The paintings of Nicholas Jones immerse the viewer in the vast space and luminous light of the Arctic. Capturing a world made up of the simplest of ingredients – ice, water, rock, and light, this exhibition offers a point of connection with the fragile beauty of this astonishing region of our planet, on whose well-being we all depend.
Nick is the 2022 winner of the Royal Geographical Societies Cherry Kearton medal. In 2018 he was the Scott Polar Research Institutes Arctic Artist in Residence, out of which these paintings were made. This exhibition will consist of around 40 of Nick’s Arctic paintings completed between 2018 and 2022. The paintings range in size from small works on paper to two-meter large canvases.
Nick’s paintings have always dealt with one main subject: the landscape. From the countryside around his Somerset home, to the Arctic landscape of Lapland, Greenland and Baffin Island, he seeks to evoke the world of nature, of hills, mountains, water, skies, trees, and above all, light.
When in 2018, Nicholas Jones was appointed as Arctic Artist in Residence with the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute, he made a remarkable voyage along the coasts of Greenland and Baffin Island. The paintings in this exhibition are his response to the sublime light and landscapes he experienced in the Arctic, and visions of its beauty, power and simplicity. These paintings open our eyes to the beauty of nature, inviting us to a meditative contemplation of its wonders, and reminding us of the vital importance of preserving our shared home. It was for these works that the Royal Geographical Society awarded the Cherry Kearton medal, citing Nick’s “ability to ‘capture the uncapturable’: the ever-changing play of light on landscape.”
https://www.nicholasjones.info/
This course has been cancelled due to Liz having an operation and will be postponed to Spring 2024. If you are interested in being contacted when a new date is arranged then please email Alice.
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
In this course Liz will teach a simple, modern interpretation of Sashiko stitching. Sashiko is a traditional Japanese decorative stitching technique, originally used to reinforce clothing. As an art form, it can be used to create a beautifully textured and melodic textile.
You will create a fabric panel of appliqued shapes with Sashiko stitching, which can be a stylised landscape or a repeat pattern of your choice. After the course, it’s up to you how you use the panel; it could be a centre-piece for a special ‘memory’ textile; applied to a cushion or a bag, or framed as a piece of artwork! These are great ideas for presents for others or a keepsake for you.
Materials List:
- Photographs of landscapes or patterns to take ideas from
- Cotton fabrics which you may like to incorporate into your Sashiko stitching to create a ‘memory’ piece.
The tutor will provide the rest of the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £5.00 which will be paid to Liz by the participants on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Liz is an exhibiting textile artist and teacher. She has more than 40 years experience of teaching children and adults in all types of educational and community settings. She delivers art workshops in her studio and further afield, including at national events. Liz is delighted to have been Artist in Residence several times at Nature in Art, including in October/ November this year. She has also lead large textile projects, with local and national participants, for a regional arts festival. Liz’s passion for natural landscape is expressed in her colourful and textural textile artwork.
https://www.lizrobertsontextiles.com/
Course Costs:
Members: £96
Non-members: £118
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
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. Each month we host a two-day Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre, where five to ten 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
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
FULLY BOOKED
In 2018, the painter Nicholas Jones made an extraordinary voyage along the coasts of Greenland and Baffin Island as ‘Artist in Residence’ with the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute. In this talk, Nick will reflect on his time in the Arctic and the ways he set about capturing some of those experiences on canvas back in the studio.
He will talk about the ways his landscape paintings have evolved over four decades through abstraction to figuration and back again, the challenges of painting the Northern Lights and why he never tires of seeking to evoke and celebrate the transient beauty of the natural world.
In 2022, Nick was the recipient of the Royal Geographical Societies Cherry Kearton Medal, awarded for ‘his ability to capture the uncapturable; the ever-changing display of light on landscape.’
An evening for all. View Nick’s exhibition 7pm – 7:30pm.
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. Each month we host a two-day Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre, where five to ten 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
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
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