Blending geology with creativity, Jackie Garner’s contemporary art is thoroughly modern, yet echoes Earth’s most ancient forces. Her acrylic paintings are inspired by, and celebrate, the rich patterns and textures of minerals, rocks and fossils. Wildly colourful to subtly intricate, sometimes fanciful and often surprising, this exhibition encourages us to look afresh at the ground beneath our feet. Rethink your perceptions of the humble rock! Instead, revel in shards of texture, light and colour.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
A one day workshop aimed at introducing and exploring the subject of sketching birds. Suitable for anyone with an urge to draw!
The day will include:
- A look at simple avian anatomy, focussing on the movement of the skeleton and feathers and their effects upon form and structure.
- Simple sketching techniques for capturing an image.
- A brief discussion on suitable materials for use in the field.
- A brief look at foreshortening effects.
- Adding colour to a sketch.
- Putting it all into practice using reference material.
Materials List:
Participants will need to provide the following materials:
- A good quality pad or book of cartridge paper, or loose sheets.
- A selection of B grade pencils, charcoal, or graphite drawing pencils.
- An eraser.
- A colour medium; for example: Watercolour, coloured pencils, pastels etc, for applying colour to sketches if desired. (one medium is enough)
While colour can be applied onto cartridge paper with good results, watercolour, or pastel paper or board may be preferred by some participants.
NB – Reference material will be supplied on the day, but participants are advised to bring photographic reference of desired subjects, if the intention is to draw a particular species.
Artist’s Profile:
Trevor is a wildlife artist whose inspiration comes from British wildlife; working from life wherever possible.
Sketching in pencil and watercolour, his sketchbooks provide a unique connection to a living subject that is of great value to him; they provide a record of his encounters with wildlife and, acting as aide memoirs, allow recall of past events with clarity.
Trevor is self employed and has spent much of his career working in wildlife conservation.
Trevor has taught fellow artists and novices alike to sketch birds, for many years now, specialising in passing on his experience of sketching from life, in the field.
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.
An illustrated talk by Jacq Garner
What do birds, ancient Egypt, model making, calligraphy, and Nature in Art have to do with rocks and fossils? They all played essential roles on the path to Jacq Garner’s latest exhibition, GeOdyssey. In this presentation, Jacq gives a glimpse behind the scenes at the inspirations and processes she uses, and discusses how these seemingly random themes wove together, culminating in a radical change of artistic style. An inspiring evening for all.
(Jacq also works under the name Jackie Garner)
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
This is a two day course that will show you how to sketch the colours and textures of autumn landscapes with waterproof black ink pen and watercolour wash.
Using photos supplied by the tutor you will be shown how to use the pen with watercolour paint both before and after painting. Techniques taught will include colour mixing, brush technique, light and dark, drawing with a pen and how to loosen up to achieve expressive sketches. By the end of the course you will have produced a few sketches to take home with you. Suitable for beginners and students with some knowledge of the medium.
Materials List:
Should the students wish to use their own tools and materials rather than buying a set from the tutor then they are welcome to bring them along.
A full list of what is needed can be obtained from the tutor jnewey210@gmail.com
Artist’s Profile:
Jonathan Newey is an award winning artist with over 25 years of experience in teaching in adult education. He has experience in a wide variety of mediums and subjects including landscapes, wildlife and architecture in acrylic, watercolour and coloured pencil. www.jonathannewey.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.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Drawing with charcoal on gesso is a delightfully tactile activity because of the extra brush texture on the surface which adds a lovely patina effect. It’s easy to smudge and scrape to make black and white marks and with smooth graduations in between. We will create a black and white animal image ready for tinting in acrylics before the end of the course.
Materials List:
Gesso boards prepared by Ian. 2@12x10in boards (£10) These are cut, sanded, prepared with 3 coats of Liquitex white gesso and sanded in between coats for a toothy smooth but slightly ridged texture.
Please bring the following:
- Fine willow charcoal sticks.
- Kitchen towel.
- Scalpel blade with handle, or sharp cutting knife or Stanley window scraper blade.
- Charcoal fixative spray.
- Half inch soft flat brush and any yellow/red/brown acrylic paints.
Please bring £10 in cash for the board to be paid directly to Ian on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Ian has been using traditional media skills in illustration and fine art over the last 20 years, mostly depicting animal art with a passion for marine-life painting. He has been creating large oil and acrylic paintings for hotels, palaces and government buildings often using pencil and charcoal compositions as part of the composition process. Here on this day course Ian will share his methods and tips he’s discovered in his professional career.
