World of art and nature on show at the Botanic Garden

A metal sculpture of a Welsh dragon by Darren Greenhow

A metal sculpture of a Welsh dragonDarren Greenhow

A 3D wire sculpture of a kingfisher by Hayley Fisher

A 3D wire sculpture of a kingfisher Hayley Fisher

Press release issued: 15 April 2025

Art and nature will be on display this weekend at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden annual Easter Sculpture and Arts Festival. The event will also celebrate 20 years of the garden being at The Holmes in Stoke Bishop.

The festival will take place from Good Friday [18 April] to Easter Monday [21 April] from 10 am to 5 pm.

Around 25 local artists will be displaying their sculptures and artwork made from stone, ceramic, wood, metal, and wire — including a Welsh dragon to a re-imagined rocking horse. Along with regular artists, six UWE Bristol art students will be showcasing their sculptures for the first time.

New artists to the garden include, Sarah Hanrahan ‘The botanic inkwell’, whose illustrations are traditionally botanical while taking inspiration from Japanese block printing, the monochromatic look of lino print and modern graphic elements. Bristol-based artist and sculptor Martin McGirr works with natural materials and rediscovered his love of creating during lockdown in 2020.

Ian Marlow is a member of the Royal Society of Sculptors and works in stainless steel, bronze and glass to make both abstract and figurative work. Metal sculptor Darren Greenhow takes everyday objects and reinterprets them in new, unexpected contexts. Kathryn Shorthouse's work with clay has evolved across various forms, from sculpture and slab-building to coil techniques and tile-making.

Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “I am delighted the garden is hosting the festival once again. It’s a great opportunity for local West Country artists to exhibit their work, and for the garden to celebrate 20 years of being at its current home with visitors.

“The aim of the festival is to showcase the harmony between human creativity and the natural world with unique hand-crafted sculptures, interactive workshops and family-friendly activities. Our visitors will have the opportunity to be inspired and immerse themselves in the world of art and nature.”

During the event visitors can view and buy sculpture and artwork, enjoy demonstrations and have a go for free at willow weaving, wood turning, pottery and stone carving with experts on hand to give tips and advice.

Bristol stone mason, David Davidge, is part of the team restoring the University’s walls and masonry structures. He interprets stone to create natural figures and images by carving and chiselling until the preferred form and finish is achieved. David will be offering visitors a chance to try this art.

Tez Roberts of Labyrinth Arts will be giving potter’s wheel demonstrations and offering visitors an opportunity to try their hand. She uses a variety of firing methods with Raku and stoneware being her preferred mediums.

Willow weaver Maya Wolf will also be teaching visitors her craft and helping them create willow sculptures to take home.

Wood turner, Geoff Hannis, will be demonstrating his green woodworking skills. He turns objects using his foot-powered lathe with hand-held tools to cut a shape that is symmetrical around the axis of rotation. The wood then dries and takes on its own form.

Maya Albagaloo, a recent graduate from UWE Bristol makes playful ceramic plant pots shaped as feet, that people will be able to interact with.

Other artists returning this year include ceramicists Emily Gibbard, Margaret Crump, Karen Edwards and Renee Kilburn; Adele Christensen and Aurora Pozniakow (glass art); Joanna Williams (blacksmith artist); Hayley Jones (3D wire sculptures); mosaicists Frankie Hudson and Toni Burrows; Jo West (fine art); Julian Warren (sculpture); Jo Whiteland (batik painting); Rosie Reiter and (graphic artist).

There will be free guided tours of the garden throughout the festival and people will have the opportunity to see the spring flowers and learn about the plant world, including many exotic tropical useful plants in the large display glasshouse.

The Friends of the Garden will be selling plants on site, and refreshments will be available on the West Terrace.

The Easter Sculpture and Arts Festival at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden at The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, BS9 1JG, will take place from Good Friday, 18 April, until Easter Monday, 21 April, from 10 am to 5 pm.

Entry [card only] to the Botanic Garden Easter Sculpture and Arts Festival is adults £11 with gift aid (£10 without); £5 to University staff and Alumni; FREE to Friends of the Garden, ALL students, children under-18 and carers of visitors.

Further information

About the University of Bristol Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden’s mission is to educate, communicate and conserve.

The garden has a strong evolutionary theme and cultivates over 5,000 plant species forming four core collections that illustrate plant evolution, plants from Mediterranean climates, useful plants (including Chinese and Western herb gardens) and rare and threatened native plants to the Bristol area.

Star attractions include an amazing dell demonstrating the evolution of land plants including the dinosaurs' favourite plants: ginkgos, cycads, tree ferns, monkey puzzles and the Wollemi Pine. Other delights include glasshouses, home to giant Amazon water lilies, tropical fruit and medicinal plants, orchids, cacti and a unique sacred lotus collection. A newly opened Guangzhou Garden which won a gold medal and the ‘best in show’ at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show has been rebuilt at the garden and was opened to visitors in 2024.

Summer opening times and admission
The garden is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm and glasshouses from 10.30 am to 4 pm until October. Admission outside of festivals is £9 (or £9.90 with Gift Aid), except on WEDNESDAY, which is a DAISY day; free to carers of visitors, Friends of the Botanic Garden, All students and children under 18. University of Bristol staff and Alumni pay £5 (or E5.50 with Gift Aid).

Dogs (except registered disability assistance dogs) are not permitted in the Botanic Garden.

The Botanic Garden is accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters with a designated path leading around the garden and glasshouses. Disabled toilet facilities are available on site and a wheelchair is available upon request from the Welcome Lodge.

Pre-booked guided tours of the Botanic Garden for groups of ten upwards are available seven days a week. Please contact the garden for further information. Outside of festival days there is a charge for the guide of £12.50 per person.

Directions to the Botanic Garden
From the city centre go to the top of Whiteladies Road, at the junction and traffic lights go straight ahead across Durdham Down towards Stoke Bishop. At the traffic lights go straight ahead and take the first turning on the right into Stoke Park Road, the Botanic Garden at The Holmes is 150 metres on the right.

About the Association of Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden
The Association of Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden is a registered charity no. 291159 Founded in 1975 to support the work and development of the Botanic Garden, a vital aspect of the Friends’ role is to stimulate interest in the Botanic Garden, its work and educational role through a variety of events and activities. The Friends support ongoing training in horticulture by funding a trainee in the Botanic Garden. The Friends fundraising activities support new developments in the Botanic Garden that help its interpretation, biodiversity and quality.