Culture

44 The West Dorset Magazine, August 12, 2022 Culture Writer Harry’s trilogy goes from Rust to Bones

Author and journalist Harry Walton has brought out the second book in his series about life in a postapocalypse England. Rattle of Bones available on Amazon is the sequel to his first book, The Rusting Shires, and he is already working on the finale to this trilogy which he hopes to publish towards Christmas. The characters in Rattle of Bones face new challenges when they are sent to Scotland to see what life has survived there. But a deranged murderess leading a gang of cut-throats is threatening a new Dark Age as she preys on starving survivors in Edinburgh. John and Dawn Kane try to rally opposition to fight her unaware that their own little community in Cornwall is facing a terrible and very different threat. Harry, who lives in Weymouth, said: “I have always been interested in the idea of a dystopian society, what would cause it and the challenges that society might face to survive and try and recover. “I chose the Red Plague, a condition causing uncontrolled bleeding, as my decimator, but my real interest lies in constructing how people try to stay alive in a world where only one in a thousand people have survived. “To put that in perspective, the population of Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester would be reduced to about eighty people and that’s before more lives are lost to murder, disease, accident, injury and hunger. “The more you think about it the more you realise that whole communities would be wiped out and that those who did manage to live for any length of time would have to band together for survival.” His writing schedule is packed with ideas and he has already roughed out a novel about first alien contact with Earth taking place in Weymouth. That could be published in 2023. Harry said: “I am currently working on a second trilogy for my Rusting Shires and Rattle of Bones characters and there may be a third. On a completely different note, I am working on plot ideas for an historical trilogy set in England and Egypt. “It follows the transformation of a school bully into a top Egyptologist who begins to realise he may have found clues to the location of a vast lost treasure. “To round all this off I plan to write a love story with a difference, so the next six or seven years will be pretty busy!”

NEW BOOK: Harry Walton’s Rattle of Bones

Artist’s career so far brought to book

Landscape artist Kit Glaisyer has compiled 15 years of his paintings into a new book. The Marshwood Vale & Beyond is being published by Downes Street Editions and is available to buy from August 13. Bridport-based Kit’s love of painting began as a boy, accompanying his father on watercolour painting trips around Buckland Newton and Glanvilles Wootton. After leaving school, Kit did a Foundation Studies course at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art, and then started a Fine Art Degree at West Surrey College of Art and Design. He then moved to London where he started his own studios in derelict buildings in Camberwell and Borough, South London. Kit was later invited to exhibit at the Suzanne Ruggles Gallery in King’s Road, Chelsea. During a trip to the South West in 1998, Kit visited Symondsbury and moved into the Oakhayes Art Residency shortly after. The following year he started a new studio on St Michael’s Trading Estate, before launching his own gallery, Bridport Contemporary, at 11 Downes Street in 2019. Over the years, Kit has become well known for his Drip Figure series as well as his Café Royal series as well as a series of paintings of the Marshwood Vale. Kit said: “The early stages of a painting tend to be quite raw with strong colours and vivid tones deliberately exaggerated so I can clearly spell out the grand themes of the painting. “Then it’s a process of patiently building up the many glazes (layers) of oil paint required, gradually toning down the colour palette to achieve ever greater subtlety over the following weeks and months, improvising and adapting various elements of the painting. “This process means that none of my paintings are rushed, and, essentially, I take as long as I need to achieve the desired result. From there on, it’s all about my relationship with the painting which will continue to evolve and develop in its own way until it feels finished.” Kit will launch his new book at Bridport Contemporary Gallery from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday, August 13. He will also give a talk at Waterstones, Bridport, from 6pm on Wednesday, August 17.

