ARTS AND EXHIBITIONS

The Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street, Bath

Love Life: David Hockney’s Drawings, until 18 September Hockney’s drawings in the late 1960s and 1970s show his extraordinary power of observation and skill in using tiny, mundane details to help capture a situation.

Marvellous Makers, Wondrous Worlds: Raised Embroidery from the 17th Century until 11 September

A show of the exceptional raised and 17th-century embroideries from the museum’s collection –a jewel-like show allowing visitors to look closely at these exceptional objects.

holburne.org

Ossie Clark in a Fairisle Sweater, by David Hockney, 1970 Coloured pencil on paper 43.18 x 35.56 cm © David Hockney. Photo credit: Fabrice Giber

Beyond Beastly: Creatures Natural and Imagined Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI), 16–18 Queen Square, Bath, until 1 October

As new continents were explored, a rich array of extraordinary new animals and plants were formally described. Here were creatures quite as weird as the ones in medieval pictures, but now they were being illustrated in vivid and accurate detail. Come and meet some familiar fantastical creatures (and quite a few natural ones) extracted from the pages of the historic books and boxes of specimens in Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Collections.

brlsi.org

Songs of Nature: Painting and Collage by Hiroko Sherwin 44AD Artspace, 4 Abbey Street, Bath 9–21 August

Hiroko Sherwin used to watch rice paper being made by hand in Japan, where he grew up. Many of his works are painted on rice paper as well as on Western paper and canvas. He also makes collages by dyeing rice paper. While loving colour, Sherwin recently rediscovered the world of black and white, the Japanese legacy of sumi-ink painting on rice paper. Black has many shades while white is the ultimate colour, he explains.

David Simon Contemporary 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW

Kit Andrews: The Cornish Potter 2 July –30 August

Experimenting with a variety of vase and bottleforms, Kit Andrews’ work uses pitfiring and smoke-firing techniques, creating beautifully balanced forms in stoneware clay.

A retrospective exhibition of sculpture in bronze relating to the theme of leaf and blade forms, for which Margaret Lovell is internationally renowned.

Margaret Lovell: Leaves of Bronze 2 July –30 August

Marine Flow 2 by Margaret Lovell

Beaux Arts Bath 12–13 York Street Bath, until 27 August Beaux Arts latest exhibition sees new work by award-winning artist Ashraf Hanna. Born in 1967 in El Minia, Egypt, he currently resides and works from his studio in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. Hanna’s work is represented in prestigious collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum and National Museum of Wales. The walls of the gallery are adorned by selected gallery artists, including Laurie Steen, Kate Sherman, David Tress, Harriet Porter, Nathan Ford, And Mark Johnston. beauxartsbath.co.uk

Black bowl with chartreuse interior by Ashraf Hanna

Shades of Green

Central Corridor, The Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath, until 8 August

Shades of Green at the Royal United Hospital, curated by Sandra Higgins, has been extended until 8 August. Visitors, staff and patients have all remarked how the artwork gracing the walls of the main corridor lifts everyone’s spirits. The show is open from 8am–8pm daily, and all works are available to purchase, with a percentage of sales going to ‘Art at the Heart’, the charity which supports the hospital with an art and design programme to stimulate healing and well-being and create an uplifting environment. Contact Sandra at sandra@sandrahiggins.com for more information or to arrange a time for a guided curatorial tour. sandrahiggins.art

by John Ball Corsican Pine Dreaming The Land by Fiona McIntyre

Dreaming The Land by Fiona McIntyre at the Sidney Nolan Trust, Presteigne Until 1 October

In Dreaming The Land, artist Fiona McIntyre expresses an imagined landscape inspired by a synergy of objects and place which she discovered during her recent residency at the Sidney NolanTrust in the border-town of Presteigne, Radnorshire. Fiona is represented by local art advisory Sandra Higgins Art in conjunction with the Sidney Nolan Trust, and as such Sandra is able to offer a personal insight into the exhibition and arrange visits to The Rodd to view the exhibition. For more information, contact sandra@sandrahiggins.com

sandrahiggins.art In Celebration of the Arts –All Things Floral, 165 Newbridge Hill, Bath 3–4 September, 10am–5pm

Artists and sculptors come together to exhibit their dynamic art, sculpture and craft in a house and award-winning garden in

Newbridge. The exhibition showcases the work of Mary Allen, Joy Branscombe,

Elizabeth Evans, Hayley Jones and Jessica

Palmer. Pieces of sculpture, art and plants are for sale and cakes, scones and light lunches will be served on the terrace.

Opening in conjunction with the National

Garden Scheme, money raised will go to nursing charities supported by the NGS, to

The Peggy Dodd Centre in Combe Down and to Serve Africa which is providing education, vocational training and medical support to internally displaced

Ugandan refugees.

Image by Jessica Palmer

BAT OUT OF HEAVEN…

Eager bidding from the first lot to the last ensured that Lawrences recorded a host of high prices in Lawrences Summer Fine Jewellery auction.

