With plenty of work produced during lockdown, the Rollington Barn exhibition near Corfe Castle is bursting with paintings, photography, prints, ceramics and greetings cards as part of the visual offering for Purbeck Art Weeks.
Alongside the collective exhibition at the barn, artists across Purbeck, including many in Swanage, are opening their studios for visitors to see them in action and browse their work.
On for two weeks
Cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and then moved in 2021 from May to September, Purbeck Art Weeks or PAW as it’s affectionately known, is on for two weeks from Saturday 11th to Sunday 26th September 2021.
The Rollington Barn exhibition just off Studland Road near Corfe Castle provides a hub for the event, allowing artists to show and sell their art, before visitors are encouraged to follow the art trail across Purbeck, visiting the open studios.
Display of artwork by local school children
There’s also a display of artwork by local school children in a second barn across the courtyard.
Local artist Lucy Tidbury, well known for her animal paintings is exhibiting at Rollington Barn as well as in her shop, Lucy’s Farm in Swanage. She said:
“PAW at Rollington Barn is very special to me as it’s where I first got the idea for cow selfies and from there it all took off. So it’s great to be back – it’s a lovely community of artists and it’s nice to see everyone again and not be working alone in my shed.
“At Rollington Barn visitors get to see a bit of everything, with different artists with different styles. There’s also the pop up cafe so people literally get a taste of everything, including cake!”
Artist Lucy Tidbury, owner of Lucy’s Farm in Swanage
Love Cake runs a pop up cafe at Rollington Barn
Wareham artist, Roger Lockey with his work completed during the pandemic – he returned from Costa Rica a week before lockdown so had plenty of material to work from!
“About 500 pieces of work and it all needs labelling”
The barn is on a working farm, so before the art can be displayed, it has to be cleared out to make way for the exhibits. Behind all the organising of the exhibition is Seb McEwen. He explained:
“When I first got here there was a tractor in the barn, so that had to be moved and then it takes about a week and 20 volunteers to get all the display screens out of storage and display all the art – there’s about 500 pieces of work and it all needs labelling.
“One of the best things this year, I think, is all the new young artists that have submitted work. There’s a danger that as a regular event it could get a bit staid but that’s definitely not the case here. There’s work by Laura Butt, Jayden Capper, Charlotte Fereday – all new talented local youngsters.
“I’m absolutely delighted and really thrilled that the exhibition was able to go ahead this year – it’s nice to see people out enjoying themselves and as it’s an old barn it’s very well ventilated!”
Rollington Barn organiser Seb McEwen
A patchwork dry stone wall by Laura Butt
Paintings and prints by Swanage artists Jo Porter and Ed Marriott
Free entry and parking
The Rollington Barn exhibition is just off Studland Road near Corfe Castle, postcode BH20 5JG. It is open 10 am to 5 pm until Sunday 26th September 2021 with free entry and parking.
New work by Swanage artist Paul Barron
Tree of the week by David Browning
Watercolours by Swanage artist Linda Wallis
Two musical concerts
As part of Purbeck Art Weeks there are also two musical concerts in September 2021.
There’s the Youth and Community Concert at 7.30 pm on Friday 17th September 2021 at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Swanage.
The second concert sees the Holywell Wind Trio performing at 3 pm on Sunday 19th September 2021 at St Edward’s Church in Corfe Castle.
Further information
- More information about the artists taking part in the open studios and the Rollington Barn exhibition is on the PAW website
- Tickets for the concerts can also be booked via the PAW website
Artwork by Swanage artist, Andy Knill
Map of the PAW open studios
