Autumn 2025 has become a very busy time for the business

Aware how I can dip in spirit once schools return at the start of September and the shop is much quieter I decided togetinvolved in some projects to keep myself busier through September until December. In true Andy style I have overdone it but definitely have a lot going on which is raising awareness of the business.

Autumn projects:

Autumn Project One

Coastal Life Stories

I applied to be a ‘Coastal Champion’ as part of Dorset Coast Forum 30th anniversary celebrations. I was successful and have been selected as one of 18 across Dorset. During the summer I was interviewed about my links to the coast which go back to my childhood in East Kent and again since moving to Purbeck, Dorset in 2016.

As an individual I love to walk by the coast look at its changing geography, kayak and sail in Swanage Bay. As an artist it features in many of my art works and often after drawing a scene I will notice changes in the view that I can tell visitors to my shop nd prospective buyers about.

In 2023 I worked alongside Sara Parker of Dorset Coast forum, the Environment Agency and Swanage Council on the ‘Flooding Swanage with Art’ trail. I drew 13.5 metres of art that will go back up on the flood blocks in Mid September for its 3rd consecutive winter exhibition. On the previous two years I have led art walks on the trail supplemented with geographical information about why the coastal defences are needed using my own geographical knowledge (retired geography teacher).

I will be interested to see how having my story shared wider across the county leads to any new projects, visitors or potential customers.

The exhibition has so far been displayed in Lyme Regis, Portland, Swanage and Weymouth with a final showing in Poole prior to the DCF annual conference on November 19th.

Some visitors in Swanage that know me, told me that they had found me in the exhibition.

Autumn project Two – Beach of Dreams

This is a nationwide initiative that has seen a range of activities in places around the coast Inc South Essex /Thurrock where I used to teach in the past. One aspect was to produce silk pennants based on designs submitted, I drew much of the design for the Swanage pennant alongside Dorset Coast Forum.

The pennant and two others for DCF projects at Studland and Charmouth were handed over and a coastal walk took place from Shell Bay, Studland along the south coast path back to Swanage. The yellow wind warning was noticeable but otherwise the weather was pretty good. Inc stops at NT Knoll beach, Middle Beach, Old Harry rocks and Swanage seafront.

Then the final event in Weymouth took place with over 400 pennants, the DCF ones were flown from gigs to rowed by Weymouth sea rowing club. I was unable to attend as on my September holiday break.

The pennant is now in the studio as its home.

Autumn Project Three

Flooding Swanage with Art trail returns to Swanage seafront.

This is the third overwinter exhibition of the art panels done by 6 local artists in conjunction with Dorset Coast Forum . Initially produced between September and October 2023 the aluminium panels are bolted onto the concrete legato blocks deployed as temporary flood defences each winter in Swanage.

After two winter seasons outside some of the panels are showing a degradation of the scenes and work has been damaged. By March 2026 there may well be more damage depending on storm and tidal events. In November 2023 some of the art drawn by AndyKnillArt was damaged when 3 legato blocks were moved several metres by Storm Ciaran overnight. The damaged panels were reinstated with stencilling saying that they were damaged by the storm.

In 2023 and 2024 DCF and Andy did Outdoor Classroom events with local schools about flood defences and the art trail. Andy also led additional art walks that had some geography content and the background to the artists involved, their local sponsors and their art.

In this post Ihave referred to myself in the third person.

All of these Three posts were originally posted on my LinkedIn account.

More project details coming soon.

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