Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum’s (London) globally renowned annual competition and exhibition, highlighting the unique and beautiful relationship between photography, science and art.
A forest rodeo, a hidden stargazer and a mason bee at work are just a few of the awe-inspiring images featured in the fifty-ninth competition. All 100 winning wildlife photographs will be on display at Nature in Art.
This year’s competition attracted an astounding 49,957 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 95 countries.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum sums up the importance of the exhibition: ‘We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world.’
Entry to the exhibition is included in the entrance price to Nature in Art.
The Gloucester Society for Botanical Illustration’s Annual Exhibition will be held in the Atrium of the Education Centre.
GSBI grew out of botanical art classes held in Cheltenham and Stroud taught by Michael Hickey, horticulturist, botanist, writer and illustrator for The Cambridge University Press and elsewhere. The Society was formed in 1993 to cater for all in the county interested in botanical illustration, whether as botanists, botanical illustrators, gardeners or those involved in the collection and appreciation of botanical works. Their membership includes winners of The Royal Horticultural Society’s gold, Silver Gilt and Silver medals, both in the Grenfell(for art pictures) and Lindley (for scientific illustration) range.
Meet artists every day whilst viewing this inspiring display.
Images:
Wild Arum by Sian Phillips
Dahlia by Carolyn Makepeace
Cath is one of the U.K’s foremost entomological artists and illustrators. A great enthusiast, she believes that the best way to celebrate the importance and relevance of insects in a happy, healthy ecology, is to capture their micro beauty and anatomical intricacy in art using microscopes and ethical specimens. Come along and spend an evening with Cath and her insects to find out how she creates her miniature masterpieces. Discover what insects do for the natural world and finally, how we can encourage more of them into our wild spaces. Cath is convinced that we can all metamorphose from traditional gardeners to wildlife gardeners extraordinaire! An evening for all!
Starts 7pm, followed by a finger food buffet and the talk. Finishes around 9:15pm.
£12 per person.
Book a ticket HERE.
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
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 List:
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.
The tutor will provide (free of charge) glue, brushes, and a variety of imitation gold leaf, brass and copper leaf in different colours.
The tutor will also bring a small selection of 24ct gold leaf and silver leaf, which you can use (with a charge per sheet)
Artist 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. Her website is https://claudia-hahn.com/
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £55
Non-members of Nature in Art: £69
To book a place on this course, please click here.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
During this two day course students may choose to work with watercolour or ‘Brusho’ paint. The aim is to create a colourful image of flowers and foliage against a stained glass window, producing a very attractive image. There will be guidance from the tutor at every stage in a relaxed and stimulating atmosphere.
Materials List:
*Paints. Either watercolours or ‘Brusho’. (If using Brusho please bring some small screw top jars eg individual jam or marmalade pots)
You will need 3 different shades of blue.
*Some sheets of A3 watercolour paper at least 140lbs weight. Nothing thinner or smaller please.
*A board to stick your paper onto.
*Selection of paintbrushes.
*Mixing palette
*Masking tape.
*Pencil.
*A 30cm ruler
*A medium nib black waterproof drawing pen.
*Any pictures of flowers you would like to work from. Preferably not multi petalled blooms eg Chrysanthemums or roses. Choose simple shapes eg lilies. Fake flowers are fine..The tutor will have leaf shapes and pictures.
Artist Profile:
Since qualifying in Design at the University of bath Spa, Jean has taught people of all ages and abilities in schools, colleges and art holiday establishments. She has also worked for cruise lines teaching portrait drawing on board ships. She has been successfully running Brusho courses for several years in the South of England and she aims to create a relaxing atmosphere where people can enjoy experimenting with the medium.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £110
Non-members of Nature in Art: £138
To book a place on this course, please click here.
Gloucestershire Society of Artists was founded in 1924 linked to the Gloucester Art College and several of the talented tutors at the college were the first members. The Art Club is still a devoted community made up of enthusiastic individuals who enjoy sharing ideas and activities. This is the first of a series of exhibitions across the county marking the 100th anniversary of the society. This celebratory exhibition includes work in a variety of styles and media.
This exhibition will take place in the Atrium of the Education Centre. Free entry.
Meet members everyday. Some items for sale.
Paul is a freelance wildlife photographer striving to make images count in the conservation of wildlife and habitats in rivers, lakes, forests and oceans.
He works with marine, freshwater and wildlife conservation agencies worldwide. A former chairman of the British Society of Underwater Photographers, Paul pioneered new river-wildlife photography techniques using remote control cameras. He expanded his portfolio to include above-water subjects and is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading night-infrared bat photographers. A former overall winner of the British Wildlife Photography Awards, Paul has recorded major successes in Underwater Photographer of the Year, Bird Photographer of the Year and Nature Photographer of the Year. He has Royal Photographic Society gold medals and his work is published widely in UK and internationally. This talk will focus on his pioneering bat, river and ocean photography projects in conservation.
