NOW EXTENDED TO 23rd July (was 16th)
A unique selection of work by the popular UK cartoonist, Norman Thelwell.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain’s most popular cartoonists to have worked in Britain since the Second World War, Norman Thelwell (1923 – 2004). Although best known for his images of girls and their fat ponies, his work is far more wide ranging than many realise. The countryside and environment were particular passions that informed his work. His cartoons were a powerful way for him to comment on issues of the day.
‘Wrestling with a Pencil’ was the title of Thelwell’s autobiography (1984), and in it he says ‘Although my object as a cartoonist was mainly to earn my living by amusing readers, it was also quite possible to express my own feelings on subjects, situations and events about which I felt strongly. Politics I have always found very boring and there was no way in which I could have become a political cartoonist. My interest lies in the minutiae of the human dilemma, the day to day problems of life and the way we are all swept along by events or developments which we feel helpless to influence. I seem to have touched at one time or another on almost every subject under the sun from combine harvesters to computers, rockets to ramblers, paraffin to pigs. But the predominant thread which has always run through my work is my love of and fascination with the countryside: the flesh and bones of these islands.’
This exhibition will include a broad selection from a remarkable body of work produced over a lifetime. The selection was made with the assistance of Thelwell’s artist son, David, who will be artist in residence at Nature in Art in June, and Thelwell’s daughter, Penny.
In 1952, Thelwell penned his first cartoon for the satirical British magazine Punch, renowned internationally for its wit, irreverence, and for publishing the world’s best comic writers and poets. This led to a relationship that lasted for 25 years and over 1,500 cartoons, including 60 front covers. Some original Punch cartoons will be included in this exhibition.
Thelwell published his first pony cartoon in 1953, and quite by accident, his name became synonymous with images of little girls and fat hairy ponies. The ‘Thelwell pony’ quickly became the most-often referenced source of horse humour the world over, and today, as we prepare to celebrate the centennial of the artist’s life, his caricatures remain as popular as ever. Thelwell’s 34 books have sold over 2 million copies in the United Kingdom alone, and his cartoons are found on a diverse array of merchandise. Interestingly, when we need it most, his book ‘The Effluent Society’, which commented on environmental issues, was republished this March. (This, and some other merchandise will be available in the shop.)
Lent by the family archive, this display, although including a few of his renowned horse and pony pictures, also embraces serious paintings completed purely for pleasure, and drawn and painted cartoons with relevance to nature, the countryside and environment, plus early works from his army days in India and before. Together they reveal not just Thelwell’s skill as an artist, but also his mastery of sharp social comment and his awareness of then current and future threats. He used satire to convey serious messages about the need to preserve the natural world; many of which still have poignancy today.
Many of his 34 books centre upon country life and country pursuits, and their light-hearted images are founded upon a thorough knowledge of their topics. (He was a keen angler, for example.) Although progress has been made in some areas of conservation and the tackling of environmental challenges, it is likely that Thelwell would be disappointed that many of his cajoling drawings are as relevant today as the day he put pencil to paper. Things have not changed as much as he would have liked.
For the last quarter of a century of his life Thelwell lived in the Test Valley at Timsbury, gradually restoring a farm house and landscaping the grounds which gave rise to his first factual book, ‘A Plank Bridge by a Pool’, which detailed the first two lakes he dug there. A third lake was later featured on the BBC TV. Written much earlier, but published three years later, ‘A Millstone Round My Neck’ described his experiences in re-building a Cornish water mill that was sold before the book was published. He always loved old buildings, and in his autobiography, ‘Wrestling with a Pencil’ he wrote about his joy of old cottages.
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.
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.
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.
A major display of turned wood by members of the Association of Woodturners of Great Britain. The pre-emminent organisation of its type, with international members and profile, this display brings together a huge range of styles, techniques and woods. It is a celebration of craftsmanship and the beauty in wood – art in nature.
Just as the British Wildlife Photography Awards includes images by younger photographers, so this display will highlight the work of a group of young turners being coached and mentored by members of the Register of Professional Turners. These will be displayed alongside items by established wood turners, mostly based in the south west, south Wales and Midlands area.
The AWGB is a national charity which aims to promote woodturning to ensure the craft continues and to advance education in woodturning. It currently has over 3000 members, including makers abroad. There are 50 local UK branches, including in Gloucestershire.
SEE WOODTURNERS IN ACTION:
19th Steve Gordon
20th Paul Hannaby
21st Brian Ford
22nd Barry Starkey
23rd Jeff Belcher
24th Jeff Belcher
26th Brian Ford
27th Mike Macey
28th Keith Fenton
29th Peter Dixon
30th Steve Gordon
1st Rod Tester
Many exhibits will be for sale
A unique exhibition to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Society of Wildlife Artists.
