The Harrogate Homebuilding & Renovating Show
Harrogate International Centre, 6th - 8th November 2009

The Somerset Homebuilding & Renovating Show
Bath & West Showground, 21st & 22nd November 2009

The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
SECC, Glasgow, May 2010

WEB EDITOR'S CHOICE:

8-25 August
National Trust Family Theatre
National Trust properties across England and Wales, nationaltrust.org.uk)

Enjoy open-air performances of classic tales this summer. The National Trust has a full schedule of outdoor theatre to entertain all ages, in magical settings across England and Wales. Bring a picnic and a rug. Booking is essential. See website for details (nationaltrust.org.uk/events).
8 AUGUST Merlin the Magician, Trelissick Garden, Cornwall
9 AUGUST Babe, Stowe Landscape Gardens, Buckinghamshire
15 AUGUST Cinderella, Nymans Garden, West Sussex
15 AUGUST Alice through the Looking Glass, Erddig, Wrexham
15 AUGUST The Three Musketeers, Attingham Park, Shropshire
19 AUGUST Babe – The Sheep Pig, Corfe Castle, Dorset
22 AUGUST Wind in the Willows, Dunham Massey, Cheshire
25 AUGUST The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

8 November 2008 - October 2009
Putting on the Glitz: Wallpapers and Wallcoverings with that Extra Something
The Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester (0161 275 7450; manchester.ac.uk/whitworth)

Decoration expresses our personalities, and for the wealthy – and those aspiring to wealth – precious metal on wallcoverings would seem entirely appropriate and hugely desirable. This exhibition reflects our desire to have all that glitters around us in both domestic and commercial interiors, and features wallpapers from the 18th century to the present by numerous manufacturers including Zoffany, Harlequin, Cole & Son, Osborne & Little and Ornamenta. This screen-printed foil wallpaper (left) is Dear Diana, c1970s, by Arthur Sanderson & Sons.
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 12 noon-4pm. Free.

27 March - 30 September
The Conversation Piece: Scenes of Fashionable Life
The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile, Edinburgh (0131 556 5100; royalcollection.org.uk)

This exhibition explores the tradition of the ‘Conversation Piece’ – group portraits of high-society figures in informal situations. With its roots in 17th-century Dutch painting, the genre is best known through the work of English artists William Hogarth and George Stubbs in the 18th century and Sir Edwin Landseer in the 19th century. The works on display depict individuals going about their daily lives and provide a fascinating insight into the fashions, interiors and manners of the age. The exhibition includes a series of portraits produced by Johan Zoffany for his royal patron George III, including Queen Charlotte with her Two Eldest Sons, c1765 (left).
9.30am-6pm (last admission 5pm). Adults £5.50; over 60s and students £5; under 17s £3; under 5s free; family (two adults and three under 17s £14).

4 April - 19 July
Baroque 1620-1800: Style in the Age of Magnificence
V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London (0844 209 1770; vam.ac.uk/baroque)

The magnificence and splendour of Baroque, one of the most opulent styles of the 17th and 18th centuries, is the subject of this major exhibition. You can see around 200 objects, which reflect the complexity and grandeur of the Baroque style, from the Rome of Borromini and Bernini to the magnificence of Louis XIV’s Versailles and the lavishness of Baroque theatre and performance. On display are paintings, furniture, silver, textiles, architectural designs, ceramics and sculpture, including this Bust of Charles II, Honore Pelle, Genoa, 1684 (left).
10am-5.45pm; Fridays 10am-10pm. Adults £11.

