RWA Secret Postcard Auction, 29 October–10 November, online only

The RWA (Royal West of England Academy) in Bristol is giving people the chance to own unique artworks from a host of internationally renowned artists with the return of its renowned Secret Postcard Auction next week.

This special online-only auction provides a one-off opportunity to bid on over 300 works by artists, with a list of names that currently include Turner Prize artists such as Jeremy Deller, Gilbert & George, Sir Richard Long RA, Alison Wilding OBE RA and Bill Woodrow RA; Royal Academicians including Norman Ackroyd, Sir Frank Bowling, Eileen Cooper, Christopher Le Brun PPRA, David Nash, Chris Orr, Peter Randall-Page, Rebecca Salter PRA and Anthony Whishaw, and other much-loved figures such as Glen Baxter, Matthew Burrows MBE, Simon Drew, Maggie Hambling CBE and Sam Toft. 

Bidding on each work starts at just £40, making this a unique opportunity to bag artworks by internationally famous artists for a bargain price. Whilst buyers will be attempting to guess who the artworks are by, they won’t know the artist behind each mystery work while they’re bidding because the artworks are signed on the back rather than the front.

To take part in the auction and view the works on offer, go to secretpostcard.org.uk.

THE NOVEMBER ISSUE: OUT NOW

Our November magazine features a collection of great reading by our team of wonderful writers as well as beautifully presented advertising by Bristol's best businesses. We hope you enjoy the read!

15,000 copies are delivered door to door, and you can pick up a copy at many places around town – including our stands at Waitrose, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Harvey Nichols.

Read the digital version of our current issue here!

And if you would like to have a copy sent in the post every month, then we offer a postal subscription for just £33 for 12 issues, £18 for six issues or buy a copy for just £4.25. UK mainland prices. For Euro and World zone subscription prices – see our website. 

The Body is a Place: delving into the work of Bharti Kher

This autumn, Arnolfini sees internationally renowned artist Bharti Kher return to the southwest, with a major solo exhibition exploring her alchemical practice through drawing, sculpture and the spaces that lie between.

Read our feature on the artist and exhibition at thebristolmag.co.uk

Words by Melissa Blease

4 Ways with Pumpkin

Carving up a pumpkin in readiness for the impending Halloween shenanigans? Don't let any of that lovely fruity flesh go to waste!

Pumpkin Soup (makes 1 big cauldron/8 servings)

Heat 2–3 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan and sauté 2 large onions (peeled and chopped), 2 large carrots (diced) and 2 sticks of celery (chopped) until softened, adding 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and crushed) for the last 1–2 minutes of cooking time. Add 1k peeled, chopped pumpkin and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes before adding 1.2l chicken or vegetable stock to the pan. Bring to the boil and simmer for around 15–20 minutes or until the pumpkin is really soft (ie, you can mash it with the back of a spoon). Add 150ml double cream or full-fat crème fraiche, stir well and use either a stick blender or a food processor to create the soup texture of your choice. Reheat to serve, sprinkled with a dusting of freshly grated nutmeg.

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta (serves 4)

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and simmer 500g peeled, cubed pumpkin flesh for 10–15 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, sauté 1 large onion (peeled and chopped) in a large frying pan over a medium heat for around the same time or until soft and translucent, adding 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and crushed) for the last 1–2 minutes of cooking time. Drain the cooked pumpkin thoroughly and allow to cool slightly before tipping into a food processor or using a hand blender to create a chunky pumpkin purée, adding the sautéed onion/garlic mixture and up to 50ml milk as you go, aiming to create a thick-ish texture. Tip the mixture back into the frying pan, along with 2 tbsp tomato puree and 2–4 tbsp mascarpone cheese. Stir well and simmer gently while you cook 350g short pasta (macaroni, penne or rigatoni all work well here) according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the cooked pasta (reserving a cupful of the cooking water) and toss it through the pumpkin sauce with 50g grated parmesan and 50–100ml of the reserved pasta water. Season to taste and serve hot, sprinkled with extra parmesan.

Pumpkin Muffins (makes 12)

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Tumble around 500g pumpkin flesh (chopped into chunks) into a roasting tin, drizzle with 2 tbsp melted butter and roast for around 45 minutes or until very tender, turning the chunks over halfway through the cooking time. Allow to cool completely before tipping into a food processor and blending to form a smooth pumpkin purée. When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 290°C/gas mark 5 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases. In a large bowl, combine 225g plain flour with 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 100g caster sugar and 50g soft light brown sugar. In a separate bowl or jug, whisk the pumpkin purée with 2 large eggs and 125g melted butter and add to the dry ingredients. Stir the mixture until just combined and divide between the muffin cases. Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes or until golden and risen, and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool on wire rack before gobbling up, or keep for up to three days in an airtight container.

