10th May, 2024, I 3-5 Minute read
Do you thrive in the buzz of a crowd, or prefer to lose yourself in a good book? Do you love a glass of Champagne on the lawn or would you rather spend the afternoon digging over your vegetable patch before watching Gardener’s World on catch-up? However you like to spend your time, the British social season offers countless opportunities to celebrate the best things in life - which from an artist’s point of view are often the things that inspire them to create. So, we asked some of our artists which big occasion they would love to attend this summer and why, starting with the country’s leading high society painter, Sherree Valentine-Daines…
1. Royal Windsor Horse Show
Sherree is a guest at every major event from Ascot to Henley to Wimbledon but she didn’t hesitate before naming the Royal Windsor Horse Show as her number 1 choice. This event has always held a special place in her heart, and when the royal household commissioned her to paint a 90th birthday gift for the queen, she chose it as her setting. Located in the private grounds of the castle, the show is a jewel in Britain’s social crown, offering a mix of international jumping and dressage and a dazzling display of royal pageantry. This year's show was the first one attended by the new King Charles III, and afforded Sherree some fabulous opportunities to make sketches and take photographs for her next collection.
2. RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Living and working in Canada, floral artist Elena Henderson is not a regular on the British social scene, but has long harboured a desire to visit the Chelsea Flower Show. She watches the BBC coverage every year and told us she is determined to make it to the show one day. She would find herself in good company, as it attracts garden designers, plant specialists, and florists from all over the world, and transforms the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea into a dazzling garden of earthly delights. The show is an idyllic destination for anyone with even a passing interest in gardens, plants and flowers, so if you’ve been wondering about going for years, what’s stopping you? Unlike Elena, you won’t have to fly 4,000 miles to get there.
3. Hay Book Festival.
Controversial art duo The Connor Brothers are known for their iconic book cover pastiches which blend retro graphics with contemporary satire to critique modern society, politics, and the art world itself. Their pick was the Hay Book Festival, which this year opens the day after their own book is published in the UK! But it turns out that this event resonates with The Connor Brothers for a different reason. It is part of Hay Festival Global, a foundation which was set up to explore global issues and educational initiatives alongside culture, creativity and storytelling, and with its commitment to access and inclusion it is aligned with many of the concerns which have prompted their own involvement with activism and charitable causes. It’s an amazing occasion which brings together books, writers and readers from all over the world in a picturesque setting, so head to Hay if you’re looking for literary inspiration, political debate or just your next good read.
4. Royal Ascot.
It’s back to the racecourse and extravagant headgear for Debbie Boon’s choice. Debbie is one of the country’s leading wildlife and field artists and has a longstanding connection with royal settings, with work displayed at the Concours of Elegance exhibition at St James's Palace, Hampton Court Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Box at The Royal Windsor Horse Show. Royal Ascot offers her a wonderfully enjoyable day out centred around watching the animals she loves to paint and storing up inspiration for her next collection. If you haven’t ever had the Ascot experience, it may be time to discover what is perhaps the best-loved event on the social calendar, blending thrilling sport with traditional fashion and lavish entertainment in a beautifully appointed, idyllic setting, especially on a summer’s day.
5. Salon Privé.
Automotive artist Roz Wilson has owned many classic and collectable cars over the years including Jaguars, Chryslers and a Chevrolet and her lifelong passion for anything with an engine is expressed through her accurate, affectionate and award-winning art. Roz was spoiled for choice as car festivals are more numerous and popular than ever before, but, as she does, she went for a supercharged classic! Celebrating engineering excellence, cutting edge design, and classic luxury, Salon Privé Blenheim Palace is always a huge draw for both aficionados and anyone fascinated by the aesthetics of motion and speed, and showcases classic cars, supercars, and hypercars against a backdrop of one of the country’s most beautiful stately homes. Attending on the Saturday is a great way to see the best the show has to offer, and you may even catch sight of Roz working on her latest commission!