Dorset Arts Week (26 May – 10 June) , celebrates exceptional talent in an amazing county and last year marked 25 years since Dorset Arts Week began.

It is one of the largest open studio events in the country and brings artist and visitors together in a way that can be profoundly different from entering a public gallery and is as much about engagement between people as about art. Almost every venue will have the artists, makers and designers on hand to help you engage with their work and discuss the extraordinary range of materials, skills and influences that inform their work.

You will find EVERY art medium at one of the marvellous 313 venues including but certainly not limited to painting, carving, furniture making, sculpture, photography, linocut, print making and ceramics.

Here are just some of the artists you can meet in the towns we are lucky enough to have an office in:

Axminster 

Call into Jo Fox  on Woodbury Lane. Through the medium of collage she seeks to enhance the human form. 

 

A post shared by Jo Fox (@jo_foxartist) on May 8, 2018 at 2:36pm PDT

Beaminster 

Find Mike Willdridge on Church Street to admire his abstract work. 

 

A post shared by Mike Willdridge (@mikewilldridge) on Nov 10, 2017 at 4:09am PST

Bridport 

Known for it's artsy vibe the town is filled with AMAZING artists and a number of gallerys.  Pop into Cordova Gardens and see Lizzy James and her superbly delicate seascapes. 

 

A post shared by Lizzy James (@lizzyjamesart) on Apr 20, 2018 at 8:18am PDT

Blandford 

A suprising hub of artists reside in Blandford but a must visit is the Pottery Parlour where you will find award winning potter, Vanessa Conyers. It is in fact open all year round and holds workshops! 

 

A post shared by Vanessa Conyers Ceramics (@thenaughtypotter) on May 10, 2018 at 12:36pm PDT

Dorchester

Home to another fabulous potter Katherine Message whose simple style is chic and stunning. Find her on Monmouth Road.

 

A post shared by katherine message (@katherine_message_ceramics) on Oct 13, 2017 at 6:50am PDT

Poundbury 

Nip over to Great Cranford Street to see milliner extrodinaire Fiona Baker. 

 

A post shared by Fiona Baker (@fifihatti) on Apr 22, 2018 at 12:16pm PDT

Sherborne 

When on Cheap Street you must go and see the talented portrait artist James Budden. 

 

A post shared by James Budden (@j_budden_art) on May 16, 2018 at 7:24am PDT

Sturminster Newton 

Horse and dog lovers try to leave Katie Scorgie's studio without commissioning her to paint your favourite pony or pooch! 

 

A post shared by Katie Scorgie (@katiescorgie) on Mar 10, 2018 at 11:28am PST

Wimborne 

Call into Walford Mill Craft centre to see a whole host of amazing artists, designers, sculptor et al! 

 

A post shared by Walford Mill Crafts (@walfordmill) on Mar 31, 2017 at 6:09am PDT

What a delight and how lucky we are to have such an event on our doorsteps with an artist at almost every corner. If you are looking for somewhere, pop into one of our offices and we will gladly point you in the right direction! 

For a full list of venues and events check out the Dorset Arts Week website here.