It’s Starting to feel like Spring.

Spring Garden. Dorset

It’s lovely to see some sunshine (well at least in my neck of the woods) and a sign that Spring is just around the corner so I thought I would write a colourful article and a little celebration of colour and also what motivates me to do the type of creative photography that I do.

I get a lot of inspiration for colours and atmosphere from the natural world around me and from my immediate surroundings. I often visit the local beaches at West Bay and along the beautiful Coast Road to Abbotsbury and to Weymouth, through to Charmouth and Lyme Regis in the opposite direction. The Jurassic Coastline is always changing with the weather conditions and I love to get out walking and observe and photograph those changes. I do also love to get to get to local nature reserves and photograph wildfife and flowers in often creative ways.

I have a view towards Colmers Hill and Symondsbury from where I live, so I also get to see some dramatic sunrises and sunsets and lots of lovely rainbows which I love to incorporate into my creative work. I enjoy layering together all the parts that I enjoy about the locations and colours to create a re-imagined digital art work which I will use a tool where I paint the colours together in post processing so I do literally paint with  photography. Sometimes I will use a process called Intentional Camera Movement in my work where you have your camera setting on a slow exposure and wiggle the camera around a bit (can look a bit strange to passers by!) to get a painterly and artistic effect.

Please see a couple of photos below of a Sunset at West Bay and a double rainbow towards Symondsbury in Dorset. Even without Spring you can still find colour in nature 🙂

West Bay Sunset. Dorset.

Double Rainbow. Symondsbury, Dorset.

Where I live in Dorset I have been very fortunate enough to have a number of creative outlets nearby. It’s been great to be a part of a vibrant arts and crafts community and to have the opportunity to have work included in some super shops and galleries locally, along with various exhibitions. I have included a couple of very colourful and Spring ready galleries below where I have work included.

Art and Beyond Gallery & Framers, Beaminster in Dorset. They provide a range of services from Framing to Fine Art printing and have a beautiful gallery space for local and National artists. Situated on the high street with parking opposite or very nearby with a range of traditional shops and cafe’s within this quaint and Historic Market Town. https://www.artandbeyond.co.uk/

Art and Beyond Gallery. Beaminster, Dorset.

Art and Beyond Gallery. Sarah McNulty. Rolling Mists at Dawn Canvas.

Art and Beyond Gallery. Sarah McNulty. Spring Canvas.

Sou Sou West Contemporary Art Gallery, Symondsbury, Dorset. This gallery holds a number of events thoughout the year, from various exhibitions which are Opens/Selected/Group organisations or individual artists can hire a space for a show and also apply for mentoring. Sometimes they hold specific workhops as well. They have recently created a new beautifully laid out shop area for various local artists/crafts and opened up both ends of the gallery spaces to incorporate more art works.

The gallery is situated on the beautiful Symondsbury Estate, very well known for its lovely walks and within very close walking distance to Colmers Hill. There is also boutique style shops and a lovely cafe situated close by the gallery with a free car parking. Symondsbury estate website link. https://symondsburyestate.co.uk/

Sou Sou West Gallery. Spring Time Open Exhibition. Running until the 2nd March 2026. I am not exhibiting in this exhibition but I do have some mounted fine art prints in the shop and some creative greeting cards available of Colmers Hill and Symondsbury. It’s a super Exhibition and a real celebration of colour and creativity. I hope you are able to call in for a visit as the Exhibition ends on the 2nd March 2026 https://sousouwest.co.uk/

Sou Sou West Gallery. Spring Time Open Exhibition 2026

Sou Sou West Gallery Spring Time Open Exhibition 2026

Sou Sou West Gallery Shop. February 2026

Sou Sou West Gallery. Spring Time Open Exhibition 2026

Wishing all a lovely Spring ahead with hopefully some sunshine and drier weather.

Sarah McNulty