Zoologist, illustrator and camouflage expert Hugh B Cott (1900-1987), looked at nature with a naturalist’s curiosity, an artist’s eye and a military mindset. This is a unique exhibition of Cott’s work, highlighting a life of exploration and observation, recorded in drawings, writings and photographs.
This one-day workshop which will introduce you to Sumi-e, the ancient art of creating Japanese ink pictures, or Japanese brush painting. Traditionally, these paintings feature subjects from the natural world such as flowers and birds. The Japanese experience painting as a form of meditation that brings peace and harmony to the artist and the finished pieces are intended to inspire the same sense of tranquility and joy in the viewer. This practical course will help you master all the techniques you’ll need to create striking paintings and discover the spiritual aspects of this unique art form.
This course is a wonderful introduction to the world of coloured pencil techniques. Learn the art of layering and blending Derwent Coloursoft Pencils whilst using different pencil strokes to create the textures required for the subject. All materials will be supplied including a line drawing to trace for those not wishing to draw free hand.
Example of Karen’s work…
An illustrated talk by Katrina van Grouw
When Charles Darwin contemplated how best to introduce his controversial new theory of evolution to the general public, he chose to compare it with the selective breeding of domesticated animals. In her new book, Unnatural Selection, marking the 150th anniversary year of Darwin’s great work on domesticated animals Variation under Domestication, author and illustrator Katrina van Grouw explains why this analogy was more appropriate than even Darwin had realised. Artificial selection is, in fact, more than just an analogy for natural selection – it’s the perfect example of evolution in action. A fascinating evening for all.
Katrina has work in the Nature in Art collection and has had a solo exhibition of her work at Wallsworth Hall. She inhabits that no-man’s land slap bang between art and science. She holds degrees in fine art and natural history illustration, and is a former curator of ornithological collections at a major national museum. She’s a self-taught scientist with a passion for evolutionary biology and its history. After a long and varied career on both sides of the art/science divide she now devotes her time exclusively to her books. See her as artist in residence September 25th – 30th.
The 2018 Gift & Craft Fair at Nature in Art
£2 entry
Free for under 16’s (including access to upstairs museum galleries)
Car parking is free
One of our most popular events, the annual craft fair at Nature in Art has become well known as a source for unique, individually hand crafted gifts, offered to you directly by the craft people who made them, so often a gift can be personalised to make it even more special.
Many of the makers will be demonstrating so you will be able to see just how your unique gift was created.
The range of quality gifts you will find at the craft fair includes woodturning, jewellery, ceramics, textile items, as well as stained glassware, metal work, paper crafts and children gifts. With such a wide selection you are bound to find the perfect gift for your friends and family, or even treat yourself!
During the weekend as well as watching demonstrations from the craft workers, and purchasing gifts, you can also view most of the museum galleries.
You may also be a winner on the raffle or tombola, so make sure you purchase a ticket. There will be a separate raffle on the Saturday and Sunday.
Images: courtesy of Posers Photographic
Many exhibitors will be demonstrating
Coffee shop open for refreshments
Stallholders who will be attending the 2018 event:
Abbey Jewellery by Helen Carter
AJ’s Woodcraft
Arts, Rush and Cane
Barking Hen Jewellery
Battenswood Collectable Bears
Bespoke Gifts
Chaaboo
Claire Billingsley, Art and Ceramics
Clare Design
Coastal Creativity
Decorque Ltd
Erica Pinney
Field Fresh Skincare
Focal Form
Gordon Hemming
Handmade by Heart
Intricate Woodcraft
Joanne Bagley
Leatherwise
Lindsey B Art & Photography
Made by Anna Lucinda
Maisy Makes
Marianne Laker Designs
Mindbender Puzzles
Naomi Skelton
Natty Deco
Pepperwood & Co
Renée Kilburn Ceramics
Rustoc Reindeer
Stained Glass by Debra
Stephdipity
Stitchcraft
Susan Wilkinson
The Ark Man
Turn and Burn
Woodland Trust
Woolark
Yum Yum Fine Foods
Yvonne Halton Ceramics
Explore the mysteries behind the Collagraph Print on this 1-day course.
Learn how to make your own unique prints from plates created from mount card, which is
incised with lines, collaged with paper and other textured mediums to create an exciting
textured printing surface.
You will be shown how to prepare paper and how to ink up and wipe your plates ready for printing. The first part of the course will be spent making the plate and then the second will be spent printing in different ways to create your own unique print.
A day of hands-on linoprinting which will include the use of the different cutting tools, creating and transferring a design onto the lino block and cutting to leave a relief surface. The cut block can then be inked up and printed using either hand burnishing or a press. Please bring along any ideas/images that you would like to use. There will also be images available on the day. Old clothes or an apron are advisable.
The first out-of-London showing of the very latest exhibition of images from the British Wildlife Photography Awards, celebrating the beauty and diversity of British wildlife and the talent, artistry and determination of the photographers who created them. A fantastic book of the competition (pictured) is available in our shop SEE THE WINNERS HERE
This unique two-day watercolour painting workshop will use insects specimens, microscopes, magnifying glasses and macro photos to explore the hidden, beautiful, magic and unseen world of insects – To find out how insects use their vast range of colour and patterns to help make them the largest and most successful group of animals on Earth.
Students will then pay homage to what they learn by painting an intricate and beautiful watercolour study.
