Highcliffe Food & Arts Festival
This year’s Highcliffe Food & Arts Festival was a real highlight for me, and even more special as it was my very first event showcasing my work.
After a week of storms, strong winds, and plenty of nervous weather-checking, the weekend arrived with the most glorious sunshine. It honestly felt like such a relief — and set the tone for what turned out to be a truly special couple of days.
The Arts Village was beautifully curated by Loz and Kat from The Little Craft Shack, and they did an incredible job of bringing together such a thoughtful, inspiring mix of artists and makers. It felt cohesive, considered, and full of creativity at every turn.
It was also such a joy to be surrounded by the other incredible creatives exhibiting their work. There was such a lovely sense of support throughout the weekend — everyone was so kind, and it was a genuine pleasure to connect with so many talented people.
I shared a gazebo with the wonderful Sophie from Sandbanks Jewellery, and our work complemented each other so naturally. Her coastal-inspired jewellery sat so beautifully alongside my abstract seascapes and skies — it felt like our pieces were in conversation with one another, both echoing the sea in different ways.
One of the real highlights of the weekend for me was selling one of my largest paintings. It’s always such an amazing feeling when a piece connects with someone, but there was something extra special about that moment being part of my very first event. I’m so grateful to the collector who chose it — thank you for giving it a new home.
It was also really lovely to see familiar faces throughout the weekend — friends and family popping by, offering support, and sharing in the experience. That sense of community really adds something special to events like this.
The atmosphere across the festival was fantastic. The music, the food, the energy — everything had such a relaxed, family-friendly feel. It’s the kind of event where people linger, chat, and genuinely enjoy being there, and it made my first experience of exhibiting feel really welcoming and enjoyable.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, spent time looking at my work, and especially to those who collected a piece to take home. Your support genuinely means the world.
A truly special first event — full of sunshine, creativity, connection, and a strong reminder of why I love doing what I do.