5 April - 13 September
Classic Cars on the Prom
Bournemouth's West Overcliff Promenade (ccotp.co.uk)

Don’t miss Classic Cars On The Prom, where you can enjoy the colourful and ever-changing parade of vintage and modern classics on Bournemouth’s West Overcliff Promenade. This wonderful display is back,  showing a variety of cars dating from 1915 to the early 1980s. For more information, visit ccotp.co.uk.
Sunday 5 April-13 September, 4pm-6.30pm

23 May - 11 October
French Porcelain for English Palaces: Sèvres from the Royal Collection
The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London (020 7766 7301; royalcollection.org.uk)

This exhibition brings together around 300 pieces created by the pre-eminent European porcelain factory of the 18th century. The finely painted and gilded works by Sèvres were admired by royalty, aristocrats, connoisseurs and collectors. The factory’s unrivalled techniques and complex methods of production appealed to their liking for the rare, exotic and extravagant. Among the highlights is this mounted vase, c1782, (left), one of a pair that once formed part of King Louis XVI’s private apartments at Versailles.
Adults £8.50.

23 May - 4 January 2010
North-West Passage: An Arctic Obsession
National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London (020 8858 4422; nmm.ac.uk)

Learn more about the numerous attempts by British explorers to cross the Arctic at this exhibition, which reveals some of the extraordinary stories, acts of endurance and tragedies that surround the famous voyages. Items on display include First communication with the Natives of Prince Regents Bay (above), drawn by John Sackhouse and presented to Captain Ross, 10 August, 1818.
10am-5pm. Free.

Throughout June
Tunnicliffe's Birds at Larkhall Fine Art
10 Margaret's Buildings, Bath BA1 2LP (01225 444480, lott@larkhall.com)

The Memorial Collection Part Two, C.F. Tunnicliffe's nine wood engravings of birds, has just been published by Larkhall Fine Art and H. & G. Gerrish. This superb collection of original prints exemplifies Tunnicliffe's great ability to capture the very essence of owls, peregrines, Canada geese and goshawks in the finest detail. This portfolio, available for sale as a boxed set of nine or singly, will be on view at Larkhall Fine Art throughout June. The collection can also be viewed online at www.larkhall.com
The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30-5:30.

12 June - 1 August
Bound for Success: The Best of International Bookbinding
Exhibition Room, Bodleian Library, Old Schools Quadrangle, Catte Street, Oxford (01865 277162; bodley.ox.ac.uk)

See the best in international bookbinding at this exhibition, which showcases the variety of approaches to the art of the hand-bound book. Over 100 inventive bindings from 29 countries are on display, including Water by Miguel Perez Fernandez (left), and are seen alongside medieval manuscripts and Islamic texts drawn from the Bodleian’s own collection. Each of the bindings has been shortlisted for the first Designer Bookbinders International Competition.
Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm. Free.

1 July - 30 September
Workshop Missoni: Daring to be Different
The Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London (020 7704 9522; estorickcollection.com)

Iconic Italian fashion house Missoni was a pioneer of the aesthetic and technical innovations that forever changed the face of knitwear, and today it’s one of the world’s most recognisable fashion brands. The Missoni style has evolved from a long-standing collaboration between the husband and wife team of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni (left), and this exhibition reveals their underlying sources of inspiration.
Wednesday-Saturday 11am-6pm. Sunday 12 noon-5pm. Thursdays until 8pm. £5; concessions £3.50.

4-5 July
The Westpoint Quality Antiques & Collectors Fair
Devon County Showground, near Exeter, Devon (01363 82571; antiques-fairs.com)

Organised by Devon County Antiques Fairs, this popular event attracts visitors from home and abroad. An estimated one million items are on offer, such as this Chinese embroidery (left), and prices range from thousands of pounds for rare and specialist antiques to as little as £1.
Saturday 8.30am-10am £6; Saturday 10am-5pm £5; Sunday 10am- 1pm £4; Sunday 1-4pm £3; under 16s free.

4-10 July
Master Paintings Week
Master Paintings Week, various London galleries, (020 7491 7408; masterpaintingsweek.co.uk)

Twenty-three of London’s top dealers join forces with Sotheby’s and Christie’s to stage Master Paintings Week. The exhibitions and auctions taking place of European paintings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries highlight the strength and depth of expertise in the field to be found in London. This Self-portrait in Academic Robes c1773-1779 (left) by Sir Joshua Reynolds is offered by Philip Mould.
Opening times and venues vary – see website for details. Free.