Pumpkin Hummus

Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Tumble around 500g pumpkin flesh (chopped into chunks) into a roasting tin, sprinkle with 2 cloves of peeled, crushed garlic, drizzle with olive oil, season well and roast for around 45 minutes or until very tender. Allow the roasted pumpkin to cool before tipping into a food processor (along with any juices from the roasting tin). Add the juice of ½ a lemon, 1 peeled, chopped garlic clove, 2 tbsp tahini and 1 x 400g can chickpeas (plus a little bit of the chickpea 'juices' in the tin) and blend to your preferred texture, drizzling in around 1 tbsp olive oil as you go. Season to taste before serving topped with a dusting of smoked paprika and toasted pitta bread and/or crudités for dipping.

It’s Halloween – and what better way to add a touch of gothic opulence to your ghoulish celebrations than enjoying some deep, dark, full-bodied reds: guaranteed to please and also help with the Vampire lips look!

And of course, they all go well with a stake… Uh, we mean steak! Evil laugh.

Click here to find your naughty red in the cellars of The Great Wine.

Beautiful watches under 30mm

After a number of years where big watches have dominated the market attention, the smaller case is back in vogue. From 26mm–30mm, there are so many great styles that just look good on any wrist. Here’s just some we love.

Rolex Lady: Datejust Oyster
28mm case in Oystersteel, white gold and a dark grey face set with diamonds. Perpetual movement | £13,400

Omega Constellation Manhattan 
Steel 28mm case white Mother of Pearl baton dial watch with a steel brushed bezel on a brushed and polished steel bracelet. Quartz movement | £2,900

Tudor 1926
28mm steel case featuring a black embossed case with diamond dot and arabic dial watch with a steel polished bezel on a brushed and polished steel bracelet. Self-winding | £1,880

TAG Heuer Aquaracer
27mm case. 18ct yellow gold and steel with a white Mother of Pearl diamond dot dial watch with a yellow gold rotating bezel on a steel and yellow gold-plated bracelet. Quartz movement | £2,300

Longines Evidenza
26mm case. Steel with a silver roman dial, a steel bezel with a navy blue alligator strap. Self-winding | £1,740

Search through the Mallory watch room where a superb range of luxury timepieces can be found.

Juicy Couture at Grace & Mabel

Diamante embellished hoodie in goji berry classic velour. Slim fit zip-through style with a hood, front pockets, and a statement crystal diamante logo branding on the back. This hoodie is finished with a silver gothic J zip pull. Pair with the matching bottoms for a full iconic Juicy Couture tracksuit | £80

Shop the hoodie and more from the Juicy Couture collection at graceandmabel.co.uk

Curated by Daniel McCabe

Slow Grown is a small, modestly produced but important zine that describes the history of the ancient practice of colouring cloth via the lore and testimonies of women, witches and healers who have practiced this art out of necessity and for their own enjoyment. Compiled by textile artist Ciara Callaghan, it honours these women, ‘who taught us how to deliver our babies, to use herbs as medicines, to cook, spin, sew, and dye’ with eight dye recipes using local and readily available ingredients (including oak, apple, and elder), alongside their accompanying folklore to pass on the basics of natural dyeing | £9 

Westonbirt Arboretum: Enchanted Christmas, 25 November–21 December

Elves have made their way to Westonbirt, The National Arboretum to decorate for Christmas. But they’re running slightly behind schedule… Will the trail be ready for Father Christmas?

This well-loved experience will take visitors on a journey through beautiful woodland, transported into a magical world surrounded by colourful twinkling lights. Witness the wonder and general commotion that comes with playful elves creating Westonbirt’s spectacular illuminated trail this year. In the Christmas village, festive food and drinks will be available alongside fairground rides and market stalls.

Special ‘relaxed sessions’ will be taking place on Saturday 26 November and Saturday 3 December from 4pm–5pm, when the trail will be adapted to suit those with additional needs such as autism.

Tickets are available through advance booking only, and can be booked by visiting the Forestry England website: forestryengland.uk

Nishane X Wine Masterclass, Harvey Nichols Bristol, 1 November

Discover the new Nishane Collection.

