Community Stories:

Over 100 people took part in our pop-up events during May and June in Calbourne, Yarmouth and Freshwater. With many adding their own mini-stories about their connection with West Wight as sensory landscape.

You can read their contributions here, and we’ll also incorporate them into the exhibition at Dimbola too.

We also had a wonderful evening of storytelling in partnership with Jean G. Owen of Naked Figleaf Press at CHOYD Hall, Yarmouth on 9th June 2026.

Janet Owen, Pete Johnstone and Nathan Holt introduced the West Wight Portraits of a Landscape project; and four wonderful local creatives read prose from their own work. Huge thanks to Jean G. Owen, Lydia Fulleylove, Kathryn Rossati, and Sarah Nichol for their inspirational contributions.

Final Multisensory Exhibition:

Dimbola Museum and Galleries from 5th September – 31st December 2026.

Learning Resources:

Available on EarthMuseum Learn from October 2026.

Creatives:

Pete Johnstone, photographer

Janet Owen, digital mapping (EarthMuseum)

Nathan Holt, soundscape artist

With creative writing reflection by Jean G. Owen, Naked Figleaf Press

Celebrating both deep-rooted traditions and contemporary innovation through the stories of those who live and work in connection with the land and sea – from beekeepers and farmers to artists, hedge layers, educators, and maritime archaeologists.

Using a distinctive multisensory approach, the project weaves together personal narratives with powerful photographic portraits set in the landscape itself, alongside sound recordings created through the everyday rhythm of people’s work and activities. Together, these elements reveal an intimate, lived relationship with the West Wight environment.

The project culminates in an exhibition at Dimbola Museum and Galleries, a digital map of interconnected people’s stories, and creative learning activities for local children – inviting them to explore, sense, and better understand their UNESCO Biosphere home in rich, meaningful ways.

Made possible through the generous financial support provided by the Creative Island/ Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Fund Past Futures programme; with funding provided by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.