As part of the project to celebrate 250 years since the
birth of James Ward RA, local artists have been creating artworks inspired by
Ward’s work, in particular the collection held here at Lowewood.
The first of these, Mannamead Art Group’s work, will be displayed until Saturday 7 December. This local group meets in Hoddesdon once a week and welcomes all from beginners to experienced artists. Thirteen artists from this group are displaying their works, mainly drawing inspiration from James Ward’s animal paintings. The paintings include horses and farm animals to one or two landscape drawings. A total of eighteen artworks in a variety of mediums, from watercolours to pencil drawings are being displayed.
Come and have a look at these local artists’ works, displayed alongside our exhibition on James Ward. The museum is open Wednesday – Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturdays 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.
This project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the
birth of local artist James Ward RA. To celebrate, the museum has opened an
exhibition highlighting his life and work, with loans from the Tate and
Fitzwilliam Museum. The exhibition opened on 21 September 2019 and is on
display until 25 January 2020.
The Moment, 1831, James Ward (1769 – 1859). Tate, London 2019. Photo credit:(C) Tate, London 2019
Ward was born on 23 October 1769 in London, the son of a
greengrocer and cider merchant. He left school at a young age, before he could
read or write and at the age of nine was the only wage earner in his family,
washing bottles for 4 shillings a week.
Drawing came naturally to Ward, and by the age of 12 he was
an apprentice mezzotint engraver to one of the best, John Raphael Smith. He was
later appointed the painter and mezzotint engraver to the Prince of Wales. Ward
chose to pursue his painting career, aspiring to be appointed as a member of
the Royal Academy, which he finally achieved in 1811 at the age of 42.
Ward made Cheshunt his home for the last 31 years of his
life. He had loved the countryside ever since he was a boy, it was so different
from the hustle and bustle of London streets. In July 1855 he suffered a stroke that ended his
career and died at Roundcroft Cottage in Cheshunt on 16 November 1859.
Portrait of James Ward, engraved by James Ward, c.1835, after John Jackson (1778 – 1831). Presented by Richard Godgrey 1994. Tate, London 2019. Photo credit: (c) Tate, London, 2019
On display in the museum is a selection of Ward’s works loaned by the Tate and Fitzwilliam Museum, as well as a sketchbook demonstrating the breadth of his work. These compliment the museum’s own collection of Ward’s work, on display in Lowewood’s James Ward Gallery.
The museum is open Wednesday – Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
This project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Come and take part our art workshops at Lowewood Museum.
Each month you will be guided by an experienced local artist in a different art
form to learn new skills or improve on existing ones. Have fun, relax, learn
something new and experiment with a range of materials in the peaceful setting
of Lowewood Museum.
Where: Lowewood Museum, High Street, Hoddesdon, EN11 8BH
A fun relaxed session using leaves and natural forms to make
your own creative compositions for cushion covers, bags and T-shirts. Printing
fabric will be supplied but you’re very welcome to bring your own items.
Drawing for Beginners
Saturday 16 November
Ever wanted
to draw, but not known where to start? Start here!
This
relaxed, artist-led session will teach you the basic principles of drawing,
giving you the confidence and space to develop skills in your own style.
Printmaking
Saturday 7 December
This two-hour printmaking taster session will be taught by a
practicing artist who will take you step-by-step through the linocut print
making process. This will be a hands-on creative workshop.
Drawing in Charcoal
Saturday 11 January
Spend a
relaxing two hours at Lowewood Museum with one of our in-house artists,
learning how to use charcoal to create landscape pictures.
Animation
Saturday 8 February
Develop new skills and have fun. Explore different ways to
create your own animation using collage or drawings, and your smart phone. For
inspiration we’ll look at key artists in the history of experimental animation.
You don’t have to be able to draw to do this; the aim of the session is to
build confidence in your creative skills.
Drawing and Painting with Watercolour
Pencils
Saturday 7 March
This artist-led workshop will give you a taste of the joys
of using watercolour pencils. Learn simple drawing techniques while expanding
your colour repertoire beyond the greys and blacks of pencil and ink. This
workshop is for anybody who wants to draw more confidently and have fun with
colour.
Lowewood Museum 