Wildlife Photographer of the Year
4th February – 6th April
Selected from 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories, the winners of the Natural History Museum’s prestigious competition in its 60th year are all on show in this stunning exhibition of 100 images revealing the natural world’s most astonishing and challenging sights.
Painting Butterfly and Moth with Jackie Isard
Course Suitability: Improvers – Watercolour experience is needed
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Choose from my large selection of butterfly and moth specimens and learn how to paint these beautiful insects in detail. These beautiful insects are full of texture, fury-ness and amazing colours. You will have a chance to look at these insects under a microscope and see a whole new world is revealed! I will demonstrate techniques and give you lots of help throughout the two days.
Materials Required:
• Good quality HOT PRESSED WHITE (NOT CREAM) watercolour
paper 140lb/300gsm, A4 size will be plenty.
• Cartridge or tracing paper for drawing your butterfly or moth
before tracing onto your watercolour paper.
I will have a lightpad available to use if you wish to
transfer this way. If you do, bring along tracing paper
60gsm and a Unipin black fineliner 0.05 pen. I have trace
and pens to sell if needed.
• Full bodied pointed sable brush No. 2, suggestions to the right.
A Billy Showell synthetic Fine Liner pointed brush.
• Mixing palette or plate porcelain/ceramic
• 2 water jars
• H pencil, soft eraser, sharpener
• Kitchen Roll or Linen/Cotton cloth for brush cleaning
and drying off
• Winsor & Newton Professional watercolour
I recommend these colours to achieve good matches
to your butterfly or moth but you may use other watercolour brands.
Further details available closer to course date
About the artist:
Jackie Isard is an award-winning botanical artist having won a Gold medal at RHS in 2022. Based in Bristol, her delicate watercolours are much admired for their intricacy and detail. She is a self-taught artist and passionate about teaching. Jackie has paintings held in the RHS Lindley Library, The Shirley Sherwood Collection and The Hunt Institute. Jackie became an SBA DLDC tutor in 2024. She runs workshops in the Southwest, Wales, Gloucestershire and many other venues across the UK. She is a very attentive tutor who loves to inspire and encourage! “Nature is so beautiful and it gives me such pleasure capturing it in watercolour.”
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Scraperboard with Jackie Cox
Scraperb
oard is a method of creating a tonal picture by scratching through a layer of india ink to reveal the white chalk beneath. It is an interesting and absorbing medium which allows for great detail or looser depictions of texture and form. We will explore the different types of scraperboard and scratchboard available and the different methods for making marks on these, and the ways the scratched areas can be coloured afterwards.
We will then look at the many other possibilities of using the white chalk ground and creating your own covering surfaces layers to then scratch through to reveal the initial white layer and further pushing boundaries in mixing media.
Materials will be provided at a cost of £10
Please note that the cost of this course of £59 per day for members, £75 per day for non-members. £25 is a deposit towards the balance of this course.
Disappearing Woodlands – Disappearing Skills
April 8th – 27th
A sumptuous display by members of the Goldwork Guild showcasing varied techniques of hand and goldwork embroidery. The show aims to revive these endangered art forms to portray the intricacies of woodland nature.
The exhibition will feature the historic, traditional and modern interpretations of two and three-dimensional hand embroidery whilst embracing the use of modern textiles and textures. These together with the use of meticulously reproduced historical materials and techniques that have now been in decline for decades or even hundreds of years, will showcase the art form in the round.
See members demonstrating April 12th, 13th, 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th.
Lion in Graphite with Jamie Boots
NOW FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute beginners – Advanced
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:
Join artist Jamie Boots for a two-day exploration into the nuanced world of graphite pencil art. This workshop delves beyond basic sketching, offering insights into the subtle techniques that breathe life into your creations. Participants will discover the art of manipulating pencil sharpness, pressure, and tones to convey the fine details such as fur, skin textures, and expressive eyes.
Materials Required:
All materials will be supplied.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members
Same Sea, Different Boat
April 12th – 27th
See the power of craft as a force for good, helping us share stories, relieve stress and connect with one another. An open-ended project, over 600 printed and stitched squares, joined into panels, have produced a large community quilt.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
On this one day course, Helen will teach you how to make a basket using red Dogwood, Snowberry Hazel and Lime, together with the glorious colours of this years willow harvest. No previous experience needed.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10, to be paid to the tutor on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile:
Helen Lomberg has been making Baskets and using Willow and other Hedgerow materials for many years now. Twelve years ago she set up The Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre in Westgate Street, Gloucester.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £59
Non-members of Nature in Art: £75
An illustrated talk by Kim Hardie to coincide with our Goldwork exhibition
Doors open 7pm to view exhibitions (including Goldwork). Finger buffet at 7.30pm followed by talk.
Kim Hardie studied fine art embroidery techniques at the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) based at Hampton Court Palace where she completed both her Certificate and Diploma. She is currently the chair of the Gloucestershire Goldwork Guild. The history of Goldwork goes back to ancient civilisations and is mentioned in the Bible. The talk will cover the history of Goldwork, where it is made, the last places in the UK teaching the technique and examples of where it is used in the military for regimental regalia, royal events such as the State Opening of Parliament and coronations together with Haute Couture that graces ‘red carpet’ events around the world. A fascinating insight into a historic craft. An evening for all!
Book here
£3 per child, adults go free. No need to book.
Buzz on over this Easter Monday for a hive of fun with arts and crafts, an exciting activity trail, bee-tastic learning, and a sneak peek at our observation beehive where you can see the bees hard at work inside the hive!
We’ve got two drop-in sessions: 10am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4pm. Join Laura, our artsy education officer, for a whirlwind of creative crafts! Plus, let your little explorers roam free on our activity trail around the garden. And don’t miss the chance to peek into our beehives and chat with our bee guru, Brian – recently returned from a trip to West Africa to teach people how to keep bees.
Need a bite to eat? Our Coffee Shop will be buzzing with tea and cake! Or, feel free to pack a lunch and chill in our outdoor picnic paradise.
*when paying for children, does not include entry to the museum galleries
Botanical Ceramics with Clare Mahoney
Course Suitability: Suitable for all
Maximum Participants: 12
Course Description:This workshop highlights our connection to the natural world, encouraging us to slow down, and look closely at nature.
The intricate structure, texture, and beauty of foraged botany, the hedgerows we drive past every day.
The clay impression is used to form a mould.
The mould is flooded with plaster and Cornish stone, Creating a positive mirror image of the clay piece.
The clay is removed, and the Botanical relief is revealed.
Just like a Botanical monoprint it’s simple and effective, bringing out all the unnoticed detail.
A really enjoying and immediate process.
Materials Required:
All materials will be supplied at a charge of £7.50, paid on the day.
About the artist:
Clare’s ceramics reflect her love of the natural world, capturing its textures, patterns, and rhythms through the malleable medium of clay.
Her pieces are made using porcelain, and traditional hand building techniques.
The surface imagery is created through printmaking, drawing, and low relief inlay.
She draws inspiration from the beauty of human connection, and the everyday world around her. Creating elements, multiples, and small sculptures that are then collaged together.
Places are on a first come first served basis.
To secure your place on this course a £25 non-refundable deposit is required.
All courses are £59 per day for members, £75 for non-members