What’s On

This talk will be delivered online. If you would like to attend, please use the link below to book. You will be sent your login details by email. We look forward to welcoming you.

As some of our exhibitions, exhibits and events have shown, trees have been an inspiration to artists, writers and musicians and are central not just to our physical well being but our emotional well being too. Some of the beautiful trees we have at Nature in Art were planted by people with a passion, a legacy which others can enjoy for hundreds of years. So join us for …..

An illustrated talk by Julian Hight
Come on a tour of Britain’s ancient forest told through its surviving ancient trees. From the wildwood, through working woodlands and royal forests, enclosed deer parks and landscaped manorial estates to modern plantation forestry and rewilding, this talk recounts the little told tale of an evolving landscape shaped by its wildlife, people and their relationship with trees – many of which survive as living links to Britain’s rich and ancient history. As well as being an ancient tree specialist and nature lover, Julian Hight is a designer, photographer and musician, so his talk will also feature original music written and recorded by him reflecting seasons in the forest, with forest sounds recorded through the year weaved in to produce a unique forest soundtrack.

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This talk will be delivered online. If you would like to attend, please use the link below to book. You will be sent your login details by email. We look forward to welcoming you.

We had expected to be showing the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at this time, but Covid-19 has forced it cancellation. It is the pre-eminent exhibition of its sort, internationally renowned, attracting over 45000 entries from over 100 countries, and taking the viewer on a journey across the globe. So do join us for ….

An illustrated talk by Philip Mugridge ARPS
Philip is a very experienced and widely travelled nature photographer. Iceland is one of his favourite photographic haunts which he has visited multiple times. This talk will reveal why he loves it so much! Its spectacular landscapes and awe-inspiring geological features (including many active volcanoes) mean this is an inspirational place for the nature photographer, particularly when coupled with some fantastic bird life. (Iceland is the only place in Europe where some species breed). Whether you are a nature lover or adventurer, practicing photographer or armchair traveller, do join us for this entertaining and fascinating evening.

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Moo Cow Milk Bar (entrance area), 203 Victoria Street, London SW1, circa 1954. (Photograph courtesy of the Milk Marketing Board).

This talk will be delivered online. If you would like to attend, please use the link below to book. You will be sent your login details by email. We look forward to welcoming you.

Ceramics as Show

An illustrated talk by Dr Matthew Partington

Nature in Art has a fascinating collection of ceramic items, including tiles, many of which would have adorned not just private homes, but public and commercial buildings too. During the lockdowns of the past year none of us have managed to frequent our regular haunts as we once did, including our favourite eateries and coffee shops. So instead, this evening we are venturing out to the coffee bars of the 1950s to explore the ceramics which were made for them by a small group of potters – primarily Margret Hine, William Newland and Nicholas Vergette.

Matthew, a V&A Visiting Fellow and Associate Department Head and Programme Leader at the University of the West of England, has brought together photographic, documentary and oral history evidence to paint a picture of a group of artists working for clients who wanted work which would make their coffee bar stand out from the 500 or so which had sprung up in London during the mid 1950s. Whilst little if any of these ceramics survive today, it is clear that, unfettered from the restraint so beloved of the Leach school, these artists were free to use colour, size and exotic themes to realise their client’s desire for their bar to ‘stand out’.

From the early commissions for wheel-thrown cow heads and tile panels for the Moo Cow Milk Bar in Victoria Street to a whole series of bars with French, Mexican and American themes through to their work in the 1960s on Indian restaurants, the work of these artists represent a fascinating example of site specific ceramics. They were ceramics conceived for particular spaces to amuse and engage the public.

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This talk will be delivered online. If you would like to attend, please use the link below to book. You will be sent your login details by email. We look forward to welcoming you.

An illustrated talk by Robert Ferguson

This talk coincides with the annual selling exhibition of The Wildlife Art Society. This year part of the proceeds from the exhibition will be given to the charity Explorers against Extinction. Robert is one of their trustees and runs their Sketch For Survival campaign. He has spent his career working in travel and conservation starting as a mountain guide in the Himalayas. He has trekked across Borneo, traveled the ancient Silk Road and acted in Bollywood. He is a Fellow of the RGS and a Member of the Explorers Club in New York. He has spoken at both venues and is a published travel writer with Bradt Guides. Come and hear about this innovative charity that promotes the conservation of rare and endangered species and their environments and helps local communities impacted by their proximity to benefit from their protection. Their current focus is ’21 for 21’, a campaign championing the work of 21 conservation projects across the globe, 6 of which are in Africa where Robert has visited many times.

