What’s On

NOW EXTENDED TO 23rd July (was 16th)

A unique selection of work by the popular UK cartoonist, Norman Thelwell.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain’s most popular cartoonists to have worked in Britain since the Second World War, Norman Thelwell (1923 – 2004). Although best known for his images of girls and their fat ponies, his work is far more wide ranging than many realise. The countryside and environment were particular passions that informed his work. His cartoons were a powerful way for him to comment on issues of the day.

‘Wrestling with a Pencil’ was the title of Thelwell’s autobiography (1984), and in it he says ‘Although my object as a cartoonist was mainly to earn my living by amusing readers, it was also quite possible to express my own feelings on subjects, situations and events about which I felt strongly. Politics I have always found very boring and there was no way in which I could have become a political cartoonist. My interest lies in the minutiae of the human dilemma, the day to day problems of life and the way we are all swept along by events or developments which we feel helpless to influence. I seem to have touched at one time or another on almost every subject under the sun from combine harvesters to computers, rockets to ramblers, paraffin to pigs. But the predominant thread which has always run through my work is my love of and fascination with the countryside: the flesh and bones of these islands.’

This exhibition will include a broad selection from a remarkable body of work produced over a lifetime. The selection was made with the assistance of Thelwell’s artist son, David, who will be artist in residence at Nature in Art in June, and Thelwell’s daughter, Penny.

In 1952, Thelwell penned his first cartoon for the satirical British magazine Punch, renowned internationally for its wit, irreverence, and for publishing the world’s best comic writers and poets. This led to a relationship that lasted for 25 years and over 1,500 cartoons, including 60 front covers. Some original Punch cartoons will be included in this exhibition.

Thelwell published his first pony cartoon in 1953, and quite by accident, his name became synonymous with images of little girls and fat hairy ponies. The ‘Thelwell pony’ quickly became the most-often referenced source of horse humour the world over, and today, as we prepare to celebrate the centennial of the artist’s life, his caricatures remain as popular as ever. Thelwell’s 34 books have sold over 2 million copies in the United Kingdom alone, and his cartoons are found on a diverse array of merchandise. Interestingly, when we need it most, his book ‘The Effluent Society’, which commented on environmental issues, was republished this March. (This, and some other merchandise will be available in the shop.)

Lent by the family archive, this display, although including a few of his renowned horse and pony pictures, also embraces serious paintings completed purely for pleasure, and drawn and painted cartoons with relevance to nature, the countryside and environment, plus early works from his army days in India and before.  Together they reveal not just Thelwell’s skill as an artist, but also his mastery of sharp social comment and his awareness of then current and future threats. He used satire to convey serious messages about the need to preserve the natural world; many of which still have poignancy today.

Many of his 34 books centre upon country life and country pursuits, and their light-hearted images are founded upon a thorough knowledge of their topics. (He was a keen angler, for example.) Although progress has been made in some areas of conservation and the tackling of environmental challenges, it is likely that Thelwell would be disappointed that many of his cajoling drawings are as relevant today as the day he put pencil to paper. Things have not changed as much as he would have liked.

For the last quarter of a century of his life Thelwell lived in the Test Valley at Timsbury, gradually restoring a farm house and landscaping the grounds which gave rise to his first factual book, ‘A Plank Bridge by a Pool’, which detailed the first two lakes he dug there. A third lake was later featured on the BBC TV.  Written much earlier, but published three years later, ‘A Millstone Round My Neck’ described his experiences in re-building a Cornish water mill that was sold before the book was published. He always loved old buildings, and in his autobiography, ‘Wrestling with a Pencil’ he wrote about his joy of old cottages.

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers

Maximum Capacity: 10

Course Description:

Painting can be very therapeutic, but the enjoyment can quickly disappear if you find yourself frustrated with what you produce. This class is about reintroducing you to the fun of painting, loosening your painting style and teaching you how to take the pressure off the end result. It will teach you how to be inspired to create relaxing abstract paintings but also how to feel relaxed when creating them.

Through guided exercises you will learn different painting techniques, as well as practical tips to free up your painting style. We will explore different materials, surfaces and subjects, painting to music and other ways to help you unwind and take pleasure in painting. There will be laughing as well as moments of calm and reflecting. A fun filled day learning something new and giving you the chance to relax. Suitable for all abilities, even those who have not picked up a paintbrush before.

Materials List:

The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10, to be paid (in cash) to Christina directly on the day of the course. Please wear old clothes / apron.

Artist’s Profile:

​Christina is an abstract artist based in Gloucester. Inspired by the natural world she works with inks and paints to create layers of translucent colours resulting in soothing and relaxing art.

Christina has had lots of experience in the arts and running workshops and at one stage was even the Education Officer here at Nature in Art.

She has exhibited work on the London underground, Saatchi Art and is represented by Wychwold Art Gallery. She had a pop up shop in John Lewis and produced artwork for Gloucestershire Hospital to improve their mental health in Crisis room.

Course Costs:

Members: £48

Non-members: £59

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

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 List:

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 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.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))

FULLY BOOKED

Course Suitability: Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

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. The course tutor 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.

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.

Materials List:

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 organised with specific demonstrations. Simon makes plenty of time during class to assist each students’ individual needs and abilities.

Course Costs:

Members: £96

Non-members: £118

(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))