Starts 7pm, followed by a finger food buffet and the talk. Finishes around 9:15pm.
£12 per person.
Book a ticket HERE.
An exhibition of contemporary lace.
‘Elemental’ is the Westhope Group’s latest of many varied exhibitions. Members’ work is grounded in centuries-old techniques, but challenges the traditional view of lacemaking. Using traditional lacemaking techniques, group members produce contemporary textile art that may not always be immediately recognised as lace.
Founded in 1989, members of the Westhope Group come from all over the UK. Although their backgrounds in lace are varied, they have a common interest in maintaining strong lace traditions, pushing the boundaries of lace techniques and sharing experience with students, lacemakers and all who have an enthusiasm for textiles.
The theme, ‘Elemental’, looks at nature at its most basic level. Whether looking at the ancient elements of earth, water, fire and air, or considering modern chemical elements, these are the building blocks of our world. The theme has proved to be a rich source of inspiration for this talented group who have interpreted the theme in many different ways. The result is a beautifully conceived exhibition, all worked in the medium of lace.
See group members demonstrating on 30th March, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th April.
More details about the Westhope Group and its members can be found on their website or their Instagram page.
This exhibition will take place in the Atrium of the Education Centre. Free entry.
This exhibition will now finish on May 12th (was 28th April)
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain was established in Copenhagen in 1775 by the Danish monarchy and is still in production today. The porcelain is known worldwide for its high standards of craftsmanship, immaculate design and being made and painted entirely by hand.
The company makes a wide variety of items such as tableware, figurines, animals, birds, fish, vases, dishes and plates. This exhibition will show a varied sample of animals and birds dating from 1890’s – 1990’s.
Royal Copenhagen’s first ever pattern in 1775 was the Blue Fluted Plain, a blue and white floral design. In the 19th century, Blue Fluted Plain was so highly coveted, the pattern could be found on everything from teapots to chamber pots.
Since 1775, every piece of porcelain that has left Royal Copenhagen carries its factory marks; the three waves, the royal crown and the painter’s mark. These are symbols of authenticity, the royal connection and the mark of hand-craftsmanship.
The figurines from Royal Copenhagen have long been out of production and the only ones still being produced are the annual figurine series. Nature in Art has three pieces of Royal Copenhagen porcelain in its permanent collection, all of which will be on display alongside key works from two local private collections.
The exhibition will celebrate the huge variety and detail of around 50 decorative items, ranging from an early and rare marmot created in the c.1890’s to a Lady Amherst pheasant, one of the most colourful figurines made by one of the few female modellers, Andrea Nielsen. The selection will include miniatures to compliment larger items, with some animals and birds being life size. This will be a rare and exciting opportunity to see so many Royal Copenhagen items together at once.
Entry into this exhibition is included in the admission price to the museum.
FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
You will learn about the simple beauty of making mosaics and produce one for your home with professional mosaic artist Joanna Dewfall who has over 30 years experience of commissions and teaching the art form.
In this friendly and relaxed workshop, Joanna will demonstrate and explain the various mosaic materials and techniques of cutting and laying tesserae in the classical mosaic style. You will learn how to use two different types of tile cutters in a safe and productive way. Joanna provides all tools and materials: tile cutters, safety glasses, washable pva, paper, tracing paper, 20cm boards, glass and porcelain mosaic tiles, grout to take home with instructions.
You may bring a simple design which Joanna will help you adapt for mosaic, or use one of Joanna’s many tried and tested template designs. Grouting will be demonstrated but you will need to complete this at home – grout and full instructions included. The completed mosaic will be heat and wipe proof.
Materials List:
Please bring with you a soft pencil, ruler and rubber. Joanna will supply all other materials at a cost of £15 (cash) per person, to be paid to Joanna directly on the day of the course.
Artist Profile:
Joanna Dewfall has a BA in Fine Art from Winchester School of Art (1982) and for over 25 years has been making mosaic artworks for a variety of private and public clients. Joanna has considerable experience of engaging with a wide range of groups and organisations. Her passion is in creating exciting detailed designs in mosaic which reflect the values, stories and wishes of the client.
Joanna’s style of mosaic for the most part is based on the classical small tesserae flowing designs of ancient mosaics. Joanna works in matt porcelain, vitreous glass and marble mosaic tile. Public engagement is an important part of Joanna’s way of working and her most recent example of this is a large mural at Salisbury Rail Station made with rail staff.
www.dewfallmosaic.co.uk Instagram: dewfallmosaic
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £55
Non-members of Nature in Art: £69