Newsletter No 9 – 31st July 2026

The Art Exhibitionists

⚡ Harry Potter's Birthday

Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

31st July is both Harry Potter's and J.K. Rowling's birthdays. 

J.K. Rowling's imagination famously transformed an ordinary cupboard under the stairs into an entire magical world. Here at The Art Exhibitionists, we're rather fond of imagination too, creating fantastical spaces where our own creative wizards can work their magic on your senses. Whilst our artists tend to favour canvases over wands and paintbrushes over broomsticks, the results can be captivating.

So, if you're looking to add a little enchantment to your August Bank Holiday, join us at the  Lindengate Festival of Art & Gardens from 28th–31st August 2026. Explore six acres of beautiful gardens, discover exceptional art and craft, try out a masterclass, enjoy live music, creative demonstrations, delicious refreshments and perhaps a few surprises along the way.

No magic wand required — simply bring your curiosity, comfortable shoes and a willingness to be transported into the Art Exhibitionists world of wonder.

The Art Exhibitionists present:

The Lindengate Festival of Art and Garden 

How does fine art paired with beautiful gardens sound?

28–31 August 2026 | Lindengate Charity, Wendover

Looking for the perfect August Bank Holiday day out for the whole family?

Imagine six acres of beautiful gardens, outstanding and affordable original art, live music, creative workshops, delicious food and drink, and plenty of opportunities to relax, explore and be inspired.

This August Bank Holiday, The Art Exhibitionists are transforming the stunning gardens of Lindengate Charity into a vibrant celebration of art, nature and creativity.

What's Included?

 Original art, sculpture, ceramics and contemporary craft

 Six acres of curated gardens to explore

Access to Lindengate's brand-new Japanese-style water garden

Live music every afternoon

Artist demonstrations throughout the day

 Creative masterclasses for adults and children

 Lindengate's café, supplying plenty of teas, cakes, lunch and refreshments

Garden tours and the chance to learn more about Lindengate's inspiring work as a mental health charity

And, because this is an Art Exhibitionists event, expect a few magical surprises along the way...

Event Details

28–31 August 2026

 10am–4pm daily

£8 Early Bird | £10 On The Door

Children under 16 go free

Your ticket includes entry to both the Art Festival and all six acres of gardens.

Even better, 50% of all entrance profits go directly to Lindengate Charity, helping support mental health and wellbeing through nature.

Come for the art. Stay for the gardens. Leave inspired.

And if your idea of a perfect Bank Holiday includes art, gardens, live music, cream teas, homemade cake and a leisurely wander in beautiful surroundings, then frankly we'd be delighted to enable that particular habit.

Masterclasses at Lindengate Festival of Art and Garden

Our fantastic range of Art Masterclasses are filling up! Each session is a generous taster in a different, inspiring medium, led by a professional artist and open to all skill levels.

So if something catches your eye, don’t hang about — secure your place before it’s too late.
Here’s the full Adult masterclass line-up; simply click on any class title to book your spot:

Friday 28th August - Draw Your Own Pet with Mel Cairns - Join award-winning artist Mel Cairns (@i.am.melc) for a fun, fast-and-loose ink illustration workshop where you can capture your favourite furry friend in this fun, beginner-friendly pet portrait workshop. Bring along an A5 photo of your dog or cat, and be guided through the stages;  creating an accurate pencil sketch, using brush pens and ink, and finally bringing it to life with vibrant alcohol markers. You will mount your finished portrait, ready to fit a 10" × 12" frame and display at home.

Saturday 29th August - Oil Pastel Class with Jan Gaska - Join artist Jan Gaska for a relaxed outdoor workshop exploring oil pastels as a portable, expressive medium for drawing from life. Aimed at beginners and intermediate artists, this session makes the most of the farmyard setting, with its mix of farm machinery, rustic barns and characterful buildings to inspire your work.

Saturday 29th August - Watercolour class with Paull Chappell - Join freelance professional illustrator (and keen watercolourist) Paul Chappell for a fast-paced introduction to creating a watercolour “mini masterpiece.” In this two-hour session you’ll learn how to choose a strong subject, spot light, dark and shade to add drama, and use luminous wet-in-wet washes to bring your scene to life.

Sunday 30th August - Cyanotype Workshop with Blue Fern Art - Discover the beautiful blue world of cyanotype printing in this relaxed, hands-on workshop with tutors Emma and Toni. Explore one of the oldest photographic processes using sunlight, natural materials, and simple techniques to create your own unique prints. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided.

Sunday 30th August - Paper Cutting Workshop with Imogen Gulliford - Discover the art of paper cutting and create your own framed negative space initial, a worm's eye view of a tree canopy scene. Layers of coloured paper are cut and built up to form the scene, with your initial cut through as a window into the layers beneath. Learn how to build depth and dimension using simple cutting techniques. Suitable for beginners, with all materials provided.

