Rural Beauty
- Apr 20
- 6 min read
Words by Mercedes Smith
An inspirational collection of art on show in spectacular floral gardens.
One of the best things to happen to fine art in the last few decades is the rise of the rural art venue. Away from the typical citycentric locations of the artworld, big names and inspired independents have opened galleries and sculpture gardens deep in the English countryside.
Kestle Barton was a notable pioneer, opening a gallery and sculpture meadow on a secluded Cornish farmstead in 2010. Art market giants Hauser and Wirth, who have galleries in Hong Kong, Zurich and Los Angeles, opened their Bruton art space on a farmstead in Somerset in 2014, and Messums, of Mayfair, opened their 13th-century tythe barn gallery and sculpture garden in rural Wiltshire in 2016. For all these venues, remoteness was the risk to their viability, and yet one by one they have flourished. Their success is based on the newly popular draw of the ‘destination art experience’ and the unrivalled pleasure of engaging with art in outdoor settings.
Before all these venues appeared, one Devon family saw the potential for exhibiting art amid the glorious gardens and architectural grandeur of their Dartmoor estate. Since 2003, Delamore House has hosted a month-long May event each year, which invites art lovers to explore works on show in their formal grounds and private drawing rooms. Originally conceived as a showcase for work from the South West, Delamore Arts has grown exponentially and now exhibits art from across the UK and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
“Our first exhibition attracted less than 1,000 visitors over the month, and on some days no visitors at all,” says Nicky Dollard, who with husband Gavin has owned and run Delamore as an agricultural estate since the late eighties. Their decision to launch Delamore Arts was based on their own love of sculpture, and a desire to share their beautiful grounds with the public each spring. “The gardens have always been an important part of the exhibition,” she tells me of Delamore’s tailored lawns, spectacular floral borders and stunning collection of Asian Rhododendrons. “And of course we had concerns about the rurality of our location, but it soon became clear that those fears were unfounded. We now attract visitors from as far away as America, Australia and Japan.”
Delamore Arts has become a mainstay of the South West art scene, offering collectors the opportunity to view and acquire works they might otherwise see only in London or beyond. This May, more than one hundred and fifty artists will present their work, from emerging talents to established and well-loved names. Delamore’s formal gardens are the backdrop for large scale British sculpture, while the Main Gallery, in the elegant 19th century interior of the house, hosts an exhibition of painting and sculptural works.
Each year, the logistics of the event are overseen by Estate Manager David Woodford, whose complex role extends from selecting artists in collaboration with his fellow Trustees, to installing monumental works of sculpture onsite. The diversity and scope of the works, and the wonderful options presented by the garden make it a challenging but rewarding responsibility. “Many works require complicated installation,” he tells me. “Valuable works must be placed securely and protected by cameras, and there are limits to where very large works can go due to access requirements for cranes or mechanical handling equipment.” The exact details of what and where, he tells me, however technical, are always made with aesthetics in mind. “We work with each artist to place their sculpture in a position that best displays the work” says David. “We even consider how the background planting will interact with the piece as colours change over the month, when the shrubs go in and out of flower.”
Art and landscape are natural companions, and Delamore’s location and spring timing lend an uplifting atmosphere to the event. “Our setting is superb here on the edge of Dartmoor,” says Gavin Dollard, whose family have owned the estate since 1669. “We are surrounded by tranquillity, and our fabulous Victorian gardens, which produce stunning displays of colour every day in May.” Visitors to the exhibition are welcomed throughout the month, and the local community benefits not just from the influx of art lovers, but from the generous donation Delamore Arts makes each year to local charities. For artists, the event offers a unique opportunity to exhibit to buyers outside of London, and to present their work in a setting that elevates its meaning and its impact. “Delamore offers something invaluable to sculpture: light and space,” says artist Lucy d’Auvergne, whose work will be on show in the Main Gallery of the house. “Many shows offer outdoor sculpture, but few combine that with a strong indoor gallery space. It is that balance of interior and exterior exhibitions that makes Delamore particularly special.”
Top Left: Ian Marlow - Snowdrop | Top Middle: Sculpture by Hamish Holman | Top Left: Lucy dAuvergne -
Gentle Muse | Bottom Left: Nicola Axe - Voluta | Bottom Right: Clare Bigger - Japanese Cranes
Sculptor Ian Marlow, whose works will be exhibited in the grounds, tells me “I think of Delamore as the start of the exhibition season, and it is a marvellous venue for the display of sculpture. The house and garden, with its enormous rhododendrons all bursting with colour, are sculptural statements in themselves and provide a variety of wonderful backdrops for works of art. From wide open spaces to smaller, enclosed areas, there is always the perfect setting.” In addition to the Main Gallery and gardens, Delamore’s Stable Courtyard will host two exhibitions by Devon’s Artizan Collective which showcases talent from the South West and beyond. Contemporary British Printmakers celebrates handmade print, from traditional woodcuts to etchings, whilst The Kiln Room presents a diverse collection of ceramic vessels and sculptural works in clay. There will also be a programme of Maker Takeover fairs and workshops in the Stable Gallery, where visitors can engage with disciplines including watercolour painting, jewellery making, ceramics, printmaking and wire sculpting.
Next to take the helm of Delamore Arts is Nicky and Gavin’s son Dominic, who has been involved with the event since childhood. “I grew up alongside Delamore Arts,” he says. “My parents started the exhibition when I was very young, and I have been part of it in some capacity since I was four years old. What began as a relatively small exhibition has developed into an event that brings artists, visitors and the local community together each year, and because of that history, I feel a strong responsibility to look after something that has come to mean a great deal to many people.”
As Dominic steps in and the event approaches its 25th anniversary in 2027, the entire Delamore team are taking time to look back on its successes, and to look forward to even bigger and better things. “My role will be about making sure the event continues to be run in the same open and welcoming spirit as it always has been” says Dominic. “A rural location like ours allows people to experience art in a very different way, as part of the environment, and in a world where so much of life now happens through screens, there is something powerful about spending time outdoors and discovering art in such a beautiful setting. Being part of an event that gives people that special experience is incredibly rewarding.” Nicky agrees, adding “We never anticipated the enormous amount of happiness that Delamore Arts has given to so many visitors over the years. We see people arriving and departing with joy on their faces, and that has meant a lot to us all, and to the local community, which is why we plan to continue the event for at least another quarter of a century.”
Visit Delamore Arts from 1st to 31st May 2026 at the Delamore Estate, Cornwood, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 9QT. Open 10.30am to 4.30pm daily including Bank Holidays. Entry £17 on the gate or £14 in advance at delamore-art.co.uk. Event season ticket £25. Under 16s visit for free.
