Trees have always caught the human imagination and nowhere more strongly than in England. In forests, reality and dream meet and mingle in strange and unexpected ways: with no horizon or distance vision everything has to be taken on trust and shadows play tricks. Poets have always known this, so have artists, and trees form one of the most diverse and constantly recurring themes of both art and literature.

The lecture explores the manifestations of this literally deep-rooted fascination from Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden to our own day, passing along the way through Gainsborough’s half-imaginary woodlands and Constable’s remembered groves; Samuel Palmer’s exultant celebrations of foliage and the meticulously observed trees of Pre-Raphaelitism; the fantastical forests of Tolkein and Louis Macneice, and the abstract creations of Ivon Hitchens, David Nash and Andy Goldsworthy.

Every month, the society hosts top rated experts in their fields, to give illustrated lectures on a wide variety of subjects connected to fine art, including painting, sculpture, music, history etc.

Membership to The Isle of Wight Society is now open. Application forms are available from the website. www.theartssocietyisleofwight.org.uk

There are a limited number of places for visitors at all lectures for £10 per person but booking must be made in advance to [email protected]