Monday 31st August - Paint a Traditional Canal Rose Mug with Kat Gaska - Discover the traditional art of canal rose painting and decorate your own enamel mug to take home. Learn the essential brushstrokes, classic colour combinations, and techniques of this much-loved folk art through step-by-step demonstrations and expert guidance. Suitable for beginners, with all materials provided, including your enamel mug and take-home reference notes. Please wear suitable clothing or bring an apron, as oil-based enamel paints will be used.

Monday 31st August - Drypoint Etching and Collage with Liam Biswell - Explore the creative process of drypoint etching in this hands-on printmaking workshop. Learn how to create an image on an etching plate, use an etching press, and experiment with chine collé, collage techniques, texture, colour, and composition to produce your own unique prints on paper and fabric. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sketches or reference images for inspiration. Suitable for all abilities. Please wear old clothes or bring an apron.

Children’s Masterclasses and garden tours

Creativity Isn't Just for Grown-Ups!

This August Bank Holiday, we've sprinkled a little extra magic into the festival because we decided it simply wasn't fair for the adults to have all the creative fun!

Our Children's Masterclasses are packed with hands-on activities designed to inspire budding artists, makers and imaginative minds. Whether your child loves getting messy, making things or trying something completely new, there's a workshop they'll love.

Choose from wet felting, dry felting, inky painting, acrylic painting, Circus Letter, graffiti art and printing. Most workshops are suitable for children aged 8+, with any higher age recommendations clearly shown when booking. More classes will be added soon, so be sure to keep an eye on our website for the latest updates. Don't miss out—book early to avoid disappointment!

For our younger visitors, we have some wonderfully magical experiences too, including a Stories & Puppets Show on Sunday afternoon (booking essential), along with imaginative jelly bean and treasure chest workshops inspired by enchanting children's stories and led by their author.

Places are limited and we expect these sessions to be popular, so do visit our website and book early. We have a feeling there may even be a few parents wishing they could sneak into the children's classes too…

Garden Tours

If you're already planning to join us at the Lindengate Festival of Art & Gardens, why not give yourself the VIP treatment and book one of our guided garden tours? This is a first class upgrade as your early bird festival entry is included in the price.

Led by Lindengate's wonderfully knowledgeable volunteers, this hour-long tour takes you behind the scenes of the charity's beautiful six-acre therapeutic gardens. Discover the stories behind each unique garden, learn how the volunteers have transformed the site, and find out how they overcome everything from challenging soil conditions to waterlogged ground to create year-round beauty.

Whether you're an experienced gardener, a lover of beautiful landscapes, or simply curious to learn more about this remarkable charity, the tours offer a fascinating insight into the inspiration, planning and care that make Lindengate such a special place.

Spaces are limited, so if you'd like to experience the gardens through the eyes of the people who know them best, be sure to book your tour early. It's the perfect way to make an unforgettable day out even more memorable.

Stuff We Did

• Stewart escaped to the Algarve, where he very nearly drank the hotel dry, explored spectacular sea caves, spotted dolphins, and somehow still made it to the gym every single morning. We can only assume the workouts were essential recovery sessions! Truly our resident gym bunny.

• Lucy was well and truly swept up in World Cup fever and is now looking forward to a blissfully football-free summer. She's almost recovered from the disappointment, and we're confident that a couple of Aperol Spritzes in the sunshine will have her back to her usual cheerful self in no time. Football may not always come home, but Aperol never lets you down!

• Stewy has started golf lessons to sharpen up his chipping and putting. Keen to perfect his technique, he headed into the garden for some extra practice—where the biggest hazard wasn't a bunker or a water feature, but the family dog! Thankfully, the four-legged spectator escaped unscathed, although it was a little too close for comfort. We suspect a few more golf lessons are in order... and perhaps a dog sitter whenever Stewy decides it's time for another practice session!

• Liz enjoyed a few days away at a country retreat with a friend visiting all the way from New Zealand. So wonderfully relaxed were the pair that they've declined to reveal the name of the retreat or any more info on their antics! Whatever happened there clearly stays there, but we're assured it involved plenty of laughter, good company, and enough fresh country air to recharge the batteries.

• Lou has started swimming and is already making waves—although, this time, none of the drama was her doing! During one session, a particularly impatient swimmer, frustrated by a slower swimmer ahead, took matters into their own hands and pushed them straight through the lane ropes into the slow lane. Lou wisely kept her head down (both literally and figuratively), carried on swimming, and made a mental note that a little more poolside decorum never goes amiss. Who knew road rage could make such a seamless transition to the swimming pool? Apparently, "lane rage" is a thing!

Fun but Utterly Pointless Art Fact

In November 2017, Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi became the most expensive painting ever sold when it fetched an eye-watering $450.3 million at auction.

The painting was purchased by a Saudi prince on behalf of the Saudi government and was expected to become a star attraction at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. However, in a plot twist worthy of a mystery novel, it has rarely been seen in public since the sale.

One can only hope the buyer was pleased with their purchase. After all, if you've spent $450 million on a painting, it would be nice to see it hanging on the wall occasionally. Then again, perhaps it's simply the world's most expensive case of buyer's remorse.

Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

TTFN - love the Art Exhibitionists Team