Artists’ Impressions of the Natural Beauty of Dovedale

Dovedale is home to the River Dove which rises on Axe Edge above Buxton and meanders through a beautiful array of rich valleys and rolling dales. This stunning part of the Peak District is a National Trust Reserve and has been cared for by the National Trust since the 1930s.

Its majestic deep limestone ravines and hillsides dotted with wildflowers have been attracting noted visitors to the area since the late 18th century with literary figures such as Lord Byron and Samuel Johnson having visited this beauty spot.

Such is the beauty of this area of the Peak District that it’s also inspired a great many paintings and has been home to a number of art exhibitions. Henry Moore and Joseph Wright are two artists famous for painting Dovedale and the natural beauty of the area continues to inspire artists to this day.

In May this area hosted an open-air art exhibition which was organised as part of a partnership project between the National Trust, Derbyshire County Council and Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. It included 24 artists’ views of the valley including reproductions of some of the landscape paintings held at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery which were exhibited in the very positions from which they were painted.

This is the second year that the exhibition has taken place and visitors to the area can view the original paintings all year round at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery. Projects Officer Paul Mortimer of the White Peak commented on the exhibition in the National Trust’s ‘Your Peak District’ magazine, ‘This innovative project provided a direct link between the natural landscape and our natural heritage and was very well received. We’re looking to provide both an intellectual and an outdoor experience for our visitors.’

If you’re an art and nature enthusiast then be sure to take a short break to Dovedale where you’ll find the perfect blend of natural beauty and canvass.

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