LANDSCAPES: Kit Glaisyer in his Bridport studio

An exhibition which invites the viewer to peek into an alternate reality is on show at the Eype Centre for the Arts from Saturday, August 20 until Saturday, August 27. Imagination Unlocked 3 features the work of Caroline Ireland and David Brooke. Caroline has a passion for colour, for making colours sing. Recently she has been painting imaginary landscapes inhabited by her own hands to convey some of the concerns she has about the dilemma of the human impact on the natural world and our spiritual need for nature and wild places. She said: “I have a love of remote places in the landscape which still have traces of the ancient past; and a love of plants and especially old trees, which outlive us and have lives entirely independent of us, yet are the oldest inhabitants of our communities, sentinels of time.” In David Brooke’s paintings people embark on unexpected adventures such as riding on the back of a large fish, or else they run across the landscape carrying a burning tree. The paintings themselves are meticulously built up in many layers of acrylic paint creating texture and detail. David said: “The idea of mystery for its own sake appeals to me. It seems to me that we always want to know the answers to everything. But I believe it is better just to experience the beauty of the mysterious world. To ask lots of questions, but not to be too worried about knowing if there are any answers. Just enjoy the mysterious.” A section of the exhibition is devoted to paintings from David’s archive from the 80s and 90s – the first time many have been shown together. Some of these pieces have previously been shown at The Portal Gallery, London. All the work is for sale. The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 4.40pm. Head to DT6 6AR. Admission is free and both artists will be in attendance throughout.

COLOURFUL: Caroline Ireland’s Full Moon and, right, Phoenix Tree

AMAZING: David Brookes’ Carrying a Burning Tree and Embarking on a Great Adventure Unlock your imagination for an alternative reality

Harmony in your head with mental health show

Bridport-based mental health charity Harmony is putting on a show aimed at exploring how our minds work. Around the Mind in 80 Days features stage and screen performances by local artists and is being held to coincide with World Mental Health Day. The show takes place from 7pm to 10pm at Bridport Arts Centre on Monday, October 10. Louise Gunnill, peer specialist at The Burrough Harmony Centre, said: “We have created and produced an event we would love people to come to. We aim to reach as many individuals as possible on World Mental Health Day.” Tickets for the show are available at Bridport’s Tourist Information Centre, at bridport-arts.com or on the door.

Lawrence book explores mystery of his death

Non-fiction book Who Killed Lawrence of Arabia? by Mark JT Griffin will be available from August 16. In over 200 pages the book expands on the evidence shown in the Mr Griffin’s film Lawrence: After Arabia which was screened throughout Dorset earlier this year. The book takes an in depth look at the circumstances of Lawrence’s fatal motorcycle crash on Cloud’s Hill. Mr Griffin said: “This book is the result of many years of intense research, drawing on references including biographies, original documents, maps and photographs, many in colour, and is the first time all the information regarding the Lawrence’s crash is gathered in a single volume.” n To order your signed copy please visit lawrencethe movie.com/ product-page/who-killedlawrence-of-arabia

SECRET LIFE OF ARABIA: Author Mark JT Griffin and the poster for his film Lawrence: After Arabia

Go with flow and learn about our rivers

Downstream Dorset, River Tales and Local History is a colourful, easy-to-read journey of exploration and discovery along the many rivers and streams flowing through the beautiful county of Dorset. For ease of navigation, Dorset author Mary van Coller, has divided the book into sections – North Dorset, West Dorset, The Isle of Purbeck, Poole Harbour and East Dorset with each chapter devoted to one of the rivers, tributaries or streams that have brought life to the countryside and to the people who live there. Starting at the source of the river the author follows the waterway to its mouth, showing the derivation of place names along its course and writing fascinating snippets about people and events both past and present. The author has added a personal touch to the book by including her husband Ryan in anecdotes about their trips around Dorset. Together they have walked the hills and travelled the byways looking for springs and mouths of rivers. They have verified facts and stories and have taken many colour photographs that are beautiful and evocative. As the author is also a pet home boarder, different dogs have accompanied them and found their way into several of the photos. The back cover review by Lady Fellowes who lives with her husband near the River Frome, describes Downstream Dorset as ‘an enchanting and extremely charming account of Dorset life. …. Julian and I have learned a huge amount …’ Also included in the book is a page with photographs describing the work of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as the author will be donating 20% of royalties to their vital service. It is the author’s intention that Downstream Dorset will inspire readers to explore Dorset, chat to people who live locally and enjoy the beauty of nature so that they too can discover their own ‘treasures’. There are blank pages at the back of the book to record notes and reminders. Clearly this has been a labour of love taking more than seven years to research and write but as Mary van Coller says on the page of Thanks –‘What a joy it has been!’ n Published by Country Books . ISBN: 9781739582401. £14.95 Available from: countrybooks.biz and Amazon

