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Monkton Gallery
First May Bank Holiday
Who Are We?

Four years ago 5 of us Dorset artists got together with the aim of opening a small art and craft gallery near Dorchester.

Winterborne Monkton's old village school became the focus for our dream.

We renovated the building inside and out, fitted it with new lights and a hanging system, and opened in time for Easter 2002.

Since then our team has grown and changed and we have added other events to our activities at the Gallery, including festivals and tuition.

You can read about our plans for 2005 here on our site, find out about our team and see what happened in years past.

Read more about the Gallery Here...

We'd love to hear from you, and to welcome you to our Gallery if you have time to visit us. We're only a stone's throw from Dorchester and Weymouth and can almost always offer you a cuppa if you're passing by!

We hope you'll call in and see us.

Monkton Gallery is now closed until Easter 2006.
In 2006 the gallery will be a venue for Dorset Art Weeks and more details about this event will follow in the new year...

We'd like to thank all our visitors and customers this year for coming to see us and the exhibitions we have hosted this year, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY
Monday 2nd May 2005

Celebrating Rural Dorset Crafts

During the May Day bank holiday we will staged a special Rural Dorset Craft event at Monkton Gallery.

Featuring Dorset makers of the highest quality we will have sculpture, Dorset wood turning, stick making,willow sculpture, garden furniture from local coppicing and other rural crafts. There were demonstrations by some of the makers and a chance to learn more about these contemporary crafts and craftworkers.

Peter Thomas' Woodturning - (c) Peter Thomas - Used with Permission.
Peter Thomas' exquisite turned wooden vessels and dishes were be on display.

Angelika Seik at Monkton Gallery - May Day 2005
Angelika Seik will be joined us and showing her stone sculpture and demonstrated her work during the day.

Peter Moors - Shalimar Designs - at Monkton Gallery 2005
Peter Moors' rustic garden furniture, made from Dorset coppiced woodland, was also to be seen on display.

Zoe Cull and Alex Frendo Evans at Monkton Gallery in May 2005
Zoe Cull and Alex Frendo Evans' bold, modern stonework design, carving and lettercutting with a strong graphic influence were on show, with Zoe and Alex demonstrating their craft to the public.


Terry Heard will be demonstrated the making of Besom Brooms from locally coppiced woodland.

Teaching - Painting and Pottery

If you'd like to spend a morning, afternoon at the Gallery with one of the Monks learning how to make pots or paint pictures, then get in touch.

This year we are offering special tuition and masterclasses at the Gallery for our visitors. Bring your own pictures and get help with mastering new techniques, or simply brush up your skills by working with one of the Monks.

If you're interested in learning other crafts we may be able to help too, so get in touch.

Contact the Monks directly to arrange this and to find out about prices.

Sally Pinhey - general watercolour painting and botanical painting send email
Bill Crumbleholme - throwing and hand-building pots, and raku firing send email

Bank Holiday Events

We have staged many different events at the Gallery.

These have included themed exhibitions reflecting subjects like the Jurassic Coast and changing seasons.

We also have hosted pottery workshops, Bronze Age pit firings and Raku events.

We will be running more of these this year over the Bank Holidays.

Click here for

... Easter Events ...

... First May Bank Holiday Events ...

... Second May Bank Holiday Events ...

... August Bank Holiday Events ...

 

The Monkton Gallery is run as a co-operative by a group of Dorset-based artists and craftworkers who have joined together to bring our work into the public domain and contribute together to the development and promotion of visual and contemporary arts.

Click to view Bill Crumbleholme's work
Bill Crumbleholme
Potter

Click to view Sally Pinhey's work
Sally Pinhey
Botanical Artist

Sheila Sanford at Monkton Gallery (c) 2004
Sheila Sanford
Miniaturist

Click to view Elle Neale's work
Elle Neale
Painter

 

 

 

Plans for 2005

We've got lots lined up for the year. We're opening the Gallery every SATURDAY, SUNDAY and BANK HOLIDAY in 2005.

We're also running special art and craft events over the Bank Holidays.

Read more about these events here...

 
Maiden Castle
Rota

Monkton Gallery is at the foot of the largest Iron Age hillfort in the UK, Maiden Castle.

Maiden Castle is looked after by English Heritage.

You can take a guided tour of the castle by clicking here...
Date Monk
March  
  Sally
  Bill
  Jon
  Tessa
  Pippa

 
Calling Local Artists

 

 

 
Fans!!
Join Our Mailing List

RAFT is an informal organisation run by local visual artists to promote creative endeavours.
If you would like to join in with RAFT activities, including having a listing on this website, please contact RAFT by e-mail.

If you'd like to keep in touch with our latest plans then email us and we'll drop you a line whenever there's something new taking place.

Your details will not be passed on to anyone else.

Contact RAFT by e-mail.