With the Olympics upon us, and athletes lining up to receive their medals on the podium, we will be subjected to the diversity of the world's national athems. Unfortunately, with one or two exceptions, national anthems tend to be pompous dirges. Peter Culshaw suggests some more popular alternatives.
Dominic Cavendish reviews Camille: the Dark Angel at Assembly, Queen's Hall, Jim Rose Circus at Udderbelly's Pasture and David Benson sings Noel Coward at Assembly, George Street
Mark Monahan reviews Mark Watson at the Pleasance Grand.
Arts and Crafts in The Royal Forest of Dean, Wye Valley,
Vale of Leadon
and the Severn Vale
Mike O'Niell's Studio
Born in Liverpool, Mike O'Niell studied Display & Exhibition Design and Art & Design at Bootle College of Art in Liverpool. For many years he worked for various companies and department stores as a Display Artist, including Chanel Perfumes & Cosmetics, before I became a self employed Artist & Designer. During this time he also designed a number of multi media events and collaborated with Ben Williams to compose the electronic music for several dance works, including 'Flee' by Edwin Lung premiered at The Place, Charing Cross, London in 1996. His paintings have been exhibited in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Torquay and Glastonbury at both solo and group exhibitions. He now live's and work's in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
Taurus Crafts regularly holds exhibitions of artist work It is as a direct consequence of the South West Regional Development Agency’s financial support that Taurus Crafts has been able to develop as a prominent centre for the arts and crafts in the Forest of Dean
Taurus Crafts
The Artist in Residency programme has over the past years
created many great works of art.
Art Trail 2007
July 14th/15th & 21st/22nd
Open Studios is a annual event which celebrates the arts and crafts of the Forest of Dean.
Each year artists open their studios/workshops to the public over two consecutive weekends in July.
Open Studios has been operating for eleven years and its annual membership is open to all artists and designer makers who either live or work in the Forest of Dean. Membership numbers are quite fluid from year to year with nearly 70 studios participating in last years event.
Andrew Carey
Locally inspired Wildlife and landscape photographer
and digital artist
Sarah Pitt
Work mostly to do with the human body, as a subject
for 2D and 3D work and in the way the human form
can interact with sculptural pieces.
Avril Farley
Macrocrystalline glazed thrown porcelain vessels
Stitch Group
The fusion of Fabric and stitch with layering of colour
to make rich, textured textiles
Pisces Studio
Fibre art, paintings, ceramics, prints, digital photographs
Christine Hopkins
Earthenware pottery decorated with ‘mocha tea’ trees
Forest Gardenscapes
(ANNIE GWILLIAM)
Affordable rustic stonework, garden ware and tasty refreshments
Forestbigartweb
A dazzling selection of 84 artists and makers work. Log on and browse, contact artists direct and visit. Discover the Dean,
the creativity within - proud to be seen
One of the UK's largest independent glass galleries. In a recently
refurbished historic building, it has 125 square metres of display space on two floors.
The gallery,
established in 1989 by Harry Cowdy and his wife Pauline Solven,
shows work by leading and emergent glass artists. Cowdey Gallery
Harts Barn
Harts Barn is situated on the edge of the Forest of Dean in its own picturesque setting and is only 10 minutes away from the Wye Valley
This old Norman hunting lodge is one of the oldest properties in the Forest of Dean, built by William Duke of Normandy to keep his hounds when he came to hunt the hart in the Forest. Harts Barn
Reckless Designs
Reckless Designs is a small pottery in the Forest of Dean. It designs and manufactures a wide range of exciting ceramic products that are both functional and decorative.
Every piece is made and hand painted, with the bright colours locked beneath a fired glaze, which makes them fade free and dishwasher safe. The only exception to this is our range of lustred ware - the silver, gold, and platinum lustred items should not be used in dishwashers. Reckless Designs
The Sculpture Trail
The Sculpture Trail shows seventeen permanent artworks, with free access to all in a wonderful woodland environment. Temporary events are also programmed, alongside an outreach programme. Sculpture Trail
Open Studios is a annual event which celebrates the arts and crafts of the Forest of Dean. 
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One of the UK's largest independent glass galleries. In a recently
refurbished historic building, it has 125 square metres of display space on two floors.
The gallery,
established in 1989 by Harry Cowdy and his wife Pauline Solven,
shows work by leading and emergent glass artists. 
Harts Barn is situated on the edge of the Forest of Dean in its own picturesque setting and is only 10 minutes away from the Wye Valley
This old Norman hunting lodge is one of the oldest properties in the Forest of Dean, built by William Duke of Normandy to keep his hounds when he came to hunt the hart in the Forest. 
Reckless Designs is a small pottery in the Forest of Dean. It designs and manufactures a wide range of exciting ceramic products that are both functional and decorative.
The Sculpture Trail shows seventeen permanent artworks, with free access to all in a wonderful woodland environment. Temporary events are also programmed, alongside an outreach programme.