Here at Nature in Art we are extremely passionate about supporting local artists and craftspeople, helping to highlight the array of crafts available and the creativity of the people in the local area. Each month we host a two-day Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre, where five to ten crafters sell their unique handmade crafts.
Including but not limited to – nature crafts – paper crafts – woodwork – paintings-crochet/knitting – weaving – decoupage – cards – glass – silk painting – textile bags
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
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.
Each year, the BWPA images are adored in the press (both in print and on TV), toured around the UK in a travelling exhibition, and published in beautiful collection books.
BWPA has a number of key aims:
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Recognise the talents of photographers practising in the UK, whilst highlighting the great wealth and diversity of Britain’s natural history.
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Celebrate British wildlife and wild spaces through a collection of inspirational photographs.
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Showcase the very best of our nature photography to a wide audience and engage all ages with evocative and powerful imagery.
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Encourage discovery, exploration, conservation and enjoyment of our natural heritage.
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Raise awareness about British biodiversity, species, and habitats.
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.
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!
Tethered Wits bring this beloved story of the extraordinary animal doctor to Nature in Art. Using stunning puppetry, this fun, family-friendly show makes for the perfect day out.
5:30pm The Great Gatsby
Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, we are introduced to the high-fliers (and low-lifes) of glitzy Manhattan. However, when he meets a certain Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, he realises the parties are not always what they seem…
Featuring the music of Cole Porter & George Gershwin live on stage join us for a party to remember. An undisputed gem of American literature, Fitzgerald’s critique of the Jazz Age captures the glamorous façade of the era in style.
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!
The annual exhibition of this county group, founded almost 100 years ago, in 1924. The society is still a devoted community made up of enthusiastic individuals who work in a variety of styles and media and enjoy sharing ideas and activities. Monthly studio evenings are held in Nature in Art’s education centre. Meet members every day to find out more. See artist members at work 16th – 20th August.
7pm Doors
7:30pm Finger Buffet
Talk starts just after 8pm
Coinciding with the first week of the British Wildlife Photography Awards (which can be viewed before the talk), this is a great opportunity to hear from a hugely experienced wildlife photographer. Despite having travelled to every corner of the globe, including a photography expedition to West Papua just before this talk, Helen has a particular passion for the wildlife and beauty of the UK. This talk will be prepared especially for Nature in Art drawing together many of her amazing wildlife photography experiences in the British Isles.
An evening for all.
£10 per person.
FULLY BOOKED
One World Imagined is an art collective consisting of five award-winning artists David Skidmore, Christine Dadd, Valerie Briggs, Jess Pritchard and Jordan Price each specialising in depicting the natural world. Working in a variety of mediums, oil, graphite and carbon pencil, coloured pencil, acrylic and watercolour, with subject matter both British and worldwide, on land, sea and air.
Meet exhibiting artists every day:
- Christina Dadd 22nd – 24th August
- Valerie Briggs 25th – 26th August
- David Skidmore 27th – 31st August
- Jess Pritchard 28th – 31st August
- Jordan Price and Valerie Briggs 31st August – 3rd September
David Skidmore:
David works mainly in pencil and acrylic, although enjoys experimenting with most mediums. He aims to produce work that is informative and at times thought provoking. His main focuses are the natural world and the human figure. He contributes work to several organisations to raise money for wildlife and environmental issues.
https://www.davidskidmoreart.co.uk/
Jess Pritchard:
Jess works solely in pencil. From a young age she had a passion for both art and wildlife and began her professional art career seven years ago. Jess is an artist ambassador for Derwent Art, Britain’s largest pencil brand and has also raised thousands of pounds for various wildlife charities.
Christine Dadd:
Christine has a unique style of wildlife painting creating closeness with the subject by focusing on key animal characteristics. She paints mostly in oils on untreated linen. She says: ‘This gives me the texture and feel of the subjects, especially the wildlife from Africa.’ Well travelled, her most recent trip was to Brazil which informs some of her latest works.
Jordan Price:
Jordan’s artist journey began after attending a wildlife exhibition and seeing a pencil drawing that ‘I believed was a photograph’. Her says, ‘I was 19 years old and for the first time I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. To capture the beauty of wildlife that surrounds us in pencil art.’
https://www.jordanpriceart.co.uk/
Valerie Briggs:
Valerie has been drawing and painting in watercolour the flora and fauna of the British Isles for over 4o years. She is especially drawn to the natural and man-made waterways, which provide green corridors for a wildlife population under the constant threat of urbanisation.
As part of Heritage Open Days 2023, there will be two talks held at Nature in Art on Friday 8th September.
Wallsworth Hall has a curiously obscure history. A fine Georgian mansion situated just north of Gloucester, it featured in Simon Jenkins’s acclaimed book ‘England’s 1000 Best Houses’. Since 1988 the hall has been the home of Nature in Art, the world’s first museum dedicated to art inspired by Nature. This talk by the Director, Simon Trapnell will provide a fascinating insight into the hall and the Nature in Art collection.
This talk will take place in the Education Centre, both at 11am and 3pm on Friday 8th September 2023.
Free entry, booking essential.
11am talk – book a place.
3pm talk – book a place.