Colin Smith | Ventnor Botanic Friends

29th September 2017 By Colin Smith

End of Residency Exhibition

Carol Ann and Guy Eades have worked as Artists in Residence over the Summer at Ventnor Botanic Garden, April – September 2017. Their end of Residency Exhibition will be in the Gallery and Studio at Ventnor Botanic Garden from Sunday, October 15th – Sunday, October 29th, 10.00am – 5.00pm.

They have been creating new work inspired by the Garden’s plants, trees, flowers and its unique environment.
Guy has painted a series of oil paintings on canvas and primed paper over the summer that describe and respond to his walks and drawings around the many paths and views across the vistas of the Garden. The Garden for him has an elegiac and anarchic quality that is unique in British garden layouts and design and through the paintings he has sought to share and celebrate this.
Carol Ann has continued to develop her textile art using indigo and rust dyeing whilst simultaneously responding to the many varieties of eucalyptus in the Gardens and more recently using Autumnal flora developing Eco prints on wool, silk, linen and cotton.
Guy’s paintings will be on display in the Gallery adjacent to the Reception, shop and car park. Carol Ann’s textiles will be on display in the Gallery and Studio, entry to which is by the right-hand doors of the Tropical House.
Entrance to the Exhibition in the Gallery and Studio is free, charges apply to the Garden. Visitors, please obtain passes/tickets from Reception on arrival. Parking free.

12th September 2017 By Colin Smith

The Hidden World of Lower Plants

George Greiff of the British Bryological Society gives an introduction to the diversity of freshwater algae, bryophytes and lichens found on the Isle of Wight.

21st August 2017 By Colin Smith

Dinner with Dillie

Dillie Keane, award winning songwriter, singer and actress, and an integral part of ‘Fascinating Aida’, is coming to the Garden on Saturday 7^th October to entertain and amuse us. This is more than generous of her and the aim is to boost the Education Funds for our Horticultural Apprentices, of which we now have two.

We do hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a most entertaining and amusing evening.

The programme is as follows:

6.30 pm: Drinks Reception with canapes

7.30: Two course supper in edulis restaurant

9.30: Dillie will entertain, accompanied by her accomplished pianist, Michael Roulston.

Tickets are £60.00 a head which includes drinks reception and wine with dinner. There will be a note draw.

You can watch a trailer for the new Fascinating Aïda DVD, BACK IN THE SADDLE! here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfbJfzucHLo

For further information and to book tickets please contact Caroline Peel, 01983 872375 or carolinepeel@aol.com

5th June 2017 By Colin Smith

Photographic Competition Prize Giving

The Prize Winners.

The three judges, Julian Winslow, Steve Blamire and Dr Rachel Flynn have reached their decisions on the winning entries in the six categories. As part of their prize the winning entries were the professional printed and mounted by David Whistance.

Friends and Members attended the prize giving and enjoyed a glass of wine in the Gallery while they viewed an exhibition of the winning entries. The prizes were presented to the winners by Julian Winslow, who also gave an insight into the judging process and tips for taking a winning photograph.

The prize winners in the various categories are: –

Best Overall: – 1st – Ian Pratt, 2nd – Olivia Williams, 3rd – Ian Pratt

Plant Portrait: – 1st – Ian Pratt, 2nd – Ian Pratt, 3rd – Lynda Richardson

Landscape: – 1st – Jonyth Hill, 2nd – Lynda Richardson, 3rd – Bridget Sibbick

Abstract: – 1st – Bridget Sibbick, 2nd – Bridget Sibbick, 3rd – Ros Whistance

Wildlife: – 1st – Ian Pratt, 2nd – Ian Pratt, 3rd – Ian Pratt

Under 17: – 1st – Olivia Williams, 2nd – Olivia Williams, 3rd – Ariela Richardson

To see the Winning photographs please click here

12th April 2017 By Colin Smith

Secret Message Art Exhibition

So why is it Secret Art? Because it was exhibited anonymously – so, you could treat yourself to something you really like and you might find you have bought a 21st century treasure – signed on the reverse by the artist. All has now been revealed!

In the afternoon of Sunday 23 July the artists of all the works were revealed. A list of the artists of each item by catalogue number is available on The Arty Card Company website.

This is an exhibition of art by various artists at which all of the paintings, which are A5 size, are for sale at a fixed price of £50.00, purchasers will only find out the provenance of their painting when they collect it at the end of the exhibition. The exhibition will ran from 15th to 24th July 2017 with a special preview for Members of the Fiends’ on 14th July.

An appeal was made for artists, some famous, some local, some budding, to donate some of their work to help raise cash for the Garden’s horticultural apprenticeship scheme.

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