition and some delicious food, join Rosalind to hear the story behind her wonderful wildflower meadow painting project which included her visiting Romania and experiencing some of their spectacular wild environments for herself. Many of our members will be familiar with her huge ‘Cycle of Flowers’ painting that often hangs on the museum’s main stairs. Ros is now producing large paintings of particular places and the flowers she finds there
Doors open 7pm to view the galleries. 7.30pm finger buffet, followed by talk. Tickets £8
This talk will take place in person at Nature in Art, Wallsworth Hall.
Legacy of Love is a unique book bringing together 57 charity founders, actors, poets, artists and photographers celebrating their love of animals in personal words and stunning pictures. This summer, some of the Legacy of Love team are taking to the road with a series of exciting events across the UK.
Come and join our Family Fun Day and help create community artwork, meet some of the contributors of the Legacy of Love book and members of conservation charities.
Enjoy various charity stalls, take part in fun garden games and discover the endangered Animal Treasure Trail to win a prize. Look around the museum and see artists at work.
Ticket: £3 per person (under 8’s FREE)
This special admission price also includes entry into the museum. No pre-booking required.
To find out more about the Legacy of Love three day tour, reach out to the team via the contact form at: www.legacyoflovebook.org
If you wish to make a donation please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/legacy-of-love-on-tour
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
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.