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.

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))

Due to a cancellation there is now one space available on this course. Please email Alice to book.

Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced

Maximum Capacity: 12

Course Description:

On this two day course learn all about working with graphite pencil from experienced artist Jamie Boots. Graphite pencil can be used to produce so much more than just a sketch.

Jamie will show participants that whether or not you are using a pencil that is blunt or sharp, pressing lightly or hard, or using a variety of tones, that the effect of fur, the texture of skin and the glassy look of an eye can be achieved.

Materials Required:

All materials will be supplied free of charge to use during the course by Jamie Boots.

Artist’s Profile:

Originally from New Zealand, Jamie is a self taught artist whose work is produced in graphite pencil. Jamie first exhibited his work in 2004 and has won a number of awards for his artwork.  In a very short period of time a hobby became a profession and with a limited number of originals being available each year his  drawings have become highly collectable.

www.jamieboots.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))

  Charlie Page / British Wildlife Photography Awards

The British Wildlife Photography Awards (BWPA) is a revered showcase of nature photography in Britain and a crucial reminder of what value our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems still hold.

This will be one of the very first showings of the winning images from the 2023 competition, launched in March. This renowned exhibition celebrates British wildlife and wild spaces through a collection of inspirational images, showcasing the best of our natural heritage.

More than 13,000 images were submitted into this year’s competition. Photographers competed in 10 different categories in the adult competition: Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black & White, British Seasons, Coast & Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, and Wild Woods. There were 3 age groups in the young competition: 11 and Under, 12-14 years, and 15-17 years.

https://www.bwpawards.org/

There is no extra cost for this exhibition – entry is included in the admission price to the museum.

Billy Evans-Freke / British Wildlife Photography Awards

Sense of place is important to everyone, whether it is a location, the beings around us, an emotion, time, a memory, or all of the above. In this exhibition, Midlands Textile Forum (MTF) explore what it means to live in the world, take notice of our surroundings and find our place. From inspirational starting points, MTF members have taken individual creative journeys developing process and technique to respond to the theme. This exhibition showcases traditional textile techniques in a contemporary way, from stitching and quilting to lace, knotting, weaving, print, painting on cloth and digital manipulation.

The Midlands Textile Forum is a group of artists (who live and work in central England) and who predominantly use textiles and/or mixed media in their practice. Their aim is to develop individual practice, and support and encourage textile based activity in the region, primarily through exhibitions. Members of the forum come from a wide variety of backgrounds in terms of creative practice and approach. The forum has evolved over the years since its founding in 2007 and actively welcomes new applications.

Meet makers amongst the exhibits on 27th July (Jane Arthur and Janet Gilbert), 1st August (Anna Stanley) and 6th August (Sylvie Millen).

https://www.midlandstextileforum.com/

This exhibition will be held in the Wallsworth Centre. Free entry.

Two plays performed on the front lawn of Nature in Art by Tethered Wits, the premier open -air theatre company in the Cotswolds.

www.tetheredwits.com

2:30pm Doctor Dolittle

Doctor Dolittle likes animals. In fact, he likes them so much he fills his house with every kind of creature imaginable. And then one day, he figures out how to speak their language!

5:30pm The Great Gatsby

Tickets available from www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows

Please bring your own seats!

Doors open an hour before.

Please dress for the weather – waterproofs and umbrellas may be needed!