Celebrating Trees Art Exhibition

A new group exhibition in Norwich this November, called Celebrating Trees, will feature the work of around 40 artists, many Norfolk-based. It will feature paintings, sculpture, photography and digital works that celebrate the beauty and meaning of trees – and our link with them.

Open daily 10am to 4pm except Monday 1 Nov and Sunday 7 Nov when the exhibition is open 12 noon to 4pm.

Artists exhibiting in the show include nationally-known painter Derrick Greaves, and Ivy Smith, winner of several awards including the John Player Portrait award; also Tor Falcon, who recently had a solo show about Norfolk countryside at the Castle Museum; also four members of the nationally known Arborealist Group, plus many established painters, sculptors and photographers from Norfolk and elsewhere.

Supported and officially opened by acclaimed nature writer Richard Mabey. Accompanied by a new tree-trail of Norwich showcasing 10 of the most significant trees in the City.

‘It would be wonderful if this exhibition encourages us to contemplate the trees around us that we often take for granted as we go about our busy lives,’ says artist Mary Mellor, who is curating the exhibition with Caroline Hoskin.

‘Trees are so important for our emotional and physical wellbeing that we hope to encourage people to look more carefully at the trees that surround them – especially those within our urban environment,’ says Mary.

‘This exhibition has been long in the planning and was postponed for a year because of the pandemic. During lockdown, trees suddenly became a surprising source of solace, continuity and hope in our lives. As the pace of life picks up again, it’s our hope that this exhibition will inspire us to continue to cherish nature and the trees that surround us,’ adds Mary.

The exhibition will also include art-work from children to mark the importance of trees in their future lives. ‘ As future custodians of the planet, children are an integral part of the event’ says Caroline. There will also be poems to accompany the show, some by young people and one written especially for the event by acclaimed poet George Szirtes.

Organisers are compiling a tree trail of Norwich as part of the event – encouraging visitors to take time to look at some of the most important and historic trees in the City, such as the the plane trees outside The Guildhall and in Elm Hill, the ancient oak in UEA park and the famous Kett’s Oak, near Hethersett.