‘Moorhen in the Rain – Minsmere’ Watercolour c1984. Peter Partington SWLA (1941-2025). Included in this exhibition together with an accompanying poem written by the artist.
In Sync: Words and Wonders
A selection of work, both 2D and 3D, shown with contemporary and historic poetry.
For centuries, art has inspired poets, and poetry has inspired artists.
Vincent Van Gogh was a voracious reader and was a fan of many British authors and poets, including Charles Dickens and John Keats. He often wrote out extracts from different passages that inspired him and sent them to his brother, Theo. In one of Van Gogh’s first letters from London, he copied out the poem ‘Autumn’ by Keats, writing, ‘The last few days I’ve enjoyed reading the poems of John Keats, he’s a poet who isn’t very well known in Holland, I believe. He’s the favourite of the painters here…’
In Chinese culture poetry and painting are deeply intertwined. Many painters took ancient poetry as their inspiration. The poetic tradition, which reaches back over two millennia, provided these artists with a rich wellspring from which to draw, including verses on nature. For painters who were themselves poets, one of the greatest ambitions was to create a work that combined their original poetry, calligraphy, and painting into coherent artwork, known as the ‘three perfections’ in Chinese – a chance to stand on the shoulders of their poetic heroes and add their voice to the tradition.
So, this selection of works from our collection brings together poetry (some written by the artist) and painting.
We’ll also be inviting visitors to pause and write their own poetic responses to the exhibits on display.
We have our amazing Mini Craft Market where our talented local crafters can get together to share and sell their handmade products.
Previous crafts have included: nature crafts, paper crafts, woodwork, paintings, illustration, crochet/knitting, weaving, decoupage, cards, glass, silk painting, textile bags, jewellery, resin art and flood painting.
Held in the Education Centre and is free to enter!
10am – 4:30pm (3:45pm for December Market)
Gloucestershire Society of Artists
One of a series focusing on our desire to highlight and encourage active creative groups celebrating the natural world.
This is the 2026 GSA members annual exhibition.
All the items on display will be new work and awards are given to the best in show, including a visitor’s favourite vote. With the society now being over 100 years old it is especially pleasing that there are new members this year, helping to build on it’s inspiring heritage.
For the first time there will be a section for work by children. (Entries can be in any medium – see details on the GSA website). These will have been selected by a group of judges.
From traditional watercolours and drawings, to 3D works and more abstract interpretations, there will be something for everyone.
There will also be an opportunity to see members at work each day.
Tetiana Hnilytska is a professional violinist who has played with several orchestras around the world including the Hans Zimmer orchestra and the Odessa Philharmonic. Originally from Odessa, Tetiana came to the UK as a refugee with her family following the invasion of Ukraine. She will be performing with the talented Sarah Harris on piano. The programme will include works by Bach, Piazzola, Skoryk, Kreisler and others.
- 7pm Doors open to view museum galleries
- 7.30pm Finger buffet
- 8.10pm Recital
Book here
We have another amazing Dare to Dabble planned for you!
Designed completely around the absolute beginner, or those who just fancy a dabble, these sessions provide a great opportunity to try out new art techniques and mediums.
Morning Session: 10am – 12pm
Afternoon Session: 1pm – 3pm
Inspiration, materials, guidance and fun are all provided, and as all tasks should, we’ll begin with a brew.
Follow this link to see what we have going on in the session today: Dare to Dabble
Course details:
Immerse yourself in the vibrant shades of autumn with this two-day watercolour sketching course, perfect for all abilities. You will learn how to capture the rich hues and textures of the season through step-by-step demonstrations and practical exercises, working from both reference materials and nature itself. Explore essential watercolour techniques including washes, layering, and colour mixing to bring autumn landscapes, foliage, and textures to life. Guidance will be tailored to suit each participant, ensuring a relaxed and supportive environment. By the end of the course, you will have created your own collection of expressive autumnal sketches.
Materials and additional costs:
Supplied by tutor, £32 cash
Or email tutor for materials list
Suitability:
Beginners – advanced
Spaces:
12
Price: £124 / £158
Looking Deep into Nature
Peter Partington SWLA (1941-2025)
Painter – Printer – Sculptor Teacher – Lover Of Mother Nature
This unique exhibition is a celebration of the remarkable life and work of Peter Partington SWLA.
Peter spent his life observing and sharing our living world, bringing birds and animals to life in their habitats and seasons. He sketched in the field and created pictures, sculptures and prints with an incredible touch of the eye and hand.
Peter showed work in Nature in Art’s Inaugural 1985 exhibition, the year he was elected to the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) on whose council he served some years later. In 1989 he was Nature in Art’s very first artist in residence and one of the first to donate work to the collection. He was a valued friend and encourager of Nature in Art until his death early in 2025. He leaves a prolific output with thousands of painting’s across UK homes and many inspired people who experienced his live teaching and conversations.
This show will feature Peter’s studio, diverse works and some not previously displayed in public from private and public collections. All tell the story of a man who lived life to the full and from the heart, and inspired others to do the same. Peter’s legacy will live on, not just through his own work, but through the work of countless others who were encouraged and enabled through him.
A printmaker, painter and sculptor, it is hard to know which he enjoyed the most, and, site unseen, a parallel body of abstract art, many 3D as well as experiments in colour and form. This show includes some of these so one can see these creative steams feeding his capability across all the works. As one commentator said ‘His art was in every inch, his personality. His personality was in every inch, his art.’
Peter expressed himself through his art, which was widely published in books, print runs, ‘How to Draw’ guides, online videos and magazines, numerous local and professional exhibitions, poetry too and his ‘natural illustrator’ to bring life to other writers. His compulsion to venture into the great outdoors to watch birds (sometimes worryingly from his moving car too!) meant he could draw from memory and describe their behaviours in his art.
Small wonder that his studio groaned under the weight of thousands of works, most finished and many in states of re-work. This exhibition will sing out his enthusiasm and represent this unique English master artist, generous to a tee with his support and engagement with the public.
The show is accompanied by a new book ‘Peter Partington ‘The Artists Anthology’ by his son Jerome Partington, which includes many of the exhibition, to raise funds for a SWLA nature art school programme, Nature in Art and his conservation charities.
There also is a special launch event on September 29th.
Join us for a launch and private view of the special retrospective exhibition of works celebrating the life and work of Peter Partington SWLA (1941 – 2025). Find out more about this show here
Although this is a FREE event, PLEASE BOOK HERE
Course details:
Explore the colour pencil techniques required to draw this little kitten using assorted colour pencils on Mount Board including indenting and colour layering for stripes in fur.
Line Drawing supplied to trace or copy.
Materials
Supplied by tutor, £3 charge (cash)
Suitability:
Suitable for all
Spaces:
12
Price: £62 / £79
Course details:
Explore the techniques required to draw this portrait using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils and Water-soluble Graphite pencils to create muted tones.
Materials
Supplied by tutor, £3 charge (cash)
Suitability:
Suitable for all
Spaces:
12
Price: £62 / £79