The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens opens tomorrow! Sunday 3rd May 1pm – 5pm

It has been a very busy week at Stody Lodge Gardens.  Thirty life size sculptures by the UK’s leading animal artists have been safely installed in their new home for the next month.  The artists themselves travelled from around the UK to see the safe delivery of their pieces and to choose where they will be sited in and amongst Stody’s 14 acres of rhododendrons and azaleas.

Creativity was flowing with one artist, Ian Edwards, opting to cover over the entire sundial in the middle of Stody’s Old Rose Garden with a large plinth on which his soaring sculpture, The Calling, was placed. Behind this visitors can catch a glimpse of Kate Denton’s majestic stag, the Young Pretender, striding confidently across Stody’s expansive main lawn.

The gardens are now bustling with a huge variety of beautiful birds, fish and animals, all of whose energy and vitality belie the metal they are made out of. There are deer, sail fish, horses, badgers, hares, warthogs, leopards, dogs, crows, donkeys, raptors – even a touch of the magical with a griffin! Sculptors include Kate Denton, Jamie Wild, Ian Edwards, Bruce Little and Tom Hiscocks.

Visitors are invited to come and discover these life size pieces both in its open lawn areas but also along Stody’s winding woodland pathways under canopies of rhododendron blooms. With the Sculpture Gardens and the wide range of art on display in the exhibition marquee, this event promises to provide enjoyment and interest not just for gardening enthusiasts and art-lovers but for all those looking for a fun afternoon out in unusually beautiful surroundings.

Entrance £5, children under 12 free.

Announcing the Stody Animal Art Fair Young Talent Awards!

Five Norfolk primary schools have entered The Stody Animal Art Fair Young Talent Awards as part of the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition at Stody Lodge Gardens this May. Over the next two weeks, Years 4, 5 and 6 at Astley Primary School, Holt Community Primary School, Corpusty Primary School, Beeston Hall Preparatory School and Greshams Preparatory School will be putting the finishing touches to their animal art.

Pupils are hard a work creating representations of animals, birds or fish in any frameable medium. The relevant teachers will select three finalists from each year group (making a total of 45 paintings in total from the five schools) to be displayed in an exhibition space at Stody Lodge Gardens when it opens to the public from 1pm – 5pm on Sunday 10th May.

Sunday 10th May is the Stody ‘Kids for Kids’ Day with the Norwich & District Kid and Goatling Show, pony rides, face painting, a treasure hunt, and of course the Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens. Entrance is £5, children under 12 free. Families are welcome to bring dogs, there are great picnic spots, a plant stall and delicious homemade teas.

Local press are invited from 4pm on Monday 11th May to come and enjoy Stody’s renowned rhododendron and azalea gardens with a drink in their hand before joining the Young Talent Awards ceremony in the gardens at 5pm. The three winners, one from each age group, will be selected by the Animal Art Fair panel and presented with their professionally framed painting by Jamie Polk, Founder of the Animal Art Fair, at 5pm.

In a fitting conclusion to the art competition, the three winning paintings will be hung for sale alongside the works of some of the UK’s leading animal artists as part of the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition from 17th May – 25th May. Jamie Polk will advise on the sale price of each painting and proceeds can be kept by the pupil or, if they wish, donated to Ormiston Families, the nominated charity for the Spring Exhibition.

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: ‘We are delighted to be hosting the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition at Stody Lodge and wanted to celebrate this exciting collaboration by involving our local primary schools. We can’t wait to see what the pupils have created and hope they will be inspired by the wonderful paintings and sculptures within the gardens.’

Jamie Polk, Founder of the Animal Art Fair, said: ‘It is fantastic so many local schools are taking part in the Stody Animal Art Fair Young Talent Awards. We hope the competition will encourage pupils to engage in their art work and that it could be a fantastic start to a budding art career.’

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The Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition - timeline of events

Stody Lodge is delighted to be hosting the Animal Art Fair's Spring Exhibition within its gardens this May. Below is a list of opening times and events taking place during the month.

Sunday 3rd May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens open 1 – 5pm. Teas in aid of Hunworth & Stody Village Hall.

Sunday 10th May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens open 1 – 5pm including the Stody 'Kids for Kids' day. Enjoy some family fun with the Norwich Kid & Goatling show, pony rides, face painting and a treasure hunt. In support of North Norfolk Radio Kids Trust. Teas in aid of North Norfolk Riding for the Disabled.

