Cultural Associations
Over the centuries, Dorset's landscapes have inspired poets, authors, scientists and artists, many of whom have left a rich legacy of cultural associations.
The best known of these is Thomas Hardy whose wonderfully evocative descriptions bring an extra dimension and depth of understanding to our appreciation of the Dorset landscape. Other literary figures inspired by Dorset's landscapes include William Barnes, Jane Austen, John Fowles and Kenneth Allsop.
Turner, Constable and Paul Nash are just a few of the many artists associated with Dorset, while Gustav Holst captured the character of the Dorset heathlands in his work ‘Egdon Heath'. Such cultural associations, both past, present and future, offer a source of inspiration to us all and may help develop new ways of understanding the AONB.
The Dorset AONB remains an inspiration to many artists today. You can find artists studios throughout the AONB on the Dorset Visual Arts website.