A collection of pocket watches realised £16,775 with the top price being paid for an 18ct gold half hunting cased watch by Daniel Desbois, 1908. A silver cased pocket chronometer by Thomas Earnshaw, fitted with the Earnshaw Spring Detent escapement, dated from c.1800 and doubled hopes of £5000 to tick up a winning bid of £11,250.

Precious stones commanded consistently good prices: a diamond bow brooch made £5500; an Edwardian emerald and diamond ring made £7500; and a Georgian diamond flowerhead brooch with a central diamond measuring just under 9mm made £11,875. A long necklace or sautoir of seed pearls and diamonds made £6000 against an estimate of £2000-3000.

A historical revival pearl and portrait miniature necklace set with three Royal portraits and in a fitted case by D. S. Lavender of London made £8125 but the sale’s top price was paid for a Victorian diamond brooch in the form of a bat, set with old-cut and rose-cut diamonds. Just 6cm wide, this attracted fierce online bidding and no fewer than a dozen telephone bidders. In the bright sunshine of a perfect summer day, this bejewelled creature of the night flew to a remarkable £20,000.

A full team of specialists are available to advise and assist with FREE valuations:

IN PERSON | AT HOME | ONLINE | EMAIL | PHONE | WHATSAPP

Please contact their team if you would like to sell in their auctions to include:

Silver | Vertu | Jewellery | Watches | 19th/20th Century Design | Oriental Works of Art | Ceramics | Pictures | Furniture | Clocks | Rugs | Militaria | Coins Medals | Collectors | Sporting | Textiles | Automobilia | Motoring | Literature Historic Cycling | Wine | Spirits | Books | Maps | Manuscripts | Photography

Lawrences

AUCTIONEERS

The Linen Yard, South Street, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 8AB.

lawrences.co.uk

One-of-a-kind

28 & 31 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LN 01225 461483 | info@beaunashbath.com www.beaunashbath.com beaunashbath

Open Daily 9:30am –6:00pm Located between the Circus and the Royal Crescent

Summer Exhibition Gallery Nine, 9B Margaret's Buildings, Bath, until 31 August

Gallery Nine’s exhibition showcases five exciting artists. Celia Dowson works in ceramics and cast glass. Her work reflects the colours, the changing light, and mystery of the natural world. Inspired by classic oriental ceramics Robyn Hardyman’s contemporary porcelain vessels are thrown thinly on the wheel. Charmian Harris creates jewellery in gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones. Artist and jeweller Helyne Jennings uses mixed media on paper and fabric to create tiny earrings through to large-scale wall pieces. Her husband Trevor Jennings is a sculptor who works with a variety of metals to create sculptural pieces.

galleryninebath.com

Mary Fedden: Simple Pleasures Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, until 16 October

Mary Fedden (1915–2012) is known as a colourist who celebrated her favourite places, things and people in joyous compositions that delight the eye as much as the mind. This exhibition explores her life and work, from her childhood and young adulthood in Bristol, to her marriage with artist Julian Trevelyan and their decades working in adjoining studios at

Durham Wharf on the Thames. Over 110 paintings and works on paper are featured, covering all periods of Fedden’s career, drawn from both private and public collections across the UK. There will be guided tours of the exhibition on Fridays at 1.30pm–2pm. These are included in the ticket price.

victoriagal.org.uk

Gallery Cat 1989

Hardy’s Wessex –the landscapes that inspired a writer, Wiltshire Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes SN10 1NS, until 30 October

Hardy’s Wessex exhibition is also at the Dorset Museum, The Salisbury Museum and the Poole Museum

A major exhibition exploring the life and work of Thomas Hardy, and the landscapes that shaped his view of the world. A short journey from Stonehenge, one of the most iconic prehistoric monuments in the world, this exhibition will explore how Hardy’s writing merged his present with the past. Within this ancient landscape, old beliefs died hard and Hardy’s plots are set against a background of superstition. Hardy felt that these past ways of life were important, helping us understand ourselves and our relationship with the environment. Includes the largest collection of Hardy objects displayed at one time.

wiltshiremuseum.org.uk

Art in the Library: Kate Davies, Penny Ives and Nadine Wickenden, Bath Central Library, 19–23 The Podium, Northgate Street, Bath 2 August –8 September

Kate Davies, Penny Ives, and Nadine Wickenden are three local illustrator/ artists who are showing their creative work in the

Bath Central Library exhibition space.

The three artists became friends through South West Illustrators. Their experience is varied –including design, children’s book illustration, architectural illustration and jigsaw illustration, but one thing they all share is a love of character and whimsy. Penny has created a little dialogue between ‘Miss

Austen and the Penguin’; Kate Davies’ watercolours show Bath populated by ‘The Bath Bunns’ – and Nadine Wickenden has crafted delightful 3D papier-mâché characters. Prints, cards and other items will be available for sale.

