Arts & Entertainment
INSPIRED: Former RAF jet pilot Ian Reilly will be auctioning some of his paintings to raise money for the NHS
Ex-jet pilot’s portraits of Wessex go on show at gallery A former RAF jet pilot and ocean yachtsman from Motcombe is showcasing his stunning oil paintings in an exhibition at The Gallery, Shaftesbury Art Centre between June 16 and 29. Ian Reilly was inspired by walking, camping and sketching the landscapes of Wessex and the exhibition will include a selection of his atmospheric oil paintings with all the proceeds donated to an NHS hospital. Art lovers will have free admission to see the aptly named Wessex Wanders exhibition, which is open every day between 10am and 4pm. He said: “The exhibition is a
selection of oil landscapes of Wessex and its coastline. The Motcombe-based artist takes inspiration in walking, camping and sketching its many beauties rolling hills, ancient hill forts and stunning Jurassic coast. “As an ex-RAF fast jet pilot and ocean yachtsman – skies and weather feature prominently. But there is an additional work this year – a tribute to the NHS staff, which will be auctioned and the proceeds donated to an NHS Hospital.” n The Gallery, Shaftesbury Arts Centre, 11-13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury
Festival celebrates literary connections Sturminster Newton Literary Festival is next week! This year the festival will be celebrating the three writers associated with Stur (Thomas Hardy, William Barnes, and Robert Young), writers with a Dorset connection, and aspiring Dorset writers. This year its programme is online and outdoors. All bookings are via Eventbrite and free. On Monday, June 14 at 7pm Lucy Clarke will be ‘in Conversation with Dorset Libraries’. Lucy writes psychological thrillers and will be talking about her writing and new book The Castaways. On Tuesday at 2.30pm there ‘Never a Word’ with Andy Christopher Miller. Andy 64
AUTHORS: Lucy Clarke, Rosanna Ley and Libby Page
will talk about how he has fused real events, psychological insights and a poetic style into a work of fiction set in Dorset. Also on Tuesday at 7pm, Rosanna Ley will be in conversation with Laura E James. Dorset author Rosanna Ley discusses her new book The Orange Grove set in Seville. On Wednesday at 1.30pm is Tess’s Marlott – a literary walk around Marnhull taking
in the places associated with Tess of the D’Urbervilles. At 2.30pm that day there’s a talk on Thomas Hardy’s Women. Writer Peter Tait talks about his new book on the women in Hardy’s life and the heroines in his novels. Then at 7pm you can hear Andy Charman talk about his book Crow Court, which is set in Wimborne and uses Dorset dialect. On Thursday, June 17 at 7pm
Libby Page will be in conversation with Dorset Libraries. Libby will be talking about her writing and new book The Island Home. And on Saturday at 10.30am there will be a literary walk around Sturminster Newton. Blue badge guide Val Atkinson will conduct a walk around the literary places in the town (1.5 hrs). During festival week a video of the area around Sturminster Newton celebrating its literary heritage created by local film maker Niko Forster and narrated by Roger Guttridge will be available, called Literary Sturminster Newton. All events can be booked at Eventbrite.co.uk – search for Sturminster Newton Literary Festival.
