Bird Photographer of the Year is back after it’s popularity last year at Nature in Art.
Photographers from all over the world entered more than 20,000 images into this year’s competition, each with their eyes on the £5,000 grand prize. Photographer Jack Zhi, from the USA, was declared this year’s grand prize winner for his dramatic image taken in Southern California.
Photographers competed in 8 different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, Conservation (Single Image), and Comedy Bird Photo. There was also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.
Bird Photographer of the Year has conservation at its heart. This year, the competition donated £5,000 to partner charity Birds on the Brink, which provides vital funding to grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world. (www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk)
The 2024 competition is now open for entries at birdpoty.com, and invites photographers of all experience levels to submit their best bird photos.
Image 1: Jack Zhi / Bird Photographer of the Year
Image 2: Nicolas Reusens / Bird Photographer of the Year
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 twelve crafters sell their unique handmade crafts.
Including but not limited to – nature crafts – paper crafts – woodwork – paintings-crochet/knitting – weaving – decoupage – cards – glass – silk painting – textile bags – jewellery
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
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.
FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Beginners
Maximum Capacity: 10
Course Description:
A relaxing and fun filled day creating loose abstract floral paintings and abstract patterns using sublimation inks and then heat pressing them onto fabrics.
The morning will focus on us painting and creating collages using these specialist paints. The paints you will be using acts like ink and watercolour and so will blend and disperse in a very magical way. The paint can also be used to created pre painted papers which can be used to create abstract patterns and interesting relief prints of different elements.
You will be taught how to create quick, loose and free abstract florals which can also be applied to other subjects as well as how to create interesting abstract effects.
In the afternoon you will experiment with transferring these floral images and abstract patterns onto fabric, using a heat press
and irons. You will be able to take your fabrics home to frame, to work on further with embellishment or simply use the day as a chance to unwind and learn something new.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £15 (cash) which will be paid to Christina by the participants on the day of the course. Materials will include a selection of inks to carry on using at home. If possible please bring two jam jars for water.
Artist 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.
Christina’s website: https://www.makerwhodoesntmake.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.
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.