Highcliffe Castle

Preparing for thee East Dorset Potters exhibition at Highcliffe Castle - "Drawn to Clay" - the group met up at the Castle to gather ideas for a piece of work featuring some aspect of the architecture, setting, or interior of the venue.  This is my platter, so far unglazed, which I'm hoping to put into the exhibition along with other platters I've created over the last few months with Purbeck landscape and Hengistbury Head/Mudeford images.

A busy start to the year at the Creative Gallery in Wareham - but now all is redecorated, and the signs were renewed just in time for Purbeck Art Weeks - 24th May-8th June.

New Purbeck Series platters for Purbeck Art Weeks.  Durdle Door and Old Harry Rocks - there are so many iconic landscape images available to us in our beautiful county of Dorset and along the Jurassic Coast.  It's not wonder that Purbeck Art Weeks have such a diverse selection of workshops and studios/galleries to visit.  A sample of many of the PAW exhibitors' work can be seen in a single visit to Rollington Barn in Corfe Castle.

Valentine's Day

As usual I've produced a range of items for Valentine's Day.  Mugs, jugs, platters and bowls, as well as heart brooches and cards.  All these are available for sale at the Creative Gallery Wareham, Everycloud Gallery Dorchester, Lazyhill Gallery Abbotsbury and Christchurch Tourist Information Centre.

Creative Gallery Wareham

Since taking over the Creative Gallery in Wareham in March life has been so busy there doesn't seem to be a spare minute in the day to write a blog or catch up generally.
As well as displaying the work of new resident makers I've introduced a Maker of the Month series at the Gallery to keep the place looking fresh for those who visit regularly, and created a Calender for 2014 with a photograph of each exhibitor's work shown on "their" month.
Please visit the Gallery's website to find out more:  www.creativegallerywareham.co.uk

Or better still come and visit us:

St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB
Heading south through Wareham it is the last turning on the left before you reach the Quay, follow the signs for Motability!!  You will find the Gallery on the left hand side of the small parking area.

01929 551700

Opening times:
Winter:  Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Summer:  Daily 10am-5pm

Mad Summer

It's been a bit of a mad summer with lots of fairs and fantastic as the sun has been shining on us.
Milton Abbas Street Fair was as always great fun, the downpour at 3pm made for interesting packing up, but the gazebo really came into its own.
Mudeford Arts Festival was a bit windy, but the crowds were out as usual and a good time was had by all.
Mudeford clashed with Bovington (Dorset Arts and Crafts Association Annual Exhibiton) this year because the RNLI had to move their annual event at Mudeford to have favourable tides.  I had to call in several favours to attend both, so thank you to Shirley, Margaret and Jo for helping out with the stewarding and serving in the Gallery.
Next year the DACA Exhibition moves to the Purbeck School in Wareham and I'm hoping to take items from all the makers at the Creative Gallery to help publicise our presence there.
The Southern Ceramic Group exhibition at the Bishop's Kitchen in Chichester was a huge success with over £10,000 in sales for the group.  Fantastic setting and as the years pass more and more people find us there.

Now there's just Melplash Show on 22nd August and Swanage Folk Festival 7th/8th September to go before the autumn shows begin.  Melplash Show (which is really in Bridport) was a joy last year - it's a delightful day out, not at all commercial, a proper country show with something for everyone.  And Swanage Folk Festival is always a pleasure, though a bit weather dependant, the dancers and singers are out in force and the whole town comes alive.  Come and find us in the craft marquee at both events.

More Gallery Changes

As I'm now getting less making time with the work involved in running the Creative Gallery, Wareham, I have decided to withdraw from the Black Barn Gallery at the Ginger Piggery.

So currently my regular outlets are:

Creative Gallery, Wareham
Everycloud Gallery, Dorchester
Grey Door Gallery, Castle Cary
Lazyhill Gallery, Abbotsbury
Love Fish, Southbourne
Tourist Information Centre, Christchurch

Purbeck Art Weeks 2013

Corfe Castle - this platter is one of a range I produced for Purbeck Art Weeks 2013 for display at The Creative Gallery, Wareham.
I will be adding more to the range over the next few months and hope to exhibit  several pieces at the last Dorset Art and Crafts Association Exhibition to be held at Bovington Middle School - 2nd-6th August.  As from 2014 the DACA exhibition will be moving to the Purbeck School in Wareham.