The Gloucester Society for Botanical Illustration celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023. Their membership includes winners of The Royal Horticultural Society’s gold, Silver Gilt and Silver medals, both in the Grenfell(for art pictures) and Lindley (for scientific illustration) range.
Meet artists every day whilst viewing this inspiring display.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Collagraph is a wonderful form of printmaking that allows for a playful exploration of materials and techniques. It can be as complex or as simple as the artists wants it to be. For this 2 day workshop participants will be introduced to ways of creating quick, inexpensive collagraph plates with readily available materials, resulting in the opportunity to discover the potential of this printmaking process and develop ideas. There will be demonstrations of plate making using various materials, the process of inking a plate and using the press. Participants will also receive one to one tuition as they develop their own prints.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10.00.
Artist’s Profile:
Nik Pollard’s paintings and drawings are generated from sustained, direct observation and are often resolved in the field. A period of dedicated study at single or related locations is a necessary part of his process. Drawing from all the senses, he investigates the rhythms and characteristics of a location and its ecology, resulting in a sense of time and place. Working with a range of mediums, he focuses on the essential aspects of what it is that has drawn him to the subject. Searching for a balance between figuration and abstraction he enjoys exploring the ambiguity and serendipity of mark making. When working in the studio he often turns to printmaking in order to pursue an idea further, substituting the thrill of the first-hand direct response with the magic of printmaking and the exploration of materials and processes that cannot easily be replicated outdoors.
Course Costs:
Members: £96
Non-members: £118
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
Booking a place:
Places will be offered on a first come first basis.
To secure your place on this course a £20 non-refundable deposit is required. If you would like to book a place, please CLICK HERE
19:00 Doors
19:30pm Finger Buffet
Talk starts around 20:10
Wildlife artist Shelly Perkins shares her passion for travel and the natural world through her own photographs, sketches and studio works. Share Shelly’s global adventures to seek out the wild places on our planet and explore with her the fascinating flora, fauna and landscapes that those travels have revealed. See then how these travels, from places as diverse as Africa to Antarctica inspire her finished pieces back home.
An evening for all!
£10 per person
BOOK NOW
Held in the atrium of the Education Centre (and in the shop), this is a collection of limited edition (almost all signed) reproductions by artists such as Gary Hodges, Simon Combes, Anthony Gibbs, David Shepherd and more. All have been generously donated to be sold in aid of two charities: Medical Detection Dogs and Nature in Art. Some are to be sold 100% in aid on Nature in Art.
Included in the selection are some very collectable images, almost all framed, with prices ranging from as little as £25. This is an opportunity to acquire fine prints at sensible prices, firm in the knowledge that all the proceeds are supporting charities.
Please be aware that, very occasionally, there will be times during this exhibition when access will be restricted or time limited due to other events happening in the Centre. Exhibition not available until 2:30pm each day on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 21st, 23rd and 24th of March.
For details of prints in our shop, please call 01452 733946.
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
If you would like to be put on a reserve list for this course then please email us. If we get enough interest we may put on another course later in the year.
Course Suitability: Absolute beginner – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
On this one day course, Helen will teach you how to make a basket using red Dogwood, Snowberry Hazel and Lime, together with the glorious colours of this years willow harvest.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10, to be paid to the tutor on the day of the course.
Artist’s Profile
Helen Lomberg has been making Baskets and using Willow and other Hedgerow materials for many years now. Twelve years ago she set up The Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre in Westgate Street, Gloucester.
Course Costs:
Member: £48
Non-member: £59
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
19:00 Doors
19:30pm Finger Buffet
Talk starts around 20:10
Debbie is Chair of the Gloucestershire Society of Botanical Illustration. From early cave paintings, ancient Egyptians, Medieval Monks, right up to the present day, plants have been depicted in one form or another. With potted histories of some of the most famous artists, this talk will take you from those earliest days through the age of discovery when Botanical Illustration was at its peak. Today Botanical Art is currently undergoing a renaissance with more and more people practicing and appreciating this fascinating art form.
An evening for all.
£10 per person
BOOK NOW
FULLY BOOKED
If you would like to be put on a reserve list for this course then please email us. If we get enough interest we may put on another course later in the year.
