Gallery by the Lakes near Dorchester, Dorset will be the first to unveil previously unseen works by internationally acclaimed artists through a series of exhibitions from February 2025. Its line-up includes solo shows from distinguished artists, Laura Rich and Carol Peace, and a Dorset debut for globally renowned group, The Arborealists, as it showcases its 40th exhibition.

Madeleine Bertorelli, gallery director at Gallery by The Lakes, said: “It’s fantastic that these established artists have chosen our gallery to reveal brand-new works. Laura Rich is one of our original gallery artists and her solo show Petrichor in 2018 introduced her colourful, light filled landscapes to new collectors. We’re looking forward to exhibiting her new works for her second show with us this spring.

“Having 26 acres of beautiful botanic garden as a backdrop really gives our setting a unique edge and allows us to more deeply connect with our artists, including Carol Peace, whose sculpture is some of the most admired in the park, and The Arborealists with our wonderful collection of trees. For our visitors, our location creates a fully immersive gallery experience and complements our collection of artwork – much of which celebrates the natural world.”

Gallery by the Lakes kicks off its exciting exhibition programme on 14th February 2025 with ‘In Between Horizons’, a solo show by contemporary painter, Laura Rich. Running until 15th March, the exhibition reveals an evocative collection of abstract landscape paintings which capture the ever-evolving relationship between nature and transformation – echoing Rich’s personal experience of intense, emotional change through parenthood.

With 15 years’ experience in the creative industry, Rich’s works are held in private and commercial collections internationally. She uses bold, expressive brushwork and layered textures – with some of her upcoming works featuring up to 20 layers. Rich added: “My method of painting in many layers came from needing a technique that fit around having small children.

“I used to paint when they were napping in the day, and I never knew whether I would have 20 minutes or three hours. I had to develop a way of working quickly and being able to down tools at any point, so working with oil paint, I could go back to a piece in the evening and finish a layer. I've developed this method more since I now have the luxury of more time in my studio, but the premise of working in series in this way has always stuck."

From 22nd March until 19th April 2025, Gallery by the Lakes welcomes The Arborealists, a group of 50 professional artists celebrating trees. The group was founded by artist Tim Craven, who previously led a 37-year career as the former curator at Southampton City Art Gallery and is currently Chair of the Friends of Southampton’s Museums, Archives and Galleries.

The Arborealists’ 40th exhibition of over 40 selected works has been curated by Craven and Paul Newman, artist and Creative Director of Dorset Visual Arts at Sherborne House.

Artists in The Arborealists hail from across the UK and beyond and are united by their love of trees. Works range from dramatic to surreal as each individual employs a broad variety of working practices – scale, medium, philosophy, style, and technique.

The captivating works by The Arborealists bring to life the vast importance of trees and our dependence on them – a sentiment shared by Sculpture by the Lakes as it works to conserve many threatened tree species from around the world.

Esteemed sculptor, Carol Peace, is revealing more than 20 new works at a special solo show at Gallery by the Lakes between 26th April and 24th May 2025.

Peace’s sculptures are inspired by the natural world and human condition, delicately balancing form and material. Each piece invites viewers to contemplate themes of beauty, fragility, and resilience. Her artwork is shown and collected across the UK, Europe, the Far East, and United States, with her large-scale work permanently on display at Glyndebourne and at The Dorchester’s country house hotel in Ascot.

Through her solo show at Gallery by the Lakes, Peace will unveil multiple works including a sculpture based on Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, and unseen drawings. Her works will be on display in the gallery and throughout the sculpture park, with the newest park additions including ‘Family 3’, a six-foot high mild steel and bronze piece, and ‘Tightrope’, a life-size bronze resin sculpture.

The Gallery in the Makers Yard at Sculpture by the Lakes is free to enter and is open weekly from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Discover more and explore the collection at gallerybythelakes.co.uk.