Great activities to enjoy together in the garden

Sculptures in the Landscape Exhibition 2024

‘Sculpture in the Landscape’ exhibition is set alongside our permanent collection of 90 sculptures

Over 60 pieces of new sculpture will be on display through 2024 with artists coming from all over the UK

The Exhibition will run from 18th April to Sunday 3rd November 2024 during normal open hours.

To see all pieces go to our online gallery – click here

Botanical Illustrations Workshop: Tuesday 30 April – Thursday 2 May 2024

Back by popular demand, we are running two Botanical Illustration Courses, with Bridget Gillespie.

Botanical Illustration is the art of depicting plant forms accurately, to capture their individual characteristics and to aid identification. This 3-day workshop will be in a step-by-step format, with demonstration and individual tuition from Bridget covering drawing, composition and watercolour techniques. Suitable for complete beginners to intermediate painters. Materials are not included.

Bridget Gillespie is an award-winning Botanical Illustrator. In 2002, 2008, 2017 and 2018 she was awarded Gold Medals by the RHS who have purchased several pieces for their archive collection. Bridget has works in the RHS, Hunt Institute collections and illustrated The Northern Pomona.

Workshop Details:

Spring workshop: Tuesday 30 April – Thursday 2 May 2024

Autumn workshop: Wednesday 22 – Friday 24 October 2024

10am – 4pm Suitable for beginners and intermediate painters.

Cost: £200

Booking essential: info@himalayangarden.com

Art Retreat - Painting the Himalayan Garden - Friday 17th May 2024

Join professional artist Rebecca Jayne as she returns to host a relaxing one-day painting with oils workshop

You will learn tips and techniques, get inspiration from the garden and create your own painting of the flora, fauna and garden landscapes. You will be painting outside, weather permitting, with easels. All materials will be provided.

Rebecca Jayne has over 25 years of teaching experience and gets her inspiration from nature, flowers and gardens which she paints in oils. She loves teaching others and is an advocate for art and nature to truly relax and benefit our brain and body. She knows how to help her students to bring out the best of them with a safe, calm and pressure free approach.

Workshop Details:

10am – 4pm
Cost £95 per person (all materials provided)
Bring your own lunch or make use of the Garden Tearoom

Booking essential email: info@rebeccajayneartist.co.uk

Rhododendron Experience 23rd May 2024

The Himalayan Garden is well known for its extensive collection of Rhododendrons, and has National Plant Collection status from Plant Heritage for its collection of Rhododendron subsect. Fortunea.

Come and enjoy a tour, talk and layering workshop with Jago, Head of our Rhododendron National Collection. He will provide you with top tips on how to care for Rhododendrons and show different techniques on how to propagate, including air layering.

Workshop Details:
Thursday 23 May 2024 at 1pm – 4pm
Cost £30 per person

Includes tour, talk, layering and light refreshments
Book online through our ticket booking page

Modern Calligraphy Workshop - Wednesday 26th June 2024

Learn how to write beautifully using ink with Sophie Roberts. Suitable for complete beginners this class will teach you everything you need to know starting right at the basics. After a brief introduction to the tools, you will start by practicing shapes and strokes and then move onto letter forms, learning how to write each calligraphy letter.

By the end you will have started to do joined up lettering to take on to a phrase or word. Sophie will be on hand to give you tips and techniques to improve your beginners hand and create your own unique style of lettering.

All attendees will get a Calligraphy Starter Kit, including handouts, paper, pen and ink to use and take home, providing everything you need to start your calligraphy journey!

Workshop Details

10am – 12.30pm
Cost £50 per person (includes refreshment break with tea and biscuits
Booking essential: email info@himalayangarden.com

Ceramics Poppy Workshop - Saturday 20th July 2024

Join ceramicist Anna Whitehouse for a walk and talk about her 2022 poppy installation ‘Bursting From The Slumber’ before heading inside to customise your own unique trio of ceramic poppies for your own garden.

Anna will take the poppies back to her studio to glaze, fire and assemble onto steel rods, returning them to the Himalayan Garden for your collection.

Workshop details:

2 hour workshops at:

10am – 12noon
1pm – 3pm

Cost per workshop : £65 per person

Limited places, booking essential, please email info@himalayangarden.com

Please note, no refunds will be given if you cancel within 14 days of the event