8 July
An English Look
Christie’s South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London (020 7930 6074; christies.com)

Discover the English style of four arbiters of taste, including Robert Kime and David Bedale, as works of art are offered for sale. This George II giltwood mirror (left), attributed to James Gibbs, is from the collection of Robert Kime.
Monday 9am-7.30pm; Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-4pm.

8 July - 20 September
Corot to Monet: A Fresh Look at Landscape from the Collection
Sainsbury Wing, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London (020 7747 2885; nationalgallery.org.uk)

The Impressionists were indebted to a longer tradition of sketching and painting outdoors. Drawing on the National Gallery’s rich collection of 19th-century French landscapes, this exhibition charts the development of open-air painting up to the first Impressionist show in 1874, and traces the tangible influence these works had on artists as they began exploring new techniques. Works on display include scenes by Jean-Bapiste-Camille Corot, Simon Denis, Pierre Henri Valenciennes, Monet’s The Beach at Trouville, 1870 (left), as well as the beach scenes of Eugène Boudin and late works by Corot.
10am-6pm; Friday 10am-9pm. Free.

8 July - 27 September
The Story of the British Collection at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, Dulwich, London (020 8693 5254; dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk)

Dulwich Picture Gallery is exhibiting the best of its British paintings in an exhibition telling the unique story of its collection. The works on display date from the 17th to the 20th centuries and include Henry, Prince of Wales (left) by the British School.
Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday- Sunday 11am-5pm. Adults £5; under 18s free.

9-12 July
Snape Maltings Antiques & Fine Art Fair
Snape, Saxmundham, Suffolk (01278 784912; cooperevents.com)

Held in a pavilion close to the Maltings, well known for its concert hall, Victorian shops and restaurants alongside the Alde Estuary in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, this event has an international reputation with collectors of art and antiques. The fair offers a wide variety of high quality furniture, paintings, silver, jewellery, pottery, porcelain, glass, arms and armour, folk art and much more. This 19th-century bronze statue (left) is from Burgett Langfield.
Thursday 9 July 11am-6pm; Friday 10-Sunday 12 July 11am-5pm. £5.

11 July
Battle Proms at Burghley
Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire (01780 752451; burghley.co.uk)

Burghley House is playing host to the internationally renowned Battle Proms – the only concert in the world to fire over 200 cannons to music. Enjoy a picnic while appreciating the full orchestra or visit the traditional fairground stalls. The evening programme includes a volley of shots from an authentic field gun, answered by infantry musket fire. Then it’s time for an air display by the Spitfire (left) choreographed to music led by the New English Concert Orchestra. The night’s finale includes Proms favourites Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory and a firework display.
4.30pm-10.30pm. Adults £29 in advance, £34 on the day; under 16s £14; under 5s free.

11-12 July
Cherry Festival
Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent (01795 536250; brogdalecollections.co.uk)

This July Brogdale Farm in Faversham, home to the National Fruit Collection, is celebrating British cherries in season. With varieties to taste, cookery demonstrations of fruit dishes, jams and preserves, and a craft market, it’s a great day out for all the family.
10am-5pm. Adults £6; children £3; under 2s free.

18 July - 11 October
The Discovery of Spain: British Artists and Collectors from Goya to Picasso
National Gallery Complex, The Mound, Edinburgh (0131 624 6200; nationalgalleries.org)

This exhibition is a spectacular celebration of Spanish culture, as seen through the eyes of British artists and art collectors. It explores the work of 19th- and early 20th-century artists, such as Sir David Wilkie, David Roberts, John Phillip and Arthur Melville, who were captivated and inspired by Spain. It also examines the taste of collectors of Spanish art, who acquired masterpieces by painters such as Velázquez, El Greco, Murillo and Zurbarán. More than 130 oil paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints are on display, including Courtyard of the Alhambra (left) by John Frederick Lewis, on loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Adults £8; concessions £6.