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: Absolute Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
This workshop will be a frolic through all sorts of ways of decorating initial letters – in fun, modern and quick ways with patterns, embellishments and loads of fabulous colours as well as some more historical styles, strutting their rich traditionalism.
Everyone will take home several decorated letters on cards, tags or the top of a natty little folded box. These would happily serve as highly personal and specialised (seasonal) gifts.
Materials List:
Josie will bring the majority of the materials at a cost of £3 (cash) per person to be paid directly to Josie on the day of the course.
There will be a small amount of other materials to bring along with you:
- 1 x H pencil + 1 x 2B pencil
- water soluble colour pencils
- gouache or watercolours
- waterproof fine liners (0.1 + 0.5) in black or colours
- watercolour paper – small pieces in approx. 300 gsm
- any pointed nibs and holder
If you do not have all of these items, please email the course coordinator, Alice. Josie will be able to provide some extras.
Artist’s Profile:
Josie Brown is a calligrapher and heraldic artist, who has carried out commissions for the private, academic and military sectors.
She enjoys taking natural materials together with ancient techniques and using them in a contemporary manner.
Josie trained in traditional arts, spending 3 years at Reigate School of Art learning calligraphy, heraldry, illumination and bookbinding. She has since worked for various adult education organisations in several curriculum areas, whilst always remaining a practitioner and teacher of lettering and associated arts.
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.
One of the very first showings of the winning and commended images from the very latest awards following its launch. 70 stunning photographs from around the world selected from over 23,000 entries, including ..
all the winning images
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Bring your scraps of fabric, trims, buttons and beads or beg and borrow from family or neighbours. We will be learning a simple method of making use of them to create a new fabric from this assemblage of bits and pieces. If it can be sewn down, it can be used!
The fabrics will be pieced together onto a background, decorated with stiches and trim to make a fabric collage. This can be an end in its own right, being a small transportable piece that can be worked on wherever you are. It is not too big or daunting even if you have little time or energy.It can be scaled up in different ways which will be demonstrated and practiced if you wish. Your finished piece will be mounted onto a greeting card suitable for giving on a special occasion.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide basic materials at a cost of £6 (cash) per person to be paid directly to Anne on the day of the course.
You are also invited to bring scraps of fabric (any size), trims, buttons and beads if you want to. Please also bring a basic sewing kit if you have it, but not essential.
Please also bring a notebook and pen.
Artist’s Profile:
Anne is a capable, patient, enthusiastic tutor who will inspire people to learn. She has always loved art, particularly embroidered textiles. She is keen to keep the skills alive by teaching them in a contemporary way to anyone with an interest. Over time she has given many workshops both in her home studio and elsewhere and taken part on many exhibitions.
Anne has a B.A. in Contemporary Craft. Her website is: annewardartist.co.uk
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.
Here at Nature in Art we are extremely passionate about supporting local artists and craftspeople, helping to highlight the array of crafts available and the creativity of the people in the local area. On various weekends throughout the year we host a two-day Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre, where five to ten crafters sell their unique handmade crafts.
Previous crafts have included: nature crafts – paper crafts, woodwork, paintings, crochet/knitting, weaving, decoupage, cards, glass, silk painting, textile bags, jewellery, resin art, flood painting…
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Collagraph is a wonderful form of printmaking that allows for a playful exploration of materials and techniques. It can be as complex or as simple as the artists wants it to be. For this 2 day workshop participants will be introduced to ways of creating quick, inexpensive collagraph plates with readily available materials, resulting in the opportunity to discover the potential of this printmaking process and develop ideas. There will be demonstrations of plate making using various materials, the process of inking a plate and using the press. Participants will also receive one to one tuition as they develop their own prints.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10.00 (cash) which will be paid to Nik by the participants on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Nik Pollard’s paintings and drawings are generated from sustained, direct observation and are often resolved in the field. Drawing from all the senses, he investigates the rhythms and characteristics of a location and its ecology, resulting in a sense of time and place. Working with a range of mediums, he focuses on the essential aspects of what it is that has drawn him to the subject. When working in the studio he often turns to printmaking in order to pursue an idea further, substituting the thrill of the first-hand direct response with the magic of printmaking and the exploration of materials and processes that cannot easily be replicated outdoors. Nik has been involved and has helped develop a number of Art/ Conservation projects, he sees art education as a perfect opportunity to help people re-engage with nature and believes that art has a role in promoting conservation stories. https://www.nikpollard.co.uk/
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.