Tolpuddle art exhibition raises £2,000 for Dorset Wildlife Trust (From Dorset Echo)

Tolpuddle art exhibition raises £2,000 for Dorset Wildlife Trust

5:00pm Friday 18th January 2013 in News By Harry Hogger

A PAIR of Dorset artists have provided a boost for the county’s wildlife.

Sculptor Sally Derrick and painter Adrian Whittlesea raised £2,000 for the Dorset Wildlife Trust after donating ten per cent of their sales from an exhibition at Tolpuddle.

The artists decided to donate the share of the proceeds from their exhibition at Southover House to reflect their love of the local nature that inspires their work.

Mr Whittlesea, who studied at the Ruskin School of Fine Art in Oxford and has been a professional artist for much of his professional life, said he hoped it would be the beginning of a continued relationship with the trust.

He said: “The landscape and wildlife of Dorset are inspiration enough for any artist, but for me it was an added spur and reward to have the Dorset Wildlife Trust involved in our exhibition at Southover House. I intend to develop our relationship and contribute what I can creatively to their work.”

Mrs Derrick, who lives in West Dorset and has been sculpting since the 1980s, is a nature lover who boasts her own wildlife friendly garden. She said: “The importance of the work done by DWT in promoting wildlife and addressing the issue of dwindling diversity is something very close to my heart.

“My sculptures for the exhibition were predominantly the wildlife of our very special county and so it was particularly gratifying to make a donation to the trust.” Mrs Derrick also thanked Michael and Terry Slocock for allowing them to use their house for the exhibition.

She said: “They were so generous and welcoming to us and everyone who came to the exhibition and we are very grateful indeed to them.”

Simon Cripps, chief executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, thanked the artist for the contribution.

He said: “We are very grateful for the generosity of both artists for thinking of DWT in this way and also Mr and Mrs Slocock, who kindly opened their beautiful house especially for this exhibition.

For more information about supporting Dorset Wildlife Trust visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or contact 01305 264620.