Artist in Residence
Liz Brooke Ward is a stitched textile artist whose work is inspired by the natural world and the landscape. Though she specialises in traditional techniques of embroidery and patchwork, she uses digital technology within her design process.
Dare to Dabble 
Choose from 2 sessions: 10.30am – 1pm or 2pm – 4.30pm
Collage is a wonderful technique where artwork is made from an assemblage of different forms such as tissue papers, stamps, fabric, foils, photos etc – creating a new picture. The origins of collage can be traced back hundreds of years, but this technique made a dramatic reappearance in the early 20th century as an art form of novelty.
During this workshop, lots of interesting materials will be available for you to rummage through and use, but please do bring along other things that have caught your attention – perhaps a beautifully printed paper bag or old music papers.
Bookable after 4th January.
Book NowArt Course
with Jackie Garner 10am – 5pm
Maximum Participants: 12
This 2-day course will focus on producing detailed paintings of natural objects such as feathers, seeds and shells, using a pure watercolour technique.
We will cover working with layers of colour, wet into wet, and lifting out colour to create texture, pattern, iridescence and form.
Course Cost
Members: £80
Non-members: £100
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
ART COURSE BOOKING FORM
Artist’s Profile
Jackie Garner trained at Medway College of Design before becoming Nature in Art’s first education officer. She is now a professional artist who specialises in portraying wildlife, taking inspiration from encountering wildlife in its natural habitat. Jackie teaches and lectures regularly, and is a contributor to Artists & Illustrators magazine. She has exhibited with many art societies, including the National Exhibition Wildlife Art, the Society of Wildlife Artists, BirdScapes Gallery, Royal Institute of
Painters in Water Colours and has held solo exhibitions in London and Gloucestershire. Jackie is the author and illustrator of The Wildlife Artist’s Handbook.
Jackie is happy to discuss the course with students. Visit her website for contact details: www.jackiegarner.co.uk
Exhibition:
This display is a celebration of the work by James TA Osborne RE (1907 – 1979) who regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers.
He was well know for his experimentation with print and paper and leaves behind a varied body of work, examples of which are held in public and private collections internationally.
Now extended to 24th July.
Artist in Residence
Simon Williams trained in natural history illustration at the Arts Institute in Bournemouth from 1996 – 2000. A National Diploma course place was offered to Simon straight from school at 16 years old based on his portfolio without the need for any foundation courses. This lead to him being able to start a career at a very young age and after furthering his training into a Higher National Diploma he submitted work to the Society of Botanical Artists in 2000, becoming the youngest member of the SBA in 2002.
Wallsworth Art Group
Join the art group as they try their hands at life drawing.
There will be a £5 supplement for this event.
Art Course
with Jill Moger 10am – 5pm
Maximum Participants: 12
This 2-day course will start with a discussion about the importance of the presentation of a piece of wildlife art produced in clay. All of Jill’s ceramic animals are presented on an appropriate and realistic base and you will be constructing your very own for your piece on the first day.
On day 2, you will model a realistic gecko. Jill will teach you how to hollow out your clay sculpture and the different ways to finely model features and texture skin. She will also talk about the various glazes and how to apply these and she will bring an example to demonstrate on.
If students have an available kiln to fire their finished piece they may wish to take it home but if not, Jill will take the work back to her studio in York, dry it, glaze and fire it and return it to Nature in Art a few weeks later for students to collect.
Course Cost
Members: £80
Non-members: £100
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
ART COURSE BOOKING FORM
Materials List
Please bring a full apron and any small tools that you might like to experiment with on clay.
All other materials will be supplied by Jill Moger, at a cost of £10 per participant,
payable directly to her on the day.
Please note: for those who wish Jill to use her kiln to fire their finished piece, an additional charge of £6 will apply, payable directly to Jill on the day.
Artist’s Profile
Jill is an established ceramicist of many years’ experience and her subject matter is wildlife but with a particular emphasis on reptiles. She uses stoneware and porcelain clays to create finely detailed work which is fired in an electric kiln up to five times to enhance colours and lustered glazes.
www.jillmogersculptures.co.uk
Artist in Residence
Jeremy Paul was born 1954 in Lancashire, he had a successful career in marine biology before becoming a professional artist. His work in marine biology took him to live in some of the most remote and beautiful areas of the British Isles, it was while he lived of the west coast of Scotland that he started to paint seriously.
He is a completely self-taught artist who works exclusively in acrylics, developing each painting in many layers of paint. He now lives on the Isle of Man.
Artist in Residence
Painter & Embroiderer, Teacher & Lecturer, Author & Art Historian
Richard Box was trained at Goldsmiths’ School of Art and went on to be ‘Senior Lecturer’ and finally ‘Head of Art’ at Avery Hill College of Education. In 1985 he resigned from the position in order to develop his own work.
He is a regular exhibitor and demonstrator at the Knitting and Stitching shows and other craft fairs. He gives talks to textile groups; particularly to branches of the Embroiderers’ Guild throughout the country. He runs courses in drawing, painting and his particular system of textile art which combines fabric collage with both machine and hand embroidery. He teaches these at various adult education centres as well as independent organisations.
Family Fun Day
Our latest family fun day will be taking place on Saturday 25th June and will be themed around Bees, this will coincide with celebrating Insect Week (20th-26th June).
All activities will run from 10am-4pm and will be suitable for 3+; the cost to take part will only be £1 per person, under 3s free. If you wish to view the museum galleries on this day normal admission will apply.
Full details on the day’s events will be added below as soon as they are confirmed.
Here is a taster of what to look forward to already:
- Watch live demonstrations of real-life bees in their portable hive,
at 11am and 2pm - Discover our UV light and interactive smells exhibit
- Explore the microscopic world of bees
- Make a bee house and paint a bee magnet
- Get hands-on with the master composters
- Have a go at dissecting plants
- Take part in a Bumble Bee quiz and related games in the garden
There is no need to book for activities, please just come along anytime between 10am-4pm.
The coffee shop will also be open and serving light lunches.
Please see below for more detail about those organisations, individuals and charities who will kindly be providing many of the activities during our fun day:
The Cheltenham Science Group (10am-4pm) – Join the science group to experience the world as bees; using ultraviolet light, by dissecting a flower to see why pollinators are so important and by surveying the Nature in Art garden to find about the different pollinators at work. Plus, learn to communicate like a honey bee.
Bees Abroad (11am and 2pm) – The aim of Bees Abroad is to provide education and technical advice in Beekeeping. As part of the family day, see live hive demonstrations from the team as they educate you about bees and their importance! Find out more about them, here.
The Stroud-based Buzz Club for Young People (10am-4pm) – “Our aim is to ensure that all young people are aware of the importance of all bees and insects in the food chain and to care for the environment through bee centered education and play.”
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (10am-4pm) – one aim of the Trust is to “support the conservation of all bumblebees, rare or abundant” and to educate people on the importance of bees in all shapes and forms. Have a go at completing their Bumblebee quiz and other games during the fun day. Find out more about them, here.
The Master Composters (10am-4pm) – Master Composters are volunteers who encourage people in their local community to start composting at home. During our fun day learn more about composing and the sorts of plants you can grow to help bees in your garden. Find out more about them, here.
Plus, meet insect artist Cath Hodsman who loves to explore the world of bees using a microscope. See some of her bee related artworks on show.