Saturday 16th May: Private View of The Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition (by invitation only) in aid of the Norfolk Projects of Ormiston Families http://www.ormiston.org/.

Sunday 17th May:  The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens & Spring Exhibition open 1pm – 5pm. Teas in aid of St Johns Ambulance.

Tuesday 19th May – Friday 22nd May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens & Spring Exhibition open 1pm – 5pm. Teas in aid of About with Friends. Open on 19th May in support of the National Garden Scheme (non-members also welcome.)

Thursday 21st May: Drinks & Canapés Reception including Sculpture Gardens. 6.30pm – 9.30pm. A unique corporate hospitality opportunity. Please contact Softley Events on 01603 757658.

Friday 22nd May: Exclusive dinner with a talk from an artist. Limited availability. Please contact Softley Events on 01603 757658.

Sunday 24th May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens & Spring Exhibition open 1pm – 5pm. Teas in aid of the Holt Youth Project.

Monday 25th May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens & Spring Exhibition open 1pm – 5pm. Teas in aid of the Holt Youth Project.

Sunday 31st May: The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens open 1pm – 5pm. Teas in aid of Heritage House.

Stody Lodge Gardens hosts the Animal Art Fair Spring Exhibition in May 2015

In a major coup for Norfolk, the prestigious Animal Art Fair has chosen to hold its Spring Exhibition within Stody Lodge’s rhododendron and azalea gardens near Holt. The Animal Art Fair showcases the UK’s foremost contemporary animal artists. Founded in London in 2010, it is now a leading dealer in its field and represents artists working in a wide variety of mediums and styles, from the cutting edge to the traditional, bronzes to oils, etchings to watercolours.

Stody Lodge Gardens is renowned for its extensive collection of rhododendrons and azaleas which burst into spectacular coloureach Spring. Over a five-week period, a riot of different shades develop through the garden, from the bold pinks and purples of the tall rhododendrons towering over more delicate acid-coloured azaleas, to the paler hues of bluebells and lily of the valley below.

A group of the Animal Art Fair's leading sculptors will exhibit their works within the gardens of Stody Lodge throughout May.  Visitors will be able to follow winding pathways under canopies of rhododendron blooms to discover beautiful life size pieces within the different areas of Stody Lodge's 14-acre garden. The Animal Art Fair Sculpture Gardens exhibition is open to the public 1pm – 5pm every Sunday in May plus 1pm – 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May.

Alongside the month-long sculpture show, Stody Lodge and The Animal Art Fair will showcase stunning oils, watercolours, drawings and etchings in a specially designed exhibition marquee from 17th to 25th May 2015 (open daily 1pm - 5pm excluding Monday 18th and Saturday 23rd May.) From pop art representations of African animals, traditional watercolours of British game, dramatic contemporary racing images or delightful pencil drawings capturing the character of a much-loved Norfolk terrier, there will be something to suit everyone’s taste and pocket. There will also be a collection of tabletop bronze sculptures with a focus on African and British wildlife.

Kate MacNicol of Stody Lodge Gardens, said: “We are really delighted to have secured this fantastic art exhibition for Norfolk.  The gardens are almost overwhelming in their colour throughout May and the sculptures will look sensational in and around its many rhododendrons and azaleas. We look forward to welcoming everyone – not just art and gardening enthusiasts but all those looking for a fun and unique afternoon out.”

Jamie Polk, Founder and Director of the Animal Art Fair, said: “Having holidayed in Norfolk for many years I have seen first hand both the creativity and passion for wildlife within the county. Holding our Spring Exhibition within Stody Lodge’s exceptional gardens is a perfect fit for us: beautiful art in beautiful surroundings. The artists we have selected to take part in the exhibition offer something for everyone and we are delighted to be introducing some of the UK’s leading animal artists to this very special county.’

Exhibiting artists include Guy Allen, Ashley Boone, Lucy Boydell, Kate Denton, Bruce Little, Ian Edwards, Matt Falle, Tom Hiscocks, Michelle McCullagh and James Wild.

Entrance £5 (children under 12 free).

Stody Lodge Gardens opens for the National Garden Scheme on Tuesday 19th May

Stody Lodge is delighted to be opening its gardens in aid of the National Garden Scheme on Tuesday 19th May from 1pm - 5pm. Non-members also welcome.

Entrance is £5 (no concessions) and proceeds will go to the charities selected by the National Garden Scheme.  This year these include: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Hospice UK, Carers Trust, Queen's Nursing Institute, Perennial and Parkinsons UK.