Picturesque trail will 'support local creators'

A picturesque trail will meander through parts of Dorset as part of a two-week festival celebrating the arts.

Artists and makers are working together to run the Portland Trail again this year during Dorset Art Weeks with their art voucher giveaway.

The weeks will run from Saturday, May 25, to Sunday, June 9.

Trail designer Caro Lester said: “The trail is the brilliant idea of glass artist Emma Bradley, and we are delighted to be offering this opportunity to Dorset Art Weeks visitors again.

"Winners will be able to exchange their vouchers towards art from any of the trail artists, with voucher prizes worth £100, £75 and two prizes of £25.

"This initiative helps supports local creatives in their practice too, which is so important.”

Visitors are invited to collect stamps on the trail map postcard from any seven of the ten open studios and exhibitions to enter the prize draw.

Postcards will be available to pick up at art venues, local cafes, tourist attractions and libraries.

There are 26 artists taking part this year, with art forms from encaustic wax, textile art and sgraffito ceramics to jewellery, installation and printmaking on offer.

New to the island this year is ARWS member Frances Hatch, whose vibrant and expressive mixed-media drawings incorporate pigments and materials found on site and Carrie Mason, a multi-disciplinary artist whose work explores relationships with time, salt water on materials and durational mark-making.

Portland favourite painter Liz Wright is opening her studio to show her cheerful and evocative scenes of Portland landscapes and interiors.

Carol Cruickshank will be exhibiting her textile art showcasing local seaside imagery.

Four studios will be open at the characterful St George’s Studios on the top of Portland.

Artwey will be hosting a group exhibition of 17 artists at Fortunewell’s Royal Manor Theatre, to include the work of painters Cathy Taylor, Duncan Park and Olivia Nurrish, plus Nashira Jewellery and Antje Rook. Stephen Yates’s ceramics and painting Studio Serendipity will be open too, with its views across to Chesil Beach.

Dorset Visual Arts, producers of the arts festival, have provided the project with backing and Portland restaurants Quiddles, Whitestones Art Cafe and The Beehive have come on board to contribute towards prizes.

Trail organiser and encaustic wax artist Lyn Kirkland said: “Portland has a wealth of beautiful scenery, great eateries and now a thriving creative scene. We hope Trail visitors can make day of it and pencil in some pitstops at our lovely cafes too.”

More information on venues and opening times to plan visits can be found at https://www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk  or follow the Trail Instagram account, search @portlandtraildaw or visit https://www.instagram.com/portlandtraildaw