DORSET'S natural beauty is being celebrated in a new exhibition by residents who love living here.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) is launching the My Wild Life art exhibition from Saturday, November 5 to Sunday, November 20 at the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre.

The exhibition will feature the work of nine local artists using the mediums of photography, pottery, watercolour, silk paintings and wool sculpture.

The exhibition is inspired by the DWT My Wild Life campaign, where we asked members of the public to share with us what makes their lives wild and what they love about the natural world.

All of the nine artists exhibiting at the Chesil Beach Centre art exhibition have a story to tell about how Dorset’s wildlife and landscapes have inspired and influenced their work.

Wildlife photographer, John Palmer, said: “The breathtaking beauty of nature is right here on our Dorset doorstep, and I am so very fortunate to be able to capture its wonders on camera. Our wildlife can be quite elusive, however over the years I have dedicated my time to get ‘up close and personal’ with the Brown Hare.

"I don’t always press the camera shutter, because sometimes I just want to feel that special connection with this wonderful animal when we look into each other’s eyes. Simply magical.”

Stone balancing artist, Adrian Gray said: "As the pioneer of Stonebalancing art, people always ask me how I got started. I wish I could say there was a ‘eureka’ moment, but the truth is, my ideas were inspired on the remote stretch of coastline known as the Undercliff. This rugged, isolated wild shore has a huge selection of great shaped stones that I could experiment with and after every storm I was presented with a new palate of rocks. Now the whole of the Dorset and Devon coast is my studio and I wait with anticipation for those winter storms to turn up something new."

DWT’s Chesil Beach Centre Assistant and exhibition organiser, Vicky Ashby said: “Following the success of the Dorset Art Weeks exhibition this year, we are very pleased to be able to showcase more local artists and their fantastic work, including cards and prints. The location of the centre is an ideal backdrop, over-looking Chesil Beach so you can also enjoy wildlife spectacles such as hundreds of brent geese on the Fleet Lagoon. There’s some fantastic walks on the beach, the Taste* café has some delicious snacks, and you can browse our wildlife gift shop.”

The My Wild Life exhibition will run from Saturday, November 5 until Sunday, November 20 from 10am – 4pm, 7 days a week. The Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre is located halfway along the causeway between Weymouth and Portland and has a pay and display car park. Find out more at www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/chesil.