The West Dorset Magazine, August 12, 2022 47 Culture Look out! There’s music & laughter ahead

Comedy and music will take centre stage in Dorset’s county town this September. Dorchester Arts has announced its line-up of entertainment for the start of the autumn season –taking place at the Corn Exchange and the new Hardye Theatre at Thomas Hardye School. On Thursday, September 8 a comedy network event will showcase new talent at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange from 8pm. The line-up includes Roger Monkhouse, Danny Clives and Horrible Histories’ Naz Osmanoglu. Tickets are £12. Doors and bar at 7.30pm. Age guidance 14+. On Friday, September 9, Glasgow based Celtic band The Tannahill Weavers will perform at the Corn Exchange at 8pm. Doors and bar at 7.30pm. Tickets £15/£13 members and concessions. On Saturday, September 10 film Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist will be screened at the Corn Exchange at 7pm. The film tells the incredible story of cycling legend Marco Pantani. Doors and bar at 6.30pm. Tickets £6 (Certificate 15+). On Sunday, September 11 comedian Kiri PritchardMcLean will perform at the Corn Exchange from 8pm. Doors and bar at 7.30pm. £16/£14 members and concessions. On Wednesday, September 14 a movie double bill highlights the work of local actor and writer Sue Wylie, exploring her experience of living with Parkinson’s. Both based on Sue’s story, What A Load Of Balls: The Parkinson’s Lottery (aka WALOB) and her earlier film, Kinetics, will be shown as a double bill for the first time at the Corn Exchange at 7pm. Doors and bar 6.30pm. Tickets £8. On Saturday, September 17 Dorchester favourite Frank Griffith performs an evening of terrific standards in Jazz Meets Bacharach at the Corn Exchange from 8pm. Doors and bar 7.30pm. £18/£16 members and concessions. On Wednesday, September 28, incorrigible theatre couple Living Spit return to the Corn Exchange at 8pm with Adolf and Winston - walking the tightrope of taste and decency with another slice of poorly researched history. Will either of them escape from this war alive? Doors and bar at 7.30pm. £15/£13 members and concessions On Thursday, September 29, award-winning pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason returns to Dorchester to perform at Thomas Hardye Theatre at 8pm. Her performance is themed around the innocence of childhood. Doors and bar at 7.30pm. Tickets £25/£15 under 18s. On Friday, September 30 surreal comedian Paul Foot brings his new show Swan Power! to the Corn Exchange from 8pm. Doors and bar at 7.30pm. Tickets £16/£14 members and concessions. To book tickets at dorchesterarts.org.uk or call 01305 266926.

MAKE A DATE: Isata Kanneh-Msson and, below, comedian Paul Foot are coming to Dorchester in September

n Garden Pyramid Culver Rose n Looking Glass Ape n Stone Crown Elegy

An exhibition of abstract paintings inspired by the history of Athelhampton House and its award winning gardens has gone on show. Artist Belinda Smith offers a contemporary view on some of the stories that shape the identity of Athelhampton House and Gardens in her debut solo show in England: Under the Cedar Tree. The colourful abstract paintings in this exhibition explore the significance of Athelhampton House and Gardens today and attempt to capture the atmosphere of this historic site in a contemporary, twenty-first century style. The house at Athelhampton dates back to times of Tudor prosperity. Echoes of shapes and themes from around the estate are recognisable in the artist’s work. Whispers of some of the historical characters and stories associated with the House can also be found in the layers of paint, shining a new light on Athelhampton’s role as the seat of the ancient Martyn dynasty, the likes of its ‘wicked’ Regency owner and its gardens designed by Francis Inigo Thomas. A number of the paintings are influenced by the poetry of Thomas Hardy, who himself found inspiration from frequent visits to Athelhampton as a friend of a previous owner. The series of 50 artworks are displayed in a variety of locations throughout the grounds. Under the Cedar Tree continues at Athelhampton House and Gardens until October 4. All artworks in the exhibition are available to purchase and Athelhampton House and Gardens receives a commission on all sold artworks. n belindasmithstudio. com n Instagram: @belindasmithstudio

History of Athelhampton the inspiration for show

n Summertime, 2022, spray paint, acrylic and oil on three canvas panels