Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset. Poole, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth and Portland) is in the South West of England. It has a population of around 744,000 and covers approximately 265,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Devon, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire.
There is archaeological evidence of human settlements in Dorset dating back to Neolithic times. Much of the county is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and most of its coastline is a World Heritage Site, which includes the famous Jurassic Coast, that continues into neighbouring Devon. Never heavily industrialised, agriculture is declining in the county and tourism has grown in importance. With no cities and mostly consisting of villages and small towns, the largest populations are found in coastal resorts such as Weymouth and Bournemouth, the port of Poole and towns such as Christchurch and the county town of Dorchester. There are a series of Iron Age hill forts across the county, including Maiden Castle which is among the largest in Europe and The Cerne Abbas Giant is the largest hill figure in Britain. The historic Town Mill in Lyme Regis features a restored Victorian water mill and the art galleries host exhibitions of work by artists and craft makers from across the region. Performing arts venues in Dorset include The Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne, The Regent Centre in Christchurch, the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth and the Lighthouse in Poole.
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum located on the sea front in Bournemouth is housed within a Victorian mansion, which was once home to Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes. The furnishings and decorations inspired by their travels include Japanese stained glass, embossed wallpaper and ceilings decorated with mythical figures. On display are artefact that they collected, such as ceramics, sculptures and paintings, including a large collection of British art. Sherborne Castle dates back to the late 16th century and was built for Sir Walter Raleigh. Today visitors to the Tudor mansion can appreciate the finely decorated and furnished interiors, fine art and porcelain. Outside there are picturesque gardens and parkland, which have served as a venue for a wide range of events including concerts, craft fairs and firework displays. Kingston Lacy is a country house built in the style of an Italian palace, set among grounds which include beautiful gardens and woodlands. The property is owned by the National Trust and inside there is finely carved plaster, marble and woodwork, antique furniture, sculptures and paintings by artists such as Van Dyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and Diego Velazquez. Other attractions in Dorset include Sherborne Abbey, Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorchester, the ruins of Corfe Castle and Dorset County Museum in Dorchester.
Ferndown, Dorset
A self taught artist who uses painting to relax and escape my structured life!! I really ...
Sherborne, Dorset
I love to paint nature, water and wildlife. I mostly use acrylic because of the depth ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
I’ve always loved art but got back into making art in 2019. My art journey has lead me ...
Shaftesbury, Dorset
I started arts and crafts as a distraction from anxiety and depression. When I had family ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
I am passionate about our natural world and conservation, I create images using digital ...
Piddlehinton, Dorset
After suffering from burn out after teaching secondary school science for almost 17 years ...
West Lulworth, Dorset
I was drawn into Shibori indigo-dyeing simply by seeing the beauty of it and indigotyde ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Impasto art using oils and mixededia to create semi sculptured works I combine wood, ...
Ringwood, Dorset
Hand poured soy fragrances candles specialising in beautiful floral fragrances that change ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
We are a family-run business specialising in 100 percent cotton nightwear. All of our ...
Christchurch, Dorset
All my artwork is nature inspired discovered within UK and abroad. I offer originals, ...
Poole, Dorset
I hand engrave and etch glass often unique pieces. I am also creating my own jewellery ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Karen Johnson is a gifted gift-maker, with a special talent for personalizing her creations ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Pamper Moose create and make a unique range of Vegan bath, beauty and grooming products ...
Dorchester, Dorset
We are looking for local artist and craft makers to display and sell in our new ven ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Scavenging sea glass, driftwood, shells and coastal materials to make jewellery, homeware ...
Broadstone, Dorset
I am a proud passionate ambassador for Tropic Skincare and love selling and promoting ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
10 Naturally made soaps all certified as natural including a baby soap for under 36mths. ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Gorgeous handmade jewellery by me, including sterling, fine and pewter silver. Unique ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Hatter and maker of things, passionate about rainbow colours, home decor, and personal ...
Christchurch, Dorset
A family owned business with a passion for producing beatiful, handcrafted Candles and ...
Luton, Dorset
S and S Scents is a black owned, homemade, vegan and cruelty free candle and scents business. ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
Welcome to The Smell of a Leather! We specialise in handmade leather products such as ...
Weymouth, Dorset
I have a level 2 City and guilds in Carpentry and joinery and have been working in woodworking ...
Weymouth, Dorset
Hello, my name is Justine and I run my company, ‘Casa del Duende’ from my studio in Weymouth. ...
New Milton, Dorset
Promoting mental wellness: Self Care Packages, Wax Melt+Candles, Soap Bars, Bath Oils, ...
Weymouth, Dorset
Cubbishly Kes candles are all made from natural soy wax. The fragrance is all vegan friendly ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Pauls Recycled Wood All the pieces made are from off cuts of wasted timber helping to ...
Bournemouth, Dorset
I have been making amigurumi for a while and I’m looking to start selling them. My Instagram ...
Verwood, Dorset
My name is Ellie and I sell handmade soy wax melts. I currently provide over 50 different ...
Poole, Dorset
I print on practically any surface or item. If it is not already in my repertoire I will ...
Sherborne, Dorset
Whilst walking last autumn, I passed a hedge rows that was so beautiful it looked like ...
Sherborne, Dorset
I recently visited the local wood yard where there were several offcuts in a bin. I brought ...
Ferndown, Dorset
You have booked a space at a local arts and crafts fair and your attention turns to designing ...
Ferndown, Dorset
So, after much thought and deliberation, you have decided to attend your first art and ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Hands up. Who keeps a journal? A journal of any kind? Me!! I could be considered as a ...
Ferndown, Dorset
This was so difficult! It all started when people were enquiring about some “nice” prints ...
Ferndown, Dorset
With the world revolving around technology, an emerging artist (yes, I am trying to be) ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Inspiration can take many forms and pops up unexpectedly. It could come in an observation, ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Some of us are very fortunate to have a dedicated area at home that we call our own where ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Mum, as far back as I remember was always drawing and painting. We lived in the city ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Life is busy, busy, busy!! I don’t know about you guys, but I find it difficult to draw ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Didn’t really appreciate how hard this was going to be. I kept thinking about getting ...
Ferndown, Dorset
During my research, I came across quite a few examples of “ten rules for artists”, which ...
Ferndown, Dorset
Why create a blog post? I’ve come back to my art after a 30+ year break. You know the ...
Sherborne, Dorset
What a wonderful sight to see. I was transported back to the romantic life of a horse ...
(Born 1840 in Stinsford in Dorset), Fiction, Poetry
Hardy is a famous British author, well known for works such as Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess of the dUrbervilles and more.
He wrote Far from the Madding Crown whilst at the home he was born in. A thatched cottage in Dorchester, thought to be the inspiration for his fictional Wessex.
(Born 1800 in Melbury Abbas in Dorset), Photography
Talbot was an inventor who developed an early photographic process called calotype.