Artist in Residence
Ewan Anderson has had a lifetime interest in trees and drawing. During his career in geography he continued drawing particularly through cartography. Some of his research projects concerned trees. For example, in Oman he measured dewfall as a water source for Prosopis sp. trees.
Since his retirement from academe in 2001, Ewan has been working on his technique, drawing exclusively in the field (en plein air) and trying to balance the botanical and the artistic. In his drawings, Ewan hopes to encapsulate the spirit, character and gesture of the trees.
Artist in Residence
Linda Twiddy originally trained as an engineering draughtswoman and enjoys drawing as an instrument for expressing concepts and designs. She gains inspiration for her artwork from an interest in geometry, geology, architecture and the repeating patterns found in nature. Linda’s work emphasizes detail and texture, using the dramatic contrast of graphite pencil and the vibrant effects of watercolour.
During her time as artist in residence Linda will be continuing to work on a drawing inspired by the beautiful fireplaces of Wallsworth Hall. The picture combines all the fire places at Nature in Art into one composition, showing each fireplace inside another but maintaining the proportions and unique quality of each fire place.
Artist in Residence
Trevor Smith has had an interest in wildlife from an early age. Family visits to the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust at Slimbridge fostered a lifelong passion for birds and the environments they can be found in.
‘I have been teaching students the essentials of bird art for over twenty years now, but I still get a kick from seeing people thrill to the subject and often surprise themselves with hidden latent ability.’
Artist in Residence
Val Briggs is a self taught artist who for the last 30 years has dedicated herself to recording the flora and fauna of the British countryside in watercolour. Val also works in graphite and pastels, using them to sketch from life.
Robert Cox has been a freelance graphic designer/ illustrator for 35 years.
‘I am now developing a life long interest in wood sculpture embracing the study of form inspired by nature. Calling on design skills and a lifetime of experience in the use of traditional carving tools, I take my inspiration from the natural world, especially the unique and unusual world of plants and flowers. My work has taken me on an evolving journey, taking in beautifully carved wood sculpture for public and private collections, large public works and traditionally carved signage.’
Artist in Residence
Gareth Watling started his artistic career in graphic design and freelance illustration, but he now dedicates his time to establishing himself as an artist portraying British Birds.
Artist in Residence
Ros Wise is based in Gloucestershire and began to paint seriously in 1980. ‘My main inspiration is the Natural World. I began by studying single plants and flower heads in detail and traced their change and evolution through the seasonal year. At the moment I am painting less botanically and painting plants where they naturally grow whether in gardens or wild spaces.’
Artist in Residence
Stephen Walton is a self taught, award winning artist who specialises in using charcoal and charcoal pencils.
‘My artwork developed alongside my love of taking photographs, which resulted in my very particular style and method; when I am out and about I take photographs and when I am at home I draw from them.’
Neil Mason is an award winning sculptor and was made an honary fellow of The Wildlife Art Society International in 2015 and won the David Shepherd Award from the society in the same year.
Artist in Residence
Linda Heaton-Harris is a sculptor of ceramic animals and birds.
For the majority of her life she has lived in the countryside which has included the counties of Suffolk, Sussex and Gloucestershire, enhancing her lifelong love of the natural world and animals in general. Linda lived for many years in the Hampshire village of Selborne famous for “The Natural History of Selborne” by the 18th Century naturalist Gilbert White.