© Ryan Stalker
The British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is a revered showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold.
The winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 will be displayed at Nature in Art from 23rd July – 1st September. More than 14,000 images were submitted into this year’s competition, with amateur and professional photographers competing for the £5,000 grand prize. An image of a football covered in invasive goose barnacles, having travelled thousands of miles to reach the UK shores, has taken the top prize in this prestigious award.
Photographers competed in 10 different categories in the adult competition: Animal Behaviours, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black & White, British Seasons, Coast & Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife and Wild Woods. There were 3 age groups in the young competition: 11 and under, 12-14 years and 15-17 years.
Entry to this exhibition is included in the admission price to the museum.
© Max Wood
© Lucien Harris
The subjects of landscape, architecture and our industrial heritage have inspired Grahame Tucker’s work in printmaking, watercolours and more recently sculpture.
Grahame has supported our education programme and this exhibition of large prints reflects the exploration of a wide range of techniques over a period of twenty years. The use of line, cross hatching and tonal areas produced by aquatinting are extensively used to create a range of visual effects. This has given rise to him producing a series of prints reflecting his love of shape,form and texture which is equally inherent in his sculpture and paintings. This collection of etchings and aquatints shows the use of single and multiple plates to produce a range of original and individual monochrome and colour prints as limited editions. Meet Grahame when he is artist in residence, and see his sculpture, August 20th – 25th.
This play will be performed on the front lawn of Wallsworth Hall, by Tethered Wits, the premiere open-air theatre company in the Cotswolds.
The Importance of Being Earnest – by Oscar Wilde
The Tethered Wits Academy presents the timeless tale of identity, wit and cucumber sandwiches: The Importance of Being Earnest.
Upper class bachelors, the well-meaning John Worthing and playboy Algernon Moncrieff, create different identities for themselves to pursue two wonderfully eligible ladies, Cecily Cardew and Gwendolyn Fairfax. However, their identity misadventures lead to twists and turns in their tumultuous romantic journeys, all under the watchful eye of the inimitable Lady Bracknell.
Oscar Wilde’s legendary satirical comedy is a modern classic, dazzlingly brought to life in a stunning open-air setting.
👨👩👧👦 Age Guidance: 8+
🕒 7pm. Running Time: 2 hours (including a 20 minute interval)
🚪’Doors open’ 45 minutes before the performance begins for picnics. Please note that the Nature in Art Coffee Shop will close at 5pm.
General admission: £17.60. Concessions: £15.40. Under 16: £13.20
BOOK HERE
Find out more about Tethered Wits on their website: https://www.tetheredwits.com/
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Explore and capture the form, colour, textures and shapes of seasonal plants and flowers using a range of pens, pencils, inks and mark making tools in this fun and experimental workshop.
With seasonal plants and flowers as our inspiration, we’ll begin the day drawing from observation using found mark making tools to capture the main characteristics of our beautiful, natural subjects.
Gradually, we will hone-in on textures, colours and markings using coloured pencils and chalk pastels. This workshop is suitable for beginners and anyone wanting to develop their skills. Throughout the day we will explore a number of drawing techniques, for example line drawing, cross-hatching and shading.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. *The cost per person will be £5 (cash) which will be paid to me by the participants on the day of the course.
Artist Profile:
Jo Beal is a Swindon-based artist and illustrator who trained at Chelsea School of Art, graduating in 1992. Since then, Jo has worked on an array of community arts projects based in the UK and India, helping people of all ages gain confidence and express their creativity though many visual art mediums.
Jo loves to draw from observation, and to reflect on and capture her daily life through her Drawing Diaries. In contrast, she makes carefully observed botanical studies, seeking to capture and emphasise colour, texture and shape. Alongside a successful online workshop offer, Jo teaches and delivers workshops, courses and projects across the region. https://www.jobeal.net/
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.
FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Join artist Jamie Boots for a two-day exploration into the nuanced world of graphite pencil art. This workshop delves beyond basic sketching, offering insights into the subtle techniques that breathe life into your creations. Participants will discover the art of manipulating pencil sharpness, pressure, and tones to convey the fine details such as fur, skin textures, and expressive eyes.
