The Jerram Gallery

The Jerram Gallery sits in Sturminster Newton, a proper working artist's studio and exhibition space rather than some polished white-walled institution. What you get is access to contemporary art and craft in a place where things are actually being made - there's something about watching an artist's process that changes how you look at finished work.

The gallery focuses on paintings, sculpture and applied arts, with the space rotating shows fairly regularly. It's not enormous, which means you can take it all in without gallery fatigue setting in after twenty minutes. The work tends toward the thoughtful rather than the obviously commercial, so if you're after something genuinely interesting rather than mass-market prints, it's worth the trip.

Allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on how engaged you are with what's on. Admission details aren't always clear on their end, so ring ahead before you go. It works well as a morning stop if you're based nearby - Starlight Glamping is only four or five miles away, making it an easy addition to a Dorset park holiday without eating up your whole day.

Not one for kids who need constant stimulation, but if you've got teenagers interested in art or craft, or you're the type who actually reads the artist statements, it's properly worth seeking out. Sturminster Newton itself is a lovely riverside town, so you can make an afternoon of exploring the high street afterwards.