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Beginners
Maximum Capacity: 10
Course Description:
A relaxing and fun filled day creating loose abstract floral paintings with sublimation inks and then heat pressing them onto fabrics. Working from life you will spend the morning creating interesting fluid floral paintings. The paint acts like ink and watercolour and so will blend and disperse in a very magical way.
You will be taught how to create quick, loose and free abstract florals which can also be applied to other subjects. In the afternoon you will experiment with transferring these images onto fabric, using a heat press and irons. You will be able to take your fabrics home to frame, to work on further with embellishment or simply use the day as a chance to unwind and learn something new. This is an ideal class for the complete beginner (in both painting and sublimation inks), it’s also ideal for painters who want a chance to free up their painting and try abstraction.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £15 (cash) which will be paid to Christina by the participants on the day of the course. Materials will include a selection of inks to carry on using at home. If possible please bring two jam jars for water.
Artist’s Profile:
Christina is an abstract artist based in Gloucester. Inspired by the natural world she works with inks and paints to create layers of translucent colours resulting in soothing and relaxing art.
Christina has had lots of experience in the arts and running workshops and at one stage was even the Education Officer here at Nature in Art.
She has exhibited work on the London underground, Saatchi Art and is represented by Wychwold Art Gallery. She had a pop up shop in John Lewis and produced artwork for Gloucestershire Hospital to improve their mental health in Crisis room.
Course Costs:
Members: £48
Non-members: £59
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
FULLY BOOKED
If you would like to be put on a reserve list for this course then please email us. If we get enough interest we may put on another course later in the year.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
An introduction to Colour Pencils, both wet and dry. Explore the techniques required to draw the Kingfisher using Derwent Coloursoft Pencils on Mount Board. A Derwent Watercolour pencil will be used to create a watery background to compete the picture. A line drawing to trace or copy will be provided so no need to worry about drawing “freehand”.
Materials List:
All materials will be provided by the tutor free of charge.
Artist’s Profile:
Karen Coulson is a coloured pencil artist as well as a tutor specialising in wildlife and animal portraits. She enjoys incorporating unusual backgrounds behind her subject which indulges her love of colour. Karen is a Gold Signature Member of the UKCPS (United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society). She has won many awards for her artwork including “Best Fantasy/Abstract” picture at the UKCPS Annual International Exhibition in 2014.
Course Cost:
Members: £48
Non- members £59
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
Course Suitability: Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
The aims for the day: To have a lot of fun creating a few pieces of charcoal animal art in different ways.
We will create a finished animal charcoal artwork from either your reference or one provided. During the day we will explore methods from adding tonal value, playing with blending techniques, creating details and fixing our work. Charcoal drawing has three elements, applying the charcoal, the art of removing the charcoal, and the paper. We will also explore the art of adding highlights. Most of all we will broaden our experience of creating charcoal imagery together and have fun in the process.
Materials List:
Please pay Ian directly in cash on the day.
(These 3 items provided at £4)
- Charcoal sticks (provided)
- Blending sticks (provided)
- White Chalk (provided)
A2 Paper £2-£3 per sheet (3-4 sheets) (can be provided at a cost, approx. total of £10-£12)
Hair spray or Charcoal Fixative (required to bring)
Kitchen Towel & cotton rag (required to bring)
White Charcoal pencil (required to bring)
Putty rubber (required to bring) (Faber Castell or Winsor & Newton)
Artist’s Profile:
Ian has been a traditional professional artist for the last 40 years using all manner of mediums and media. Pencil drawing and Charcoal drawing are the cornerstones of putting down line and tone ideas. Charcoal drawing is wonderfully messy and primal, like a cave artist smudging the charcoal on the rock surface. It’s usually a hands-on slightly imprecise (it can be tight and detailed) style, so we will embrace that dynamic!
Course Costs:
Members: £48
Non-members: £59
(cost does not include lunch (available to order and purchase on the day from the Coffee Shop))
Booking a place:
Places will be offered on a first come first basis.
To secure your place on this course a £20 non-refundable deposit is required. If you would like to book a place, please email Alice







