Located across the stunning Dorset countryside and coastline, the free open studio event offers visitors a unique opportunity to meet, view, buy or commission something special from artists in over 320 settings from lofty barns, contemporary spaces, chocolate box thatched cottages and historic buildings.

Widely regarded as one of the most vibrant and stimulating arts events on the south coast, this 9th festival will showcase ceramics, mosaics, painting, photography, jewellery, sculpture, textiles, drawings, calligraphy and furniture from the county’s most inspired talents.

Since its inauguration in 1992 Dorset Art Weeks has steadily grown into a 16-day long artistic showcase. This comes as no surprise to founding member and featured artist, Britain’s pre-eminent furniture designer, John Makepeace OBE.

“The experience of meeting artists, hearing about their work first-hand and being able to purchase and commission items directly from them has no substitute.”

Organisers look forward to building on the success of the last event in 2006, which generated £1.1 million in sales with artists enjoying over 100,000 studio visits.

A brochure giving full details of artist’ studio and exhibition locations throughout Dorset Art Weeks will be available from spring 2008, for more information please visit www.dorsetvisualarts.org