DORSET ART WEEKS’ DIARY: 22 MAY – 6 JUNE 2021

By

-

11 June 2021

It is only possible to provide a taster of my recent forays into the wealth of artistic talent in our county – but I urge you to spend a lovely weekend absorbing as much as possible.

NB Before visiting do check the website for visiting details and opening hours: https://www.dorsetartweeks.co.uk

152 DAVID NORTON, SHEELAGH SCOBLE, JUDY BAKER

Travellers Rest Farm Durweston

Judy re-creates and re-imagines fragments of ceramics, natural stone, and Lyme Regis sea glass into mosaics. She has always loved drawing and as she said: “You need real vision, for mosaics are only as good as the initial drawing.” Starting with pottery classes, a love of jigsaws and a passion for taking things apart, it was a visit to the mosaics of the Basilicas in the Italian city of Ravenna which inspired her. “Everything has a story, a narrative!” so each of her charming, quirky mosaics has a tale to tell.

Judy with her mosaics in the Stables at Travellers Rest *image by Edwina Baines*

David, a musician, took up painting in his retirement and now paints daily in his farmyard studio at Traveller’s Rest. However, some of his time is spent in France and a new phrase has entered his vocabulary “une lumière éblouissante” – a dazzling light. Hedgerows sparkle with May blossom – a nod towards Hockney and French garden landscapes in oil re-create this luminosity. Also included are local scenes of Hambledon Hill and still lifes of vegetables (including some freshly dug Maris Piper potatoes!), fruit and flowers. His first painting in lockdown incorporated a more modern feel but is contrasted with an ornate gold frame – donated by Sheelagh.

David in the Stable with his lockdon painting *image by Edwina Baines*

Sheelagh studied Fine Art at Bournemouth College of Art and exhibited in the very first Dorset Art Week in 1992. Her flamboyant still lifes, vivid patterns and life drawings come entirely from her imagination. “Anything with colour,” she says. Currently she has moved from oils into collage and watercolours, posted each week on Instagram.

36 – SARAH JACK AND DIANE ABLITT

The Old schoolhouse Child Okeford

Sarah constructs striking images of harbour scenes and landscapes of jumbled cottages. Look closely and you can find fragments of hidden stories, trawled from ancient newspaper articles of nineteenth century West Country shipwrecks and smugglers. “I really love all things ancient and all things textured, so I weave the two passions into my paintings. As a child, I used to cut up pieces of cardboard and make board games. I prefer to use my hands rather than a paintbrush. Initially my work was more figurative but I am attracted to derelict, dilapidated buildings with nooks and crannies and buildings poking out of each other.” I was also drawn to two different works portraying Hardy’s Cottage and Lyme Regis with words, book titles and history notes scratched into the modelling paste.

Ex Graphic Designer Diane likes to pare an image back to simplify it and combines the creaminess of gouache with an attractive muted minimalist pastel palette. “I like to try and create quirky poster-like artworks based on imaginary and real West Country villages, where you can lose yourself in the architecture and wonder who used to live in the houses. I’m attached to the sea and, choosing a different area each time, I’m trying to walk the South West Coast path in different sections.”

231 JOSEPH NUTTGENS, LUCY YARWOOD AND SHEILA MARTIN

Artisan House East Street Blandford

Joe studied at the Central School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art, where he studied stained glass following his father’s art. He worked in his father’s studio until 2015, when he moved to Blandford. In his watercolours and prints, there is a certain precision in the interlocking shapes: he looks for rhythm, structure and energy in both nature and music to express personal themes. 

Sheila’s intricate artworks are influenced by her training in stained-glass (with Joe’s Father!). Light and colour, and the process of gardening are her inspirations. “Not knowing what is going to happen. Being open to possibilities. A state of searching.”

 Lucy’s work is easily identifiable and her boldly decorated pots and sculptural pieces reflect her love of pottery as a timeless art form. On show were her bowls, mugs and dishes in terracotta with swirls of ultramarine but also beautiful platters, sensitively decorated and some of her newer ventures into oil painting.

240 WABI SABEY FESTIVAL OF RURAL CRAFTS AND TEXTILES

Hawkers farm Barn Stour Provost Gillingham

An old milking parlour has been converted into an event barn, the home of Hawkers Re-Creatives. With workshops, displays of up-cycled fashion, textiles and rural crafts, this is a Community enterprise to encourage sustainability. Handmade gifts and embroidered panels are showcased and sold in aid of Sambhali Trust, a non-profit making organisation based in Jodhpur, India, which aims to empower Dalit women and children in Rajasthan by teaching them to sew and run their own businesses. In addition to hosting sustainable film nights, during DAW, demonstrations and activities for adults and children have been held.

