Our Art Trail is now in its fifth vibrant year! Once again, we will be hosting 22 talented artists and craftspeople in their own homes, studios and community spaces. The trail offers the opportunity to explore our beautiful village at your leisure, allowing you to view and purchase a diverse collection of paintings, prints, pottery, and crafts.

Diane Ablitt will be exhibiting at the Old School House but this year she will be showcasing her designs in a newly refurbished studio in the stunning garden. She will be joined by Kathy Clarke, an impressive linocut printer and Jo Burnell, whose pots are hand thrown in earthenware clay and decorated in bold colourful designs inspired by the Dorset countryside.

Another artist who has been busy building a new studio display area is Rob Adams at Clock Cottage. Cath Broadway from Elm House Studio pottery and Sue Fawthrop will join him. Her work is about mood and atmosphere, inspired by the landscape and coastal areas of Dorset and further afield.

There will be a group of eleven artists in the Village Hall where local charity SERO (raising money for Julia’s House Children’s Hospice) will be offering light refreshments, homemade cakes and sandwiches throughout the four days. Julie Little will be selling her paintings, with all proceeds adding to their funds.

Victoria Garland, a North Dorset printmaker, is a new artist in the hall this year. Most of her work has been produced by the intaglio process of etching either copper or steel plates in limited, variable editions. She is particularly drawn to winter trees without leaves – the integral structure and form being totally visible and inevitably some trees find themselves in her etchings.

Rachel Raine is another new North Dorset addition. She designs and handmakes unique silver jewellery, decorative boxes and other small pieces using mainly recycled silver and fairly traded, traceable, ethically sourced stones. Her designs are mainly inspired by nature’s patterns and textures, incorporating semi-precious stones such as agates and jaspers, as well as precious gems and fossils, including dinosaur bone, ammonites and trilobites!

Village resident Kirsty Baird will be joining the Community Centre artists this year with her paintings inspired by her love of the countryside and village life.

With such a wide variety of artists, from painters to jewellers, photographers to potters and much more, there is something to interest everyone. The trail provides an opportunity to meet local artists in person in their creative worlds and discover new and surprising aspects of their work.

Follow us on social media for artist profiles and more information about the trail and pick up a leaflet from a variety of locations for details about all participants. You can find us on Facebook at Child Okeford Art Trail 2025 and on Instagram at childokefordarttrail2025

Event Code: [COVW]