Published: April 24, 2024 | Updated: 24th April 2024
Artists from around the UK will be making their way to Wimborne during the May bank holiday for the town’s first En Plein Air event.
On Saturday, 4th May, professional artists and budding amateur painters over the age of 14 will be setting off from a marquee at Willow Walk to spend the day painting a nearby scene.
Entries will be judged by respected artists Maria Rose and Tom Stevenson, members of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and members of the British Plein Air Painters, a group of professional artists based in the UK who share a passion for painting outdoors.
The event was conceived by Katie Bourne-Davies, the proprietor of Otter Gallery.
Established in 2023 along Mill Lane by the riverside in Wimborne, this inclusive contemporary art gallery features a range of exhibitions, exclusive invitations to private viewings, Saturday Socials, and creative workshops.
Showcasing contemporary art from local and national artists, the ethos of the gallery is one of inclusion, welcoming art lovers including children.
Katie said: “Our mission is to promote and support emerging and established artists, providing a platform for their work to be seen and appreciated by art lovers and collectors alike.”
The kernel of the Plein Air idea grew from Katie Bourne-Davies’ own love of landscape painting and her desire to create an inclusive art event in Wimborne and complement the existing cultural calendar already on offer.
Fiona Harwood, a Director and the Chairperson for Wimborne BID, which is a key sponsor of Plein Air Wimborne said: “It’s so exciting for Wimborne to host this creative event and for the town’s stunning landscape to be captured for everyone to enjoy by local and visiting artists from around the country.
Aware that this event will help bring more visitors to the town, many local businesses have shown their support with some offering sponsorship and others donating generous prizes for the winning artists.”
Following the judging, a special Exhibition will be open to the public on Sunday 5th and Monday 6th May from 10am – 4pm.
Katie Bourne-Davies concluded: “I’m so excited by the prospect of exhibiting exclusively Wimborne landscapes for locals and visitors to enjoy and purchase. I hope people will make a weekend of it and meet the distinguished painters and judges and get to know their local art gallery.”
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