290 Annie Field

Hartgrove nr Shaftesbury

Annie was an interior designer for thirty years and her stunning house and studio are testament to this fact. She presented ‘Finishing Touches’, the first TV interior design program, filmed in the UK and America. Annie’s Nemesis sculpture was chosen by the Chelsea Arts Club to go on their fifth column in the garden from January to April 2020. She now works mainly in abstract oils with a love of colour. Many of her paintings record images from her sketchbook, taken on travels from the extremes of Yorkshire to Ethiopia.

15 Phyllis Wolff

Hawkcombe Lane Compton Abbas Shaftesbury

Originally a student of fashion at St Martin’s, her varied artistic routes and love of the natural world have led to this current exhibition’s title: “I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic…I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.” (Greta Thunberg). In the beautiful gardens of her cottage nestled into the hillside, with wonderful views across to Melbury Hill, exuberant and distinctive canvases are a feast for the eye in Phyllis’s studios. She has been described as a vibrant colourist and there is a generous spontaneity and freedom of expression in her work: “My painting has always been about my connectedness and relationship to the landscape. Devastation to the Natural world is increasingly evident even in ‘this small corner of Dorset’.”

By: Edwina Baines

Voice of an Estate Agent: June 2021

By

Editorial team

-

11 June 2021

0

Regular monthly Blackmore Vale property commentary column in the Blackmore Vale from Susie and Brad the North Dorset Team at Meyers

How to present your home

Ensuring that your property is well presented is the key to achieving the maximum amount of interest and therefore the best possible price. We have summarised what we believe are the quickest and most cost-effective ways of adding value to your home:

Declutter

Decluttering will help buyers envisage what the property could look like if they were living there. Consider getting rid of or putting into storage unnecessary bulky furniture that makes the room look smaller. Also remember that serious buyers may well want to take a peek inside your cupboards and storage spaces so give them a tidy and consider only having them 75% full rather than bursting at the seams, if it doesn’t look like there is enough storage for you, they will worry there isn’t enough for them!

Go neutral

Bold colours are very personal. Consider giving the walls a fresh lick of paint in a neutral colour. This creates a blank canvas and will enable viewers to more easily envisage it as their home. This will also make your home feel much lighter and bigger. “Timeless” from Dulux is a great one.

Clean, tidy and fix

Remember that each time a buyer sees something that needs fixing they could mentally reduce the maximum offer they would make on your house. Don’t let a small fix be the reason you don’t achieve your full asking price. Consider fixing holes in walls, broken doorknobs, replacing old grout and removing any stains on the carpets.

We also advise cleaning thoroughly throughout to ensure your property looks well cared for.

Light and airy

Wall mirrors can help a room look bigger and lighter. Clean your windows inside and out, replace any broken light bulbs and consider putting a lamp in any dark corners. Add a few green house plants to help create an airy fresh look. A light and airy room feels bigger and therefore makes your property more attractive to buyers.

Odours

Bad smells are the single biggest turn off for prospective buyers. Fix the source of the smell, clear drains, wash bins, open windows, watch out for that “wet dog” smell and air the kitchen from cooking smells.

You may also want to consider spritzing the house prior to a viewing with a fresh smelling room spray.

First impression count

Buyers will be judging your home before they even walk through the door. If you look at your property from the road, does it look well maintained and tidy? Consider giving the front door a deep clean or a fresh lick of paint and buying a bright outdoor plant or hanging basket.

If you would like a copy of our “Seller’s Guide” which gives these tips in full detail, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team!

Brad Hansford – Shaftesbury branch on 07814 962 161

Susie Palin – Blandford Forum branch on 07570 357 553

Famous flier ‘annoys’ BV Magazine journalist | by Andy Palmer

By

Laura

-

11 June 2021

0

This must be a world first.

I’d contacted a local man for a story for the June issue of your digital Blackmore Vale Magazine.

David Morgan, who lives near Shaftesbury, was the top scoring fighter pilot in the Falklands Conflict – and that’s far from his only claim to fame (see the full article on David here).

David, 74, is often seen in his conspicuous yellow Tiger Moth bi-plane performing aerobatic stunts above the Blackmore Vale.

david morgan aerobatics annoys journalist over Mappowder Dorset — A ‘very annoying’ local hero. Full story on page 4 June Issue here.

He wrote a widely acclaimed book ‘Hostile Skies’ about his experiences when flying off a carrier plunging in heavy seas in the south Atlantic during that war.

After interviewing him I ordered his book. Couldn’t put it down.

I was halfway through it on the day it arrived when I heard a buzzing sound outside.

I ignored the noise as I’d got to a particularly exciting chapter.

But the buzzing outside continued.

I continued to ignore it.

The buzzing went on. And it got closer. And louder.

Finally, I went outside to see who was disturbing my reading.

