The walking trail is available as a printed guide from local Tourist Information Centres and Libraries.  It also lists artists working

SWANAGE SEEN ART TRAIL OFFICIAL LAUNCH

We were thrilled with the launch of The Swanage Seen Art Trail on Saturday 5^th December. The weather cleared and many people gathered on the terrace above the Prince Albert Gardens where the Mark Gertler panel was sited. His son, Luke, came especially down from London to open the event with a very interesting account of his father’s time in Swanage. Pennie Denton, author of Swanage Surrealism, who wrote the biography of Paul Nash, the next board on the trail, in the Heritage Centre, spoke of Nash’s connection to Swanage. Present too, Oliver Field, and his son Robert, descendants of Walter Field RA, whose painting ‘Come unto these Yellow Sands’ is depicted on the panel in Shore Road. Oliver gave enlightening account of his Great Grandfather’s life and times.

Jim Knight MP arrived and after an enthusiastic introduction, cut the ribbon and announced the Art Trail open! After celebratory drinks at the Art Hut, we followed the trail to the Heritage Centre, Paul Nash. Then to Shore Road where Oliver Field cut the ribbon on the Walter Field panel and spoke some more about his famous relative. On to the Denis Lowson art panel in Institute Road, Carlotta Barrow who had known Denis since the ‘50s told us about his life and work.

The rest of the Art Trail boards were on display in Totally Local, Commercial Road. The Graham Sutherland panel was on loan from Durlston Castle, Charles Conder, Augustus John and Alfred Palmer. The Henry Tanworth Wells panel on display for the first time is to be sited at the Burngate Stone Centre, Langton Matravers.

Grateful thanks to Cobalt Corporate Finance, Strata, Swanage Town Council, 4Matt Framers, Keates Quarries, Community Champions and all sponsors.

Latest Swanage Seen Art Board, Alfred Palmer ROI

We are delighted the Alfred Palmer Art Panel is now completed; it has been sponsored by David and Paddy Price-Hughes and depicts St. Mary’s Church, where they were married in 1956. It is in memory of her father, Dr de Jersey, well remembered in Swanage.

This panel has been entirely produced locally, the pastel of St. Mary’s Church is owned by David Haysom who has generously allowed us to use the image. The self portrait is the property of the Swanage Museum and likewise they have let us use it. Richard Jeffery photographed these two pictures specially for the Art Trail and we have a lively biography of the artist, Alfred Palmer by renowned playwright & author Jeremy Paul. Paul Angel and Carlotta Barrow worked on the layout.

The Reverend John Wood of St. Mary’s Church approves the panel and to site it on the railings by the steps, seems favourable.

We are so thrilled to have this sponsorship from Cobalt Corporate Finance LLP, the specialist advisors in Technology, Media and Telecoms. You can read their statement below.

Cobalt is delighted to be the major sponsor of Swanage Seen Art Trail which is a great asset to Swanage. It illustrates the cultural richness of the Swanage area with work by internationally acclaimed artists; continues the educational legacy from Burt and the other Fathers of the town; and provides another strand for the evolving tourism strategy for Swanage and Purbeck – which can be activity based by following the Trail or passive by enjoying installations on an ad hoc basis.  The Art Trail provides a sustainable historical context to the thriving contemporary arts scene.

This has been a truly amazing journey, from 1999 returning from France and first seeing in Le Havre, display boards along the seafront showing the famous artists who had painted there.

Suddenly, thinking about Swanage and the paintings I had seen in Tate Britain, in books, in friends’ houses and the idea was born.

Amassing the information about the paintings, portraits, copyrights etc would not have been possible without the financial award from the Scarman Trust, Community Champions Scheme. Also, thanks to Strata and the amazing pool of talented artists, designers, photographers and writers who have supported and given of their talents to this project.

Artist Impression of Swanage Seen Panel

With the first three boards completed, Walter Field, Charles Conder, Paul Nash, we were able to inspire new sponsors and completed the following three display boards. Augustus John, Mark Gertler and Augustus John. Now we are looking for sponsors for the next three artists. Lucy Kemp-Welsh, Alfred Palmer and Frederic Cumming.

We are also waiting for Council backing and planning permission to place these on or near the sites, where they were painted, with a printed leaflet of the planned route of the Art Trail.