The Pine Walk Art Exhibition in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens was established over 50 years ago and is one of the largest, and longest running, open air art displays in the country.

Exhibiting work in the peaceful garden surroundings has helped many artists to establish their work in the local area, making sales to local people and to visiting art lovers hoping to commemorate their trip.

Organisers

The exhibition is run by Bournemouth Borough Council's Tourism Department (see Bournemouth Tourism), and developed and managed by a steering group of artists and Council Officers. 

If you would like to join the steering group, or offer ideas and advice, please contact the Council Events Department - phone 01202 451195 or email events@bournemouth.gov.uk

Exhibitors

The exhibition is open to a wide range of artists: painters (watercolour paintings, oil paintings and much more); photographers; sculptors and all artists creating a broad range of art for all to enjoy.

It is open to student and emerging artists, amateur artists and established professional artists.

Exhibitors can book a space for as little as one day or as much as one week.

To enquire about exhibiting, get in touch with the Events Department at Bournemouth Borough Council - phone 01202 451195 or email events@bournemouth.gov.uk 

The History of Pinewalk Art Exhibition
written by Andrea Duffell, a Pine Walk Exhibition artist.

"Bournemouth’s Open Air Art Exhibition has been running every summer for over half a century!

It was first started by a group of local artists hanging their work on the railings of Westover Road. It was then suggested that a few stands near the Aviary would be a good idea, perhaps for the month of June.  Some wooden structures and bars to keep onlookers from touching the paintings were erected. The artists shared the facilities of the Tufty Club, a hut used to give out information about the squirrels and to supply nuts to children to feed them.

A few years later, a few more stands and August was added.  Bournemouth then was THE place to go. Sundays were packed, especially cloudy days (not many of those in Bournemouth). The tourists loved sitting and listening to the bands which played twice a day. No package deals abroad then - and no shops open Sundays.

For several years the exhibition moved to Tuckton Teas Gardens for two weeks during July. A great holiday for the artists, by the river surrounded by a golf putting green, but a costly expense for the Council moving the stands back and forth. The summer mini holiday was abandoned, and July was then added to the Pine Walk area.

The Council re-vamped the site in the nineties; ageing pegboard and the protective bars were removed and a Café added to make this a lovely venue. Where else can you see original works, talk to, or watch the artist paint, and if you don’t see what you want one of us can paint it!"