Well, it was the author of the actual book I was reading that was disturbing me.

David’s yellow Tiger Moth was circling above my cottage in Mappowder.

He never does aerobatics this far south in the Vale. He was doing it simply to amuse me. What a treat!

I went outside and waved. He performed a few stunts, circled the village, waggled his wings then headed back to the airfield 15 miles away.

At the end of our interview, a few days previously, I had told him where I lived and challenged him to give me a personal aerobatics show.

And he did!

And what’s more, I had a feeling that he would take me up on my challenge (fighter pilots are famous for their mischievous sense of humour – they can’t resist a dare).

I couldn’t stop laughing at his sense of fun and skill.

When my wife returned I told her we’d had a visitor.

‘Was it that fighter pilot,’ she asked, with uncanny perception.

‘It certainly was,’ I replied.

‘Did he come in for a coffee,’ she asked.

‘No,’ I said, ‘must have been in a hurry. He had to fly.’

(see Andy’s full story on David Morgan in the magazine below:)

Position Wanted | Housekeeper/ Caretaker/Cook

By

Editorial team

-

10 June 2021

0

Experienced Housekeeper/Caretaker/Cook with over 10 years experience.

Seeks new position.

Available to start immediately, any area considered, but position must include accommodation.

Fully DBS checked and references available upon request.

Please contact Catherine on:

Tel: 07836 361738 or email: [email protected]

Table Top Sale | Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall

By

Editorial team

-

10 June 2021

0

Sunday 13th June 2021 -12 – 3pm

Tabke top sale at Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall.

Message to reserve your place or for more information. Piches are limited!

Sellers from 11.15am – Open to the public 12 – 3pm

In aid of Village Hall funds.

Phone: 01258 861357 or email [email protected]

New Lifestyle Website Caters to City Exodus

By

Editorial team

-

10 June 2021

0

West Country Estate Agent Aims to Capitalise on Appetite for South West Living

Lodestone Property, an estate agency operating across Somerset and Dorset, this week has launched a a new consumer website, Lodestone Life, (lodestonelife.co.uk). This is ground-breaking territory for an independent agency, to establish and run a full-scale digital publishing operation.

The new site is a lifestyle guide to the West Country, informing and entertaining the growing numbers who are anxious to make their home in the South West while supporting the company’s ever-inventive sales and marketing strategy.

“We are witnessing an exodus from city living,” says Lodestone co-founder, Sue Macey. “It’s driven by the pandemic and supported by new trends in homeworking. As a result, there’s an incredible rush on property in the South West. And with that comes a demand for information about moving here and settling here.”

Last year, before the pandemic hit, Lodestone produced, printed and distributed its first ever lifestyle magazine, also called Lodestone Life. But the changes brought by COVID and the surge in demand from outside the region convinced the company that its content marketing efforts should be digital as well as print.

“Visitors to our property website have tripled in the last year,” says Sue. “We currently see more than 16,000 unique visitors each month and many more repeats, so Lodestone Life has been created to cater for that demand, providing a helpful lifestyle companion to a house move.”

The new digital publication is a source of relocation inspiration and practical advice. Towns and villages are investigated. Local services are highlighted. Businesses are profiled. It’s a place where you might learn about local schools, sports facilities, places to eat and drink, garden designers, architects or artists. The major feature interviews are written by Cath Rapley, a former commissioning editor at The Guardian and Observer.

An Innovative Agency with Marketing Expertise

Lodestone is a multiple award-winning agency which launched in 2016 and runs an innovative business model. From offices in Bruton, Wells and Shaftesbury it operates a high ratio of staff to properties, maximising service standards. It doesn’t utilise the traditional estate agent shopfronts but, rather, invests in marketing, especially digitally. Its social media channels are the most followed and interacted with of all Somerset and Dorset real estate businesses.

Beyond digital, Lodestone markets to its customers at a local level, running its hugely popular pop-up events across various venues where buyers and vendors can meet with Lodestone’s expert teams as well as, for example, with mortgage advisers, designers, architects and builders. But it is the wider reach of Lodestone’s innovative online efforts, now including Lodestone Life, which see it so well placed as the considerable migration to the South West continues.

“Lifestyle marketing is the ideal way to engage with the emotions of a house move, to offer up all the stories about a place, as well as the practical detail. The volume of information required to make what is typically the biggest purchase decision of a lifetime is considerable and online we can deliver that,” says Sue.

“But this type of marketing is a serious commitment,” she cautions. “With digital content you have to keep showing up, to keep producing more. Happily, Somerset and Dorset are not short on interesting people and places. There’s a lot for us to work with!

“We know that our fast-growing business is in no small part due to the excellent service standards and effective marketing which we work so very hard on. However, there is no doubt that we are benefitting from being in the right place at the right time. Demand for the lifestyle available in Somerset and Dorset is really taking hold.”

