Lizzie Rose and Fiona MacRae, paintings, drawings, driftwood and flags at Oban Mountain Rescue Post (the old fire station), Sinclair Drive, Oban from 12-15 Aug. www.artmapargyll.com
The Garden of Eichstatt 1613 by Basil Besler (1561-1629) – 100 botanical Besler copper plate engravings (later coloured) from the first edition of Hortus Eystettensis (pub 1613), one of the largest collections to be hung together for over a decade. These incredible botanical studies represent a very important part of social history. They show a pictorial record of the flowers growing in the finest and most extravagant European garden of its time, the Garden of Eichstatt. The garden soon became the most famous and celebrated in Europe. Besler was commissioned to commence an engraved recording of all the plants and the grandest, most expensive illustrated catalogue of its kind – a florilegium – was first published in 1613. The plates are available to purchase singly or as sets. Prices starting at £1,000. At Alexander Meddowes, 39 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh from 10-30 Aug. www.alexandermeddowes.com
Constance Stubbs: Man – works by the celebrated English artist who Sir Hugh Casson described as “probably the most exciting British painter today: without doubt she is amongst the foremost ranks of portraitists”.At Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk from 13- 21 Aug. 01359 235061
Spencer’s War: The Art of Shipbuilding on the Clyde – featuring Spencer’s Shipbuilding on the Clyde series, one of the most remarkable artistic records of the Second World War. At Stanley Spencer Gallery, High Street, Cookham, Berks until 15 Jan 2012. www.stanleyspencer.org.uk
Stanley Spencer and the English Garden is at Compton Verney, Warwickshire until Oct 2. www.comptonverney.org.uk (see review in Country Life August 17 2011)
Robert Rauschenberg: Botanical Vaudeville the first large-scale show of his work in Britain for 30 years. At Inverleith House, Edinburgh until Oct 2. www.0131 248 2971
Sir Peter Blake – exhibition of his latest limited edition signed silkscreen prints to be shown alongside iconic signed silkscreen prints from recent decades. Also on show are rare early silkscreen prints from his Madonna on Venice Beach series. At Coombe Gallery, Dartmouth, Devon from 13 Aug to 10 Sep. www.coombegallery.com
CLOSING SOON
Ravilious in Essex, at Fry Art Gallery, Castle Street, Saffron Walden until 14 Aug. www.fryartgallery.org (see review in Country Life Apr 27)
Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1 – the world’s largest open submission contemporary art show. Until 15 Aug. (see Country Life Town & Country pages June 8) www.royalacademy.org.uk
Art in Large Doses; paintings in hospitals’ summer exhibition 2011 at Menier Gallery, 51 Southwark Street, London SE1 from 27 Jul to 12 Aug. www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk
Ntepti Humanism by Faggionato Fine Arts. A Comprehensive exhibition of modern and contemporary Greek artwork, by a group of twenty artists. 16 Percy Street (First Floor) London W1T 1DT from the 9 June – 12 August. 0044 (0)20 7436 6086
Jerwood Makers Open – an exhibition of new commissions by four artists working in the applied arts and pushing the boundaries of their practice and chosen materials – Farah Bandookwala, who creates high tech jewellery; Emmanuel Boos, who is fascinated by ceramic glaze; Heike Brachlow, whose glass sculpture is based on balancing toys; and Keith Harrison, who fuses clay, sound and electricity. At JVA, Jerwood Space, 171 Union Street, London SE1 to 18 Aug. www.jerwoodvisualarts.org