Materials List:
All necessary materials will be provided at no additional cost by Jamie Boots, to use during the course.
Artist Profile:
Originally from New Zealand, Jamie Boots is a self-taught graphite pencil artist with a career spanning since 2004. Recognized for his exceptional work, Jamie has earned several awards, turning his hobby into a profession. With a limited number of originals available annually, Jamie’s drawings have become prized collectibles.
Explore Jamie’s portfolio at www.jamieboots.com
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
This exhibition is part of our programme of initiatives to encourage and support local creative endeavour. On show in the Atrium of our Wallsworth Centre, it features work by members of the Gloucestershire Society of Artists. They held their first exhibition in Gloucester Museum in 1924, so this is a milestone year! See representational and abstract works in various media and watch GSA members at work. Most items are for sale.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Les Fauves ( the Wild Beasts ) is the name given to a group of early 20th. century artists because their paintings were surprisingly colourful. This course is for all of you who would like to paint expressively with bright and bold colours.
We will start exploring the exciting nature of colours with coloured pencils. then, using acrylic paints, we shall copy one of the original Fauve paintings of a landscape ( possibly Henri Matisse, Andre Derain or Maurice Vlaminck ) in order to understand the purpose and enthusiasm of this movement. Thus inspired, the course continues by applying our newfound knowledge in this way by painting a photograph of an actual landscape.
Materials List:
Please bring an overall, apron or some kind of protective clothing, two water pots and some tissues.
Richard , your tutor will supply all other materials and equipment: coloured pencils, acrylic paper, acrylic paints, brushes etc. at a small cost of no more than £5.00 (cash) per person…. probably less.
Artist’s Profile:
Richard is a practising artist and has been teaching and lecturing for over fifty years and has been artist in residence at Nature in Art many times. He is very keen to convince everyone that learning to draw is not only for the ‘gifted’ few but is possible for all those who are willing to follow simple instructions. www.richardbox.com
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.
Left: Philippa Beale. Right: Tim Craven
Following on from previous exhibitions by the Arborealists at Nature in Art, this exhibition is a collaboration between them, a group of professional artists of diverse art practise who share the subject of the tree,and Julian Hight, a celebrated authority on ancient trees and the author of Britain’s Tree Story.
This unique selection of pictures explores the extraordinary physical presence and diverse colourful histories of a varied selection of these great survivors. Some have been selected by Hight for their significance, species and geological spread and others chosen by the artists as local favourites. Some trees are variously interpreted by different artistic approaches,styles and media and these will hang together for context and insight.
Although the least forested, Britain possesses the largest number of ancient trees in northern Europe of many species for a number of reasons. Some may have stood for over a thousand years while some British Yew trees are reputed to be up to four times that age, which if true, makes them the oldest living trees in Europe. Small wonder that artists have been inspired by their beauty, presence and aura.
From a human perspective, it is their constant presence within the community,surviving through one generation to the next and carrying with them events and stories, that elevates ancient trees to a higher place in our psyche. Over the centuries people have revered and named them. They act as silent witnesses to the past. Indeed, it is amazing to think that such is their longevity that some could be only ten generations away from the end of the last ice age when they first colonised our islands.
PLUS:
September 10th: Do join us for a private view of this show to meet some of the artists and find out about the Arborealists and on September 26th: An join us for an evening talk with Julian Hight. Find details of both HERE
An great opportunity to meet some of the participating artists in the Ancient Trees Exhibition from 6pm – 8pm and to hear a short talk from the founder of the Arborealists, Tim Craven (c7pm). A good opportunity to introduce your friends to Nature in Art. (Voluntary donations would be appreciated).
To book your free ticket(s) click HERE
An illustrated talk by Simon Trapnell giving an insight into the history of Wallsworth Hall, the home of Nature in Art.
This is part of Gloucester’s 2024 Heritage Open Days