Home Care Assitants | Apex Prime Care

By

Editorial team

-

10 June 2021

0

Recruiting now!

Join our team and make a difference every day

A career with Apex Prime Care is much more than a job. Our home care assistants connect the community and support our clients in the comfort of their homes.

Apply online at www.apexcareers.co.uk or call 0330 2020 200

“This Doesn’t Bode Well!”

By

Editorial team

-

10 June 2021

0

We’re now at that point in the year where astronomical darkness is not achieved during
the night, making it quite challenging for astrophotographers to capture the amount of data required to create highly detailed images. I had tried to capture M13, the Great Globular cluster mentioned below, but alas, as is often the case, things didn’t quite go to plan! So instead, I thought I’d stick with the galaxy theme again:

M81 ‘Bode’s Galaxy’ is at the bottom of the image, with M82 ‘The Cigar Galaxy’ at the top. M81 is a grand design spiral galaxy with a diameter of 90,000 light years and M82 is a starburst galaxy. Discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, M81 is one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. Both are approximately 11.6 million light-years away and can be found in the constellation Ursa Major – very visible at this time of year using binoculars or a small telescope. This was the first image I captured using my larger telescope, a Skywatcher 200 PDS Newtonian Reflector, other brands are available of course!

This telescope has a focal length of 1000mm which allows me to see deep sky objects including galaxies in greater detail! The image was shot in January using a DSLR camera attached to the telescope. I took different exposure lengths of 5, 3 and 1 minute exposures which gave me 2 hours of data.

The Night Sky, June 2021: what you can see this month:

We’ll be treated to an annular solar eclipse this month on June
10th, which we’ve not seen in the UK since 2015. It won’t be a total eclipse, but the moon will appear to bite a chunk out of the Sun beginning at 10:08am and will cover a maximum of 25% of the Suns surface at 11:13am.

If you or your little ones plan to observe the eclipse, don’t forget to wear appropriate eclipse glasses to enjoy the event safely!

During the darkest point of the night throughout the month, using binoculars, look high towards the South in the constellation Hercules and you may glimpse a gentle glowing ball of light. Through a telescope,
you’ll discover its true identity, a cluster of almost a million stars, known as M13. This globular cluster is residence to some of the oldest objects in our galaxy, dating back 13 billion years. Although we’re experiencing very short periods of night at this time of year, it’s still a great opportunity to turn your attentions to the moon and planets within our solar system.

Venus, Jupiter and Saturn can all be observed throughout the month. On June 11th, soon after sunset, look towards the lower right of Venus to spot the narrowest crescent Moon. On the 12th, the crescent Moon lies above Venus, with Mars lying to the upper left. On the 13th June, Mars appears as a reddish ‘star’ next to the Moon, with Venus down to the lower right. Mars starts off the month near Castor and Pollux, and moves from Gemini into Cancer.
The summer solstice begins on June 21st at 4:52am, the day the Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, marking Midsummers Day, with daylight lasting 16 hours and 38 minutes.

On the 23rd June, look towards the Praesepe (Beehive) star cluster to enjoy Mars engulfed within its midst. Although it will be low in the evening twilight, grab a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to enjoy its
beauty!
On the 27th, 28th and 29th June at 2am, you’ll see the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn in close proximity with Jupiter appearing to pass very close on the 29th. Noctilucent Clouds may be visible at twilight looking north. These spooky-looking clouds glow a blue-white and are illuminated by the Sun after it has set.

By: Rob Nolan RPN Photography

Riding Clubs – what are they about?

By

Editorial team

-

9 June 2021

0

British Riding Clubs (BRC) exists to provide support and encouragement to amateur riders of all levels – from the dedicated competitor to the leisure rider. We offer a range of events and training through over 480 clubs and centres right across the UK. Some of the local riding clubs are SWDG, (South Western Dressage Group), Mid Somerset, Shillingstone and Stour Valley.

Having been members of SWDG for many years, my family have enjoyed the social aspect as well as the training, competitions, the fun rides and non-ridden events. From the age of seven my daughters joined a junior Riding Club and one of my daughters is still an active member, fitting in riding club activities with work. Whether it`s just for fun, bringing on young horses or competing in teams, Riding Club is highly recommended.

A group of clubs are part of an Area which has competitions to become Area Champions and competitors can also qualify for a National Championships. Many of these Area competitions are about to happen, now that lockdown has lifted.

The SWDG team was very pleased to have qualified at 90cm for the Arena Eventing in November and have just come back from the National Championships at Aston Le Walls where they were placed 6^th, a great success. The team were so happy to be able to have a get together, evening meals in the lorry always a fun sociable time.

By: Sara Greenwood