Coffee With A Curator
2026-01-07 13:30 - 2026-12-02 13:30 (Europe/London) | The Wilson, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum and The Wilson Kitchen arts café 51 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT, United Kingdom
Coffee With A CuratorFirst Wednesday of every month, 1.30pm – 2pmThese informal sessions held in The Wilson café lounge area at lunchtime on the first Wednesday of the month give you the chance to join one of our curators for a half hour chat as they introduce pieces from The Wilson’s extensive collections.From pottery and works of art to items that reflect the social history of the Cheltenham area, you’ll get to have a closer look at the objects as they are brought out of the archives.There will be a different object every month. Book a place for £3, which will include a complimentary tea or coffee from the café. For updates and more details of the objects and subjects for each monthly session, see our Facebook and Instagram.Wednesday 7 JanuaryMusical Instruments – A different kind of serpent! Explore the fascinating world of musical instruments as we uncover the story of the serpent, a most unusual instrument. Discover how it’s made, what it sounds like, and how it came to our collection!Wednesday 4 FebruarySmall objects; big stories – Find out some interesting stories about some of the smallest objects held in The Wilson’s collection.Wednesday 4 MarchCheltenham’s buildings – mysteries and histories! Cheltenham is more than just a Regency town, hear stories from The Wilson’s Curator of Art featuring Cheltenham’s famous donut to stories of shopping and the high street in times gone by!Wednesday 1 AprilVarious hair accessories were worn between the wars of the 20th century. Snoods were used as a decorative way of keeping mid to long hair out of the way and to keep a set in place. They were made of various materials and techniques and April’s talk will discuss the crocheted ones in the Wilson collection. Join Kat, our Collections Officer, as she shares information and history of the snood and shows her handmade copy for you to handle.

Practical Fine Art for Adults Course: 2026
2026-01-09 13:30 - 2027-01-08 13:30
Join our Practical Fine Art for Beginners course and unlock your creativity!27 February – 27 March: Introduction to Sculpture: Form, Expression, and Abstraction17 April – 15 May: Introduction to Landscape Drawing and Painting: From Line to Colour5 June – 3 July: Introduction to Acrylic Painting: Colour, Texture, and Expression11 Sep – 9 Oct: Introduction to Drawing: Seeing Like an Artist13 Nov – 11 Dec: Introduction to Watercolour8 Jan – 5 Feb: Introduction to Portrait Drawing: Capturing LikenessOur lessons are tailored for those with little-to-no experience in art, but feel the desire to discover and create. At the end of the course, you will have honed your skills and gained confidence in your ability to produce your own artwork. Start your journey as an artist today.About Kitty McLeodThe tutor, Kitty McLeod, of Promising Artists, trained at Ravensbourne University London and the University of Gloucestershire. She has been teaching art and creative workshops with children and adults of all ages nationally since 2010. She has experience in delivering fine art drawing & painting, illustration, printmaking, animation and life drawing classes. Kitty runs a small art school in Cheltenham and art courses for the National Trust.Price is for a course of 5 sessions and includes all materials.Dates 2026Winter Term: 9 January – 6 FebruaryWinter/Spring: 27 February – 27 MarchSpring: 17 April – 15 MaySummer: 5 June – 3 JulyAutumn: 11 Sep – 9 OctWinter: 13 Nov – 11 DecWinter 2027: 8 Jan – 5 FebFridays, 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Practical Fine Art for Children Course: 2026
2026-01-10 10:00 - 2027-01-09 10:00
Practical Fine Art for Children: 202628 February – 28 March: Introduction to Sculpture: Form, Expression, and Abstraction18 April – 16 May: Introduction to Landscape Drawing and Painting: From Line to Colour6 June – 4 July: Introduction to Acrylic Painting: Colour, Texture, and Expression12 Sep – 10 Oct: Introduction to Drawing: Seeing Like an Artist14 Nov – 12 Dec: Introduction to Watercolour9 Jan – 6 Feb: Introduction to Portrait Drawing: Capturing LikenessFor keen young artists of all levels. The perfect complement to school art lessons, whether studying at primary or GCSE level. Practical, how-to skills: observational drawing techniques, multi-media exploration, adventures in colour and more. There is plenty of time for one-to-one support in these small groups too.About Kitty McLeodKitty McLeod trained at Ravensbourne University London and the University of Gloucestershire. She has been teaching art and creative workshops, organising events, parties, and face painting with children and adults of all ages nationally since 2010. She has experience in delivering fine art, illustration, printmaking, animation and life drawing classes. Kitty’s students have won art scholarships to Cheltenham College, Rendcombe College and King’s School.Price is for a course of 5 sessions and includes all materials.Dates 2026Winter Term: 10 January – 7 FebruaryWinter/Spring: 28 February – 28 MarchSpring: 18 April – 16 MaySummer: 6 June – 4 JulyAutumn: 12 Sep – 10 OctWinter: 14 Nov – 12 DecWinter 2027: 9 Jan – 6 FebSaturdays, 10am – 11.30am