Join Harvey Nichols Bristol and Aspects Beauty for a perfume-inspired wine masterclass to celebrate the launch of Nishane’s new Time Capsule Collection. Enjoy a welcome drink and canapés while sipping four wine flavours, each reflecting the different tones in Nishane’s new fragrances.

This event will take place at the Second Floor Restaurant, Harvey Nichols Bristol, Tuesday 1 November at 7pm. Tickets cost £50 per person and include a complimentary Nishane gift, plus the opportunity to win a hamper at the event. Available from harveynichols.com 

Bump in the Night Lantern Parade, 30 October, Bristol City Centre

This Halloween, celebrate Bristol’s historical and cultural heritage through a spectacular parade. 

Inspired by spooky stories of ghosts and giants, The Bump in the Night parade of illuminated puppets will travel from Broadmead to Queen Square.

Find out more at bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

Circumstance Distillery launches its first female-focused work experience programme

Bristol's Circumstance Distillery has launched their first work experience programme, open to women who wish to explore a career in spirit production.

The initiative has been launched to raise the profile of distilling as a career option for women, and the successful candidate will get to shadow a variety of different roles within the company, across both Psychopomp Micro-distillery and Circumstance Distillery.

The intern will get hands-on experience across all aspects of a working distillery; from mashing, fermentation, distillation, cask sampling and blending. They will also undertake a gin recipe development project, where they will research, write, and create a gin recipe to a specific brief.

The programme is open to anyone who identifies as a woman or non-binary aged 18 or over. It will take place from 13–17 February 2023, with a contribution towards travel and accommodation available. The application deadline is 2 January 2023. All details can be found by clicking here. 

We sat down with the Circumstance Distillery team in our October issue to find out more about their creations and why they were dubbed “Britain’s most innovative distillery”: thebristolmag.co.uk

New researchers make remarkable discoveries at Brunel's SS Great Britain

A community-led project has empowered parents from a Bristol school to become researchers at the SS Great Britain Trust.

In November 2021, parents from Hannah More School and members of the Bridging Gaps Community Group, Shani Whyte, Iwona Salamon, and Soumia Seradj, became the SS Great Britain Trust’s first Community Research team.

The group worked with the museum collection and archive, joining the SS Great Britain team to uncover the ship’s global history. The project sparked vital conversations around the misconceptions about the SS Great Britain, unravelling false narratives, discovering untold stories and creating new ways to explore and share history.

Shani, Iwona, and Soumia each brought a fresh perspective to the role Brunel’s pioneering ocean liner played in history, exploring the ship’s involvement in migration and the story of the British empire. 

After a successful first year working together, the team of researchers plans to continue the project and to turn their focus to sharing their findings with the wider community, encouraging them to look deeper into their local history, while also inspiring other schools to offer similar opportunities for their parents. 

ssgreatbritain.org

Featured image: Shani working 

Eden Design

Eden Design is an architectural design studio based in Bristol. Formed by Tom Eden in 2014, the studio operates mainly in the residential sector, offering professional design and management services across a range of projects, including house refurbishments, property extensions, new-build houses, and works to Listed buildings. Eden Design are passionate about creating beautiful and uplifting spaces with personality and purpose. The team relish the unique challenges of each project they do, and aim to exceed the client’s expectations in every way. Using skills and experience in design, 3D visualisation, construction, and planning and building regulations, they seek out the best possible value to all their projects. They will obtain the legal permissions necessary to undertake your project, and produce professional design instructions to be used by a builder or tradesperson. Visit the website for more information or get in touch for a free consultation.

Eden Design Studio, 9 Richmond Hill, Bristol, BS8 1AT | 0117 374 6006 | edendesignstudio.co.uk

Chesterfield Road, St. Andrews, Bristol BS6

Offered for sale by Ocean estate agents

Tastefully updated and extended to over 2,750 sq. ft by the current owners, this substantial Victorian three storey, double bay fronted and semi-detached family home is located in St. Andrews, and has an exceptional combination of space and character.

Accommodation comprises of six double bedrooms, and three receptions, with the potential to improve further by remodelling the rear portion of the ground floor as an open plan kitchen/dining area. 

Throughout the house are a number of popular features associated with the era, including marble fireplaces, stripped flooring, large windows and intricate ceiling cornice. 

The rear garden is screened by mature trees making it notably private and larger than the norm for the area. The aspect catches the afternoon and evening sun.

This spacious and light family home is ideally located for the Gloucester Road, St. Andrews Park, Montpelier station and the M32. It is also well placed for a number of well-regarded local schools. Guide Price £900,000. 

For more images, floorplan and further details, click here to see the property on the Ocean Home website.