23-26 July
Antiques for Everyone
NEC, Birmingham (0844 581 0827; antiquesforeveryone.co.uk)

See a display of travel-related antiques and collectables at this year’s Antiques For Everyone fair, including this telescope (left). To help celebrate Birmingham International Airport’s 70th anniversary the fair showcases a selection of vintage maps, globes, luggage and all the accoutrements from the late 19th and early 20th century, creating a nostalgic reminder of the golden age of travel. You can browse a range of high quality authenticated fine art and decorative pieces from more than 300 specialist dealers from around the world. Objects available to buy include period furniture, pottery, glass, sculpture, jewellery, fashion, arts and crafts and much more.
£12 on the day; £10 in advance. Admission to the fair includes a guide. Parking free.

26 July - 30 September
Queen and Commonwealth: The Royal Tour
The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace, London (020 7766 7300; royalcollection.org.uk)

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the formation of the modern Commonwealth. In celebration of this event, a special exhibition at this year’s summer opening of Buckingham Palace looks at some of the most important Commonwealth tours undertaken by The Queen during her reign. This photograph (left) shows The Queen arriving at Suva Wharf, Fiji, in 1953 to be presented with a bouquet by Adi Kainona.
9.45am-6pm (last admission 3.45pm). Adults £16.50; over 60s/students £15; under 17s £9.50; under 5s free; family (two adults, three under 17s) £44.

7-9 August
Art in Clay
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (0115 987 3966; artinclay.co.uk)

At this fair a diverse variety of ceramic art and craft is for sale from over 170 exhibitors. Pieces include these black and white Kufic mugs (left) by Jane Cox.
Friday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm; Sunday 10am-5pm. Adults £7.50.

8 August
T.W. Gaze Architectural Sale
Diss Auction Rooms, Roydon Road, Diss, Norfolk (01379 650306; twgaze.com)

This auction of architectural furnishings and statuary has an interesting mix of items, from 19th-century and earlier figures and stonework to small composition animals and functional garden monuments and curiosities.
Viewing times: Thursday 6 August 2pm-8pm; Friday 7 August 10am-6pm; Saturday 8 August from 8.30am. Auction starts at 10am. Free.

15-16 August
Steam Festival
Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex (01243 811363; wealddown.co.uk)

Celebrate the importance of the age of steam, with steam engines on display, and demonstrating the kind of work around the museum’s site for which they were originally designed. With steam rollers and lorries, model boats, miniature railways and the ever-popular steampowered carousel gallopers, it’s an ideal family day out. The sights of the engines and the sound of the music will awaken memories for many and open doors of discovery for younger visitors.
10.30am-5pm. Adults £8.95; over 60s £7.95; 5-15s and full-time students £4.70; family (two adults and up to three children) £24.25; under 5s free. Parking free.

22 August - 3 January 2010
The Art of Plant Evolution
The Shirley Sherwood Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey (020 8332 5655; kew.org)

Art meets science in this exhibition of botanical paintings from the Shirley Sherwood Collection, arranged in the latest evolutionary sequence, determined by recent DNA analysis. Each species chosen is illustrated with a painting, such as this example of Nepenthes truncata ‘Macfarlane’ (left). The 136 paintings by 84 artists provide a sweeping overview of the evolution of plants on earth.
9.30am-5.30pm; gardens stay open until 6.30pm. Adults £13; concessions £11; under 17s free. There are no additional charges for the gallery.

30 August
Scottish Bead Fair
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland (01738 563264; scottishbeadfair.com)

This is Scotland’s largest event dedicated to beads and jewellery making supplies. There will be demonstrations and classes, and over 40 top exhibitors selling the finest selection of beads from around the world.
11am-5pm. Adults £4.

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