David Ringsell: Contemporary Art Prints and Paintings of Classic Bath Architecture

“I aim to present a contemporary perspective on some familiar places. I often focus on the darker side of Bath architecture; peeling paint and stained stonework.” David’s work is being exhibited at The Artery Art Café in Richmond Place; at The Claremont Pub, 5 Claremont Road,

Bath; and at The Old Crown Pub, Weston, Bath. Custom prints are available online in a range of sizes – see the website:

real-images.com

Image: Inside Out, A2 framed giclée print by David Ringsell, showing the evening sun reflecting off the windows at the back of the London Road.

Do Manners Matter?

DUNCAN CAMPBELL

Antique silver specialist

It depends who’s asking

Navigating the treacherous waters of dining etiquette has long been a British obsession. The jeopardy involved in picking up the correct fork is a well worn cliche in film and literature.

Silver eating utensils are some of the principal players in the angst drenched theatre of ‘Good Table Manners’, and must have felt like implements of torture to uncertain guests already squirming with embarrassment.

The remnants of our ancestors’ dining rooms tell the background story of what they thought were good manners and how usage turns first into good manners and then sometimes gets corrupted into brutal snobbery.

These days it would be comical to turn up at someone’s house at dinner time with a fork and spoon in your top pocket, but before about 1700 it was quite the thing to do. Nobody ‘set the table’ until into the 18th century and even then you were lucky if you got more than one spoon & fork per place setting.

By 1800, the nation’s dining arrangements were pretty well established. A polite table would be laid with a soup spoon, a large knife and fork and then, after the first course had been cleared, a smaller spoon and fork for dessert. This habit was so deeply embedded that any deviation from the norm was a social minefield. Fish knives and forks for example, initially an American idea, were considered a clear sign of ‘new money’ because ‘old money’ families had been brought up to eat fish with 2 table forks.

In the same way, round bowl soup spoons were once sneered at as a trans-atlantic affectation. Gradually these protocols change. Since most families these days don’t keep a team of footmen on hand for mealtimes, laying out silverware for more than one course is allowable even in the grandest homes.

If you find all this is just too maddening, there is only one rule of table that really matters, if your guests feel comfortable, your manners are good. n beaunashbath.com; 01225 334234

Bath Pizza Co

6 Green Park Station, Bath BA1 1JB; tel: 01225 588886; bathpizzaco.com

Expect the best because the Bath Pizza Co landed second place in the UK rankings after competing at the National Pizza Awards

Everyone loves a pizza and you can always rely on a freshly made one –with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options –to eat in a chilled out atmosphere at the Bath Pizza Co, says Emma Clegg

Green Park Brasserie in the old Green Park Railway Station is a veritable institution, serving since 1992 a fusion of French-inspired and modern British cuisine that also absorbs food inspiration from across the world. The launch of sister business the Bath Pizza Company in 2016 was a development that embodied the food fusion theme, with a wood-built centre of operations in Green Park that focused on the Italian pizza, a food made with dough, tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings that’s now beloved across the world.

This casual dining pizza place –seating up to 150 on tables on heated terraces –offers not only delicious-tasting pizzas, but live music and entertainment within the scenic station architecture. (Don’t miss the Harlem Rhythm Cats at Bath Pizza Co on Friday 26 August, from 6–9pm for a big evening of alfresco dancing, live music, cocktails, fizz and more.)

Everything is freshly made to order. On the menu are a selection of classics including Pepperoni, Hawaiian, Ham and Mushroom, American Hot, Tuna and Capers, Chicken and Pesto, and Meat Feast. And an impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan pizzas, ranging from Truffle and Goat’s Cheese with a white base, Tiger Margherita with a Sesame Tiger crust and Spinaci, with ricotta, spinach and artichoke, and you can also choose gluten-free dough.

If you want a more personalised pizza, then you can also create your own for £12.95, starting with a classic Margherita and adding three ingredients of your choice (or more for £2 each).

Expect the best because the Bath Pizza Co landed second place in the UK rankings after competing at the National Pizza Awards at the end of last year, for which head chef Jonah Pole in the Cook-Off produced their signature Spinaci with a Cheeky Egg oozing from the middle. That’s going to be my choice next time! n

The Bath Pizza Co is open from 12–10pm, Monday to Sunday

PLUS

Weekend eating at Green Park Brasserie with Brunch and Bottomless Brunch menus

Head along to the Bath Pizza Co’s sister company, Green Park Brasserie to enjoy some Brunch and Bottomless Brunch menus. You’ll find relaxed vibes, sunny terraces and possibly more Prosecco than north east Italy. You can unwind and soak up Green Park Brasserie’s Bottomless brunch every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am onwards.

With a selection of unlimited drinks (bottomless option) alongside the brunch menu, guests can enjoy the Brasserie’s unique setting, unrivalled hospitality and a selection of brunch classics. Max table sizes of six.

Book your table at greenparkbrasserie.com.