Artistic flair from all over the country will be coming to Wimborne this May Bank Holiday as the town hosts its first En Plein Air Event. On Saturday 4th May, expect to see professional artists and budding amateur painters from fourteen years upwards, who will be setting of from a marquee at Wiilow 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 that share a passion for painting outdoors.
The event is the brainchild of Katie Bourne-Davies, owner of Otter Gallery, which opened in Wimborne’s riverside Mill Lane in 2023. This inclusive contemporary art gallery offers a rolling programme of exhibitions, invitations to private views and Saturday Socials as well as creative workshops.
Showcasing contemporary art from local and national artists, the ethos of the gallery is one of inclusion, welcoming art lovers including children. ‘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,’ says Bourne-Davies.
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 said: “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.”