Art in the Squares summer project proves a huge success

The Art in Poundbury project, Art in the Squares, took place across the development in Dorchester on Saturday, June 22.

An artist under Under Brownsword Hall, Pummery Square (Image: Jane Norman Photography) Entrants took away their easels and brushes and had the chance to paint at the Duchy Farmhouse, Queen Mother Square, the Royal Pavilion Green, Coade Square, Hayward Square and the Great Field and Centenary Field.

Alex Cree, winner of the Experienced Artist category, with judges Finn Campbell-Notman and Teresa Lawton (Image: Jane Norman Photography) They would then return to have their works judged in various categories which included local painters as well as Finn Campbell-Notman, Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year 2023.

Alex McCree won the experienced category, whilst Debbie Veitch was runner-up. Annika Hart won the award in the enthusiast category, with James Batchelor finishing runner-up.

Experienced category runner up, Debbie Veitch, with her pastel of Hayward Square (Credit: Jane Norman Photography)
Photographs of all entries will be taken for an online gallery, whilst there will be space for the winner’s work to feature in the group’s community winter exhibition.

The charity, Cycling Without Ages, were also on hand to rickshaw guests with mobility problems around all the different locations. 

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Judy Tate, Artistic Director of Art in Poundbury, said: “Across the four categories, we had almost 100 people out in Poundbury painting in total.

An artist painting towards Maiden Castle on the Centenary Field (Image: Jane Norman Photography) “It was such a fun, light-hearted, creative and sociable festival of like-minded people. We were really satisfied with the diversity of styles, mediums and competitions.

“Despite there being just a handful of locations to paint from, no two paintings were remotely similar and you could see where which location was in Poundbury.

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“The children’s paintings were phenomenal. The day would not have happened without our wonderful sponsors.”

An artist painting at the Queen Mother Square (Image: Jane Norman Photography) Normally, the team at Art in Poundbury would be proactively organising their public winter exhibition, however, the group has been invited to run another open-air paint out at the Sunflower Farm close to Maiden Castle. The event is to be called Art in the Sunflowers and is due to take place sometime in August, when the sunflowers are in full bloom.

Ms Tate added: “For winter, we are hoping to do something a little different, and will definitely be involving the local schools again.”