May 14, 2025
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New Exhibition Celebrates Emerging and Established Artists at National Trust Castle View Welcome Centre
Monday 2nd June – Sunday 8th June 2025 | 10am–4.30pm daily
Castle View Welcome Centre, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5DR
Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) is delighted to share a brand new collaborative exhibition with the National Trust, taking place at the Castle View Welcome Centre during the second week of the Festival.
This specially curated exhibition brings together the work of nine talented artists – including painters, photographers, sculptors and mixed media artists – offering visitors a dynamic snapshot of the creative energy flourishing in Purbeck.
This exhibition is part of a growing and valued partnership with the National Trust, with an aim to champion and showcase emerging local talent alongside more established voices.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the National Trust for this special exhibition at Castle View. Its stunning backdrop is a perfect setting to showcase the wealth of talent in our local arts community. This exhibition is a great example of what PAW is all about – bringing together artists at different stages of their journeys and inviting the public to explore, connect, and be inspired. We’re very grateful to the National Trust for making this collaboration possible”
– Laurel Hart, Director of Strategic Communications at PAW“We are excited to be collaborating with PAW to host this exhibition showcasing some of the amazing artists in Purbeck. Castle View Welcome Centre is an easily accessible location for the community and visitors to discover the wide range of art that PAW champions through its work. We hope this first of many collaborative projects between PAW and the National Trust here in Purbeck.”
– Ellen Smith, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer, Corfe Castle, National Trust
Artists exhibiting:
- Andrew Thomas SWAc
- Annie Campbell
- Eleanor Spalding
- Jon Phillips
- Kim Wessely
- Kitty Hartnell
- Laura Butt
- Mae Grimaldi
- Sara Moseley
Award winning British Sculptor Andrew Thomas SWAc shared his reflections on participating in PAW:
“Purbeck seems to have a creative energy that runs right through it — a kind of vein that artists, including sculptors like myself, have tapped into for generations. Being part of PAW connects me to that shared pool of inspiration, and to a wider community of artists who are equally shaped by this special place. While I exhibit my work across many parts of the country, it’s here in Purbeck that my creativity truly feels rooted. There’s something incredibly special about showing work in the landscape that inspires you — and even more so when you’re doing it alongside artists you admire, and within a community that genuinely values what you do.
Exhibiting at Castle View as part of the inaugural ‘Spirit of PAW’ feels like a celebration of all of that. It’s a chance to meet collectors and supporters face to face, share the stories behind my sculpture, and be part of a collective expression of what makes this area — and this festival — so very special and creatively alive.”
Photographer Mae Grimaldi who is new to PAW expressed her thoughts on PAW:
“I am very new to the photography world and PAW. I only got involved this year for the first time thanks to a dear friend of mine, Bev Hill, who I was lucky to meet at Studland while working for the National Trust. This will be my first time exhibiting my work and although I am a bit scared, I am also very excited and thankful for the opportunity. Through this exhibition I want to show people my appreciation for the colors, intricate anatomies and behaviours of insects. Insects have a whole world of their own, and when you look closely at it you realise just how much we miss out on by simply not looking twice. To paraphrase Sir David Attenborough, we cannot protect what we do not understand”.
“Purbeck Art weeks is such a vibrant celebration of local creativity and is what motivated me to start landscape drawing after moving to the area 8 years ago. I’m particularly excited by the opportunity to exhibit at Castle View as well as my open studio this year as I’m hopeful this venue will offer a unique opportunity to engage with the local community, share the stories and processes behind my artwork, and connect directly with visitors. It’s also a wonderful way to meet fellow artists, exchange ideas, and be inspired by the diverse talent in the region”.
“What I value most about being part of the PAW festival over the last few years is the opportunity to meet and connect with like-minded people; people who not only value and appreciate an individual’s work but also recognise how special a place Purbeck is to work in and live. I am forever inspired by the stories, conversations and kindness of all of the artists and all of the visitors who make the effort and take the time to support what the festival is about. The opportunity to exhibit at Castle View is incredibly exciting to me, as it combines the things I value and roots them in a special location – what could be better than the chance to meet wonderful people and share art in a place with a remarkable story”.
Visitors can expect to find a wide variety of work on display – and perhaps even discover the perfect piece to take home.
Useful Information:
- Exhibition dates: 2–8 June 2025
- Opening times: 10am to 4.30pm daily
- Venue: Castle View Welcome Centre, Corfe Castle, Wareham BH20 5DR
- Parking: National Trust car park on A351 opposite the castle mound (free for NT members)
- Public transport: Purbeck Breezer no.40 (Poole to Swanage), no.30 (Swanage to Weymouth via Corfe Castle)
Don’t miss this chance to explore local art in an iconic location. Post-PAW Festival there will be a series of PAW artists who will be working in the grounds of Corfe Castle between June 11 – July 16 every Wednesday 10-4. This is a new visiting artist scheme between PAW and the National Trust. More details can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle.