“On the left, Durlston Head roaring high and low like a giant asleep. On the right a Thrush. Above the bird hangs a new moon and a steady planet." Thomas Hardy, 1875. The Isle of Purbeck has always been a source of inspiration for artists, writers, sculptors and poets.

A rich diversity of landscapes has inspired many works of art and literature, from the wild, open downs - jewelled with wildflowers in summer with spectacular views, lonely and mist shrouded in winter. The "iron coast and angry waves" of the south Purbeck coast are in contrast to the quiet shores of Poole Harbour and the wet woods and reedbeds at Arne, providing students with opportunities to explore landscapes in visual arts, in the company of celebrated artists like Graham Sutherland, John Piper and Paul Nash, whose seminal "Swanage and Seaside Surrealism", described the power of the landscapes of Purbeck.

A rich tapestry of history, myth and folklore is woven around the Isle of Purbeck, inspiring writers from Thomas Hardy, John Galsworthy, Enid Blyton and more recently, Paul Hyland.

Smugglers’ tales of the coast, the curious Victorian history of Swanage and a wealth of Civil War stories woven around Corfe Castle provide a rich vein of inspiration for young writers.

Art and design play a vital role in interpreting Purbeck's natural heritage, through interpretation and displays. Many sites in Purbeck offer the chance to work with students to analyse existing displays and help them create their own.

Other opportunities include the use of creative work to explore environmental themes, the opportunity to display work to visitors or contribute new artwork and use field sketching to understand Purbeck’s incredible wildlife.;