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Take-Off – A celebration of birds in paintings, drawings, original prints, sculpture and decorative arts.

As we move out of Covid towards a ‘new normal’, it is interesting that many people have stories to tell of how bird song and birds have lifted their spirits over the past year. It seems apt that birds again can help inspire us to ‘take off’ from the lows of the pandemic to what we hope will be fertile new pastures and opportunities ahead. It’s surely true that many of us have gazed into the sky, seen a bird and dreamt of taking flight?

Many surveys suggest that people have begun to appreciate nature more since the pandemic began, as well as value the lower noise levels and cleaner air. When one considers that as magnificent as the dawn chorus is at this time year, it will be 40 million birds quieter than 50 years ago (that’s how many birds we’ve lost since 1970 largely because of human activity), many hope that this new found interest will be sustained in the years ahead.

Artists have been fascinated by birds for thousands of years. From ancient cave paintings to the present day, humans have long been inspired by birds, their ability to take flight, and the unique perspective they have on the world around us. Birds enthrall us with their stunning plumage, amusing antics, and lilting song. Avian art inspires in endlessly novel ways too, evoking the freedom of flight and the fragility of their earthbound existence.

So this selection of work brings together items from Nature in Art’s own collection and other items lent for display, that together celebrate birds.

This talk will be delivered online. If you would like to attend, please use the link below to book. You will be sent your login details by email. We look forward to welcoming you.

Alfred and Louise Powell: Decorating Wedgwood pottery in the Cotswolds

An illustrated online talk by Mary Greensted.

Mary Greensted MPhil, AMA, was decorative arts curator at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum. She is now a writer and freelance lecturer.

This talk complements some of ceramics in Nature in Art’s collections and has Gloucestershire associations. The Arts and Crafts Movement designers in Britain characteristically tried their hand at numerous crafts before finding the one closest to their hearts. The husband-and-wife team Alfred and Louise Powell were no exception to this. Alfred trained as an architect before his involvement with the crafts while Louse worked at calligraphy, illuminating and embroidery. Their main contribution however was as decorators of pottery for Josiah Wedgwood & Sons producing stunning pieces and leading to a revival of the hand-painted wares at Stoke on Trent.

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A Brush with Light – Paintings by Anthony Gibbs

MEET ANTHONY GIBBS ON July 31st and August 1st, 21st and 22nd

Nature in Art has been very fortunate to have had an association with Anthony Gibbs since our very earliest days. His work was on show the very first day we opened our doors to the public. This special selection of some of his older and very latest original works, including many generously loaned from private collections, highlight Anthony’s skill of bringing light and life into the amazing detail that he achieves – a beguiling mixture of an eye for minutia and a sensitivity and alertness to the spirit of the scene and the essence of the subject.

Currently we have his renowned oil painting ‘Punchy’ which never fails to stop visitors in their tracks. (Pictured is Anthony half way through painting it). This painting was one of two that received the USA based Society of Animal Artists ‘Award for Excellence’, two of many awards and accolades that he has received. Typical of his style, it is paintings like this that have given him international recognition as one of the UK’s best known wildlife artists. His renowned painting ‘White Tigers ever Watchful’ also will be included in this exhibition.

It is no accident that Anthony paints nature – he is passionate about conservation. So, more often than not viewers of his work are not simply intrigued and inspired by his painting technique (he also uses pastels), but also get to see the subject or scene in a different way and have a re-invigored appreciation of our natural world. His empathy with the subjects that inspire him, lived out through an apparent ease to manipulate his chosen medium to produce work that is instantly recognisable as his own, is a memorable mix. So, don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a collection of work by a remarkable painter. (www.anthonygibbs-art.com)

PLEASE NOTE DATES ARE FOR ONLINE ACCESS. EXHIBITION CAN BE VIEWED THURSDAY – SUNDAY 10am – 4pm. Given that Nature in Art has no guaranteed or ongoing public or private funding, the Covid pandemic has been a particularly difficult period for the museum. So this is a selection of original paintings, drawings, original prints and some 3D items that have been donated to the Trust to raise funds during these challenging times. Each has a minimum reserve price and bids will be invited at or above that amount throughout the exhibition period. Bids can be made at the museum (all the items will be on show or available to view) or on line. The highest bids at the close of the exhibition, 4pm on 31st August, will be successful. The are also a number of books, including editions signed by the likes of HRH Prince Philip, Peter Scott and David Bellamy.

TO SEE THE ONLINE GALLERY AND AUCTION SITE CLICK HERE