AWARD-WINNING Ben Osborne’s long-term collaborative project Jurassic Journey culminates in a beautiful touring exhibition and series of workshops across Dorset this autumn, entitled Deep Time.

His subject – the Jurassic Coast – is England’s first natural World Heritage Site, a stunningly beautiful canvas of unique coastline representing 185million years of earth history in just 95 miles along the Dorset and East Devon shores.

Events kick off this weekend with a photography workshop in cerne Abbas, near Dorchester, on September 17.

This magnificent tapestry of beaches, bays and cliffs depicts the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and clearly illustrates mass extinction events, past climates and the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.

Ben Osborne is best known for his specialised, award-winning wildlife and landscape photography, often in remote and inaccessible parts of the world, shooting production stills for wildlife TV series such as Life in the Freezer and Planet Earth, working with the BBC Natural History Unit and Sir David Attenborough.

The rural arts organisations Artsreach in Dorset and Villages in Action (Devon) have commissioned Ben to record a photographic journey of the Dorset and East Devon Jurassic Coast for an exhibition that will tour rural venues across the two counties.

With support from The Heritage Lottery this exhibition brings together Ben’s exploration of Deep Time and the extraordinary geology underpinning the landscape, how nature has invaded it and how mankind has moulded and used the coast.

Ben’s journey was not a solitary one – he travelled with three other companions, poet Matt Harvey, musician Sammy Hurden and sculptor Lal Hitchcock.

The Deep Time exhibition launches on Saturday September 17 and Sunday 18 at Nether Compton, near Sherborne, then journeys to Morden on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday 2.

It will then move to the Sturminster Newton and Cerne Abbas – further details to appear nearer the time.

Admission is free and the exhibition will be open from 10.30am to 4pm.

Several other related events are also taking place.

Sammy Hurden will lead a singing workshop at The Discovery Centre, Knoll Beach, Studland on October 9 and geologist Alan Holiday will explore how local rocks have been used in the buildings. He will be at Nether Compton on October 22 and Cerne Abbas on October 29. There is also a half-term fossil workshop at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton on October 24.

For further information call Artsreach on 01305 269512.