Dorset Visual Arts

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Dorset Visual Arts

Dorset Visual Arts help promote and celebrate visual and applied arts across Dorset.

03/09/2026

🚨Emergence - Opening Soon 🚨

An exciting new exhibition highlighting the work of Dorset’s emerging artists is coming to Dorset Museum & Art Gallery later this month.

Emergence opens on the 22nd September and features artwork by Kiki Birtles, Sophie Glen, Fiona Kenny, Will Monaghan, Shelley Perry, Pauline Rose, Dawn Thomson, Jasmine Wheeler, and Abigail Whelan.

Here is a look at their artwork, some of which you will find on display!

All members of Dorset Visual Arts Emerging Artist Group, the artists have taken part in a series of training sessions led by mentor Becca Russell, who brings her expertise in curation, producing and artist development.

The exhibition, in the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Community Space at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery is free to enter and is open 22nd September until 9th October, 10am - 5pm.

Supported by Dorset Museum & Art Gallery and funded by Arts Council England, made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery players.

27/08/2026

What a brilliant workshop at Bere Marsh Farm with artist Laura Eldret! Glitch and Glow took place at dusk with children and adults exploring digital foraging, glitches, and night time drawing.

A huge thank you to CRT for hosting at Bere Marsh Farm. The nature reserve and farm inspired many fantastic drawings and paint explorations by participants.

This workshop was part of Laura Eldret's residency of the North Dorset Trailway taking place this summer, produced by Dorset Visual Arts and supported by funding from Dorset Council's Community and Culture Project Fund.

We will be sharing more about Laura’s residency so keep an eye out for more information soon!

17/08/2026

Our Artist for the Month for August is Dorset Visual Art's Member Olive Watkins.

Olive Watkins shares: 'My work explores the human experience through portraits and Japanese and urban scenes, shaped by digital and cinematic influences that blur the boundaries of time and place. Figures and environments frequently dissolve or distort, echoing the shifting nature of memory and the fluid relationship between identity and perception.'

Read more about her work in the latest edition of the Sherborne Times or visit her website (olivewatkinsart.com) to find out more.

📸 The Sake Room by Olive Watkins, oil on canvas

15/08/2026

🌟FREE CREATIVE WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN🌟

Join North Dorset Trailway current artist-in-residence Laura Eldret for this unique session at Bere Marsh Farm.

Taking place when day becomes night, the session will include experimental modes of nature connection and creative explorations of the nature reserve. Together we will explore ideas of digital foraging, glitches and night time drawing. As daylight fades, you are invited to pay attention to what the day misses and what may only show up at dusk.

This gathering is for children and young people aged 11+. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and booking is required.

🚩 Glitch and Glow at Bere Marsh Farm
📍 Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone,
🗓 Friday 21st August, 7.30-9.30pm

Book your place here ➡️ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glitch-and-glow-at-bere-marsh-farm-tickets-1996169941029

10/08/2026

We are so pleased to hear that DVA Member Caro Lester has a piece accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. This is such a brilliant achievement!

Caro’s drawing ‘Summer Haze: Horseradish & Sweet Peas’ is currently on display in Gallery I, curated by printmaker Katherine Jones RA, with the theme of gardens and allotments.

Caro Lester shares ‘The drawing, sold to a collector at a preview evening, is part of a body of work documenting my practice of growing things to draw. It will form the basis of some experimental studio printmaking over the winter.’

The exhibition is open until 23 August so go and see her work while you still can.

07/08/2026

🌟Glitch and Glow at Bere Marsh Farm🌟

Join North Dorset Trailway current artist-in-residence Laura Eldret for this unique session at Bere Marsh Farm.

Taking place when day becomes night, the session will include experimental modes of nature connection and creative explorations of the nature reserve. Together we will explore ideas of digital foraging, glitches and night time drawing. As daylight fades, you are invited to pay attention to what the day misses and what may only show up at dusk.

This gathering is for children and young people aged 11+. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and booking is required.

🚩 Glitch and Glow at Bere Marsh Farm
📍 Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone,
🗓 Friday 21st August, 7.30-9.30pm

Book a place now! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glitch-and-glow-at-bere-marsh-farm-tickets-1996169941029

22/07/2026

Dorset Visual Arts is always delighted to hear about the amazing work our Members are doing. Mala Hassett recently completed a residency at Nothe Fort responding to the history and material of this iconic sea fort.

Mala shared a fascinating insight into her research which you can read on our website.

“My eventual response to Nothe Fort was inspired by the current physical condition of the fort, layered by the weight of time and isolation. I wanted every canvas to be imbued by some part of the fort. Through my process of using rust and textural references from the fort’s walls in every canvas, it is as though Nothe itself lives in each of the paintings.”

The results of her experimentation with rust-based paints and wall textures are now on display at Nothe Fort until Wednesday 19th August. Open daily, 10am-4pm, don’t miss this series of vibrant landscapes that truly capture Nothe Fort’s character.

Visit our website to read more about this project.

15/07/2026

ARTIST OF THE MONTH - Our Artist of the Month for July is Dorset Visual Arts’ Member Claudia Dharamshi.

Claudia Dharamshi shares: "While settling into my new home during a very wet first winter, I hunkered down with my lurcher, Bertie, and started sketching him. Like an experienced life model, he changes pose every few minutes. I particularly enjoy the challenge and immediacy of making quick drawings in this way. I am to capture the pose and line with economy and expression”

Read more about her work in the latest edition of the Sherborne Times and visit her website to find out more.

10/07/2026

Dorset Visual Arts is thrilled to receive funding from The Grocers’ Charity, to support the delivery of Artist-led workshops this autumn.

After the success of last year’s Droves & Downs project, we’ll be working again with Cranborne Chase National Landscape .chase as part of their Walking Festival which returns 16th - 20th September. This generous funding will support artist workshops exploring Cranborne Chase, giving artists the opportunity to collaborate with community groups and the public during the festival.

We wanted to thank The Grocers’ Charity for supporting our mission to work in rural communities and creating opportunities for Dorset artists to engage with audiences.

Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

27/04/2026

💥NOW OPEN 💥
SENSING PLACE at Bridport Arts Centre

A new exhibition by Dorset Visual Arts Member Frances Hatch, Frances Hatch Artist opened this month at Bridport Arts Centre. SENSING PLACE focuses on Frances Hatch’s process as a plein air painter and the ‘place palettes’ she makes at Dorset coastal locations using found earths, clays, organic matter and man-made materials like litter. Accompanied by written and painted notes, the palettes become portraits of place that inform her paintings, a small number of which will be on show in the exhibition.

You can see this exciting exhibition until Saturday 6th June.
Open 10am - 4pm, Wednesday - Saturday.

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http://www.dorsetvisualarts.org/

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