2D and 3D works by members who have played an important role in the journey of the Society thus far, including work by all its past-presidents. The SWLA continues to be a hugely influential organisation delighting in the natural world through fine art.
About The SWLA:
Back in the late 1950’s, the original work of wildlife artists was not readily available even though it was a time of widespread and growing interest in natural history. With a society of artists in mind which might seize such an opportunity, Robert Gillmor and Eric Ennion, with the enthusiastic support of Keith Shackleton and Peter Scott, organised an exhibition of contemporary bird paintings in the Reading Art Gallery in 1960. It then went on tour for a year. Such was the interest, the tour was extended and R.B. Talbot-Kelly and Maurice Wilson joined the organisers to plan a society to build on the momentum. They began inviting founder members and the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA) was formed.
Their first exhibition (1964) featured 149 works by 35 founder members. Today it has 63 elected members and 3 Associate Members. Their annual show ‘Natural Eye has over 300 works. In 1990 The SWLA became a registered charity through which it arranges exhibitions, publications, bursaries and partnerships delivered through the energy of individual artist members, many of whom are celebrated in this unique selection.
This exhibition highlights the work of some of the key drivers of the Society through its life. Sadly some of the founder members are no longer alive – people like Hugh B. Cott, Eric Ennion, Sir Peter Scott, Eileen Soper, John Busby, Richard Talbot-Kelly, Robert Gillmor, David Koster, Keith Shakleton, David Measures and David Shepherd, but their legacy lives on through initiatives of the Society and the work of its current artists.
The paintings of Nicholas Jones immerse the viewer in the vast space and luminous light of the Arctic. Capturing a world made up of the simplest of ingredients – ice, water, rock, and light, this exhibition offers a point of connection with the fragile beauty of this astonishing region of our planet, on whose well-being we all depend.
Nick is the 2022 winner of the Royal Geographical Societies Cherry Kearton medal. In 2018 he was the Scott Polar Research Institutes Arctic Artist in Residence, out of which these paintings were made. This exhibition will consist of around 40 of Nick’s Arctic paintings completed between 2018 and 2022. The paintings range in size from small works on paper to two-meter large canvases.
Nick’s paintings have always dealt with one main subject: the landscape. From the countryside around his Somerset home, to the Arctic landscape of Lapland, Greenland and Baffin Island, he seeks to evoke the world of nature, of hills, mountains, water, skies, trees, and above all, light.
When in 2018, Nicholas Jones was appointed as Arctic Artist in Residence with the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute, he made a remarkable voyage along the coasts of Greenland and Baffin Island. The paintings in this exhibition are his response to the sublime light and landscapes he experienced in the Arctic, and visions of its beauty, power and simplicity. These paintings open our eyes to the beauty of nature, inviting us to a meditative contemplation of its wonders, and reminding us of the vital importance of preserving our shared home. It was for these works that the Royal Geographical Society awarded the Cherry Kearton medal, citing Nick’s “ability to ‘capture the uncapturable’: the ever-changing play of light on landscape.”
https://www.nicholasjones.info/
Bird Photographer of the Year is back after it’s popularity last year at Nature in Art.
Photographers from all over the world entered more than 20,000 images into this year’s competition, each with their eyes on the £5,000 grand prize. Photographer Jack Zhi, from the USA, was declared this year’s grand prize winner for his dramatic image taken in Southern California.
Photographers competed in 8 different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, Conservation (Single Image), and Comedy Bird Photo. There was also a Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award.
Bird Photographer of the Year has conservation at its heart. This year, the competition donated £5,000 to partner charity Birds on the Brink, which provides vital funding to grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world. (www.birdsonthebrink.co.uk)
The 2024 competition is now open for entries at birdpoty.com, and invites photographers of all experience levels to submit their best bird photos.
Image 1: Jack Zhi / Bird Photographer of the Year
Image 2: Nicolas Reusens / Bird Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the Natural History Museum’s (London) globally renowned annual competition and exhibition, highlighting the unique and beautiful relationship between photography, science and art.
A forest rodeo, a hidden stargazer and a mason bee at work are just a few of the awe-inspiring images featured in the fifty-ninth competition. All 100 winning wildlife photographs will be on display at Nature in Art.
This year’s competition attracted an astounding 49,957 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 95 countries.
Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum sums up the importance of the exhibition: ‘We are facing urgent biodiversity and climate crises, and photography is a powerful catalyst for change. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition reveals some of nature’s most wondrous sights whilst offering hope and achievable actions visitors can take to help protect the natural world.’
Entry to the exhibition is included in the entrance price to Nature in Art.