Painting update

The painting is almost done!  I'll be putting the finishing touches to it while I'm in residency at the Bevere Art Gallery this week - please come along and see how I'm getting on and have a chat.

We're currently thinking about finding somewhere to display the painting once it's done so if you don't get chance to come and see it this week, we'll let you know where to see it in the future.

Valerie

Silent auction update

Progress has been quite slow on the painting I'm doing to celebrate the 25th year of the Tiddesley Wood Open Day - I have to fit in painting this picture with other work.  Researching some of the subjects for the vignettes around the central image also takes quite a while.  But it's starting to fill up.


I'm not too keen on what I've done so far - but don't let this put you off as I am very rarely happy with what I paint or draw.

I'm now in the process of adding a noble chafer beetle and a white admiral butterfly.  Tiddesley Wood is one of the few sites in England where noble chafers are found - they love old orchards and the one at Tiddesley is perfect for them.

(By the way, can anyone tell me what kind of pear is grown at Tiddesley before I have to bother Harry Green - again)?

Harry has very kindly sent me plenty of reference material for the noble chafer and is looking forward to my depiction of it.  Thank you Harry.

I hope to keep you updated on the progress of the picture - and I hope it encourages you to bid for it and raise some funds for the Trust.

Valerie Briggs

Nature in Art

I visited Nature in Art last week (Twigworth, just south of Tewkesbury) to see the Artists in Residence: Worcestershire's Valerie Briggs and Trevor Smith.  I was delighted to find Val working on the big picture she is giving to the Trust  to help raise funds and celebrate the 25th year of Tiddesley Wood Open Day.   

Centrally the picture shows springtime coppice and bluebells in Tiddesley Wood and is to be surrounded by twelve vignettes of Tiddesley Wood's wildlife through the year.  Val finished the central picture that morning and was working on the first vignette of a blackcap singing amongst wild service tree flowers.  The finished picture is going to be a stunning tribute to Tiddesley Wood.   

It is to be sold by Silent Auction so you can have a go at purchasing a local picture by a nationally known artist who lives locally!  If you are successful (there is a reserve price) you will also help fund the work of the Trust.    

You can see Val's other pictures on the Worcester Bevere Gallery web site.

Val told me that she will update you all through this blog on the progress of the painting as she continues working on it.

Good luck! 

Harry, Tiddesley Wood