Artist Joanne Short has been working with Visit Somerset as their official artist to inject a dash of Somerset art and colour into their visitor guides and website.

"Something to look forward to later in the year, once travel restrictions are hopefully eased a little as Coronavirus is taken under control, are the wonders of the Somerset landscape and the many attractions."

Above: Visit Somerset visitor guides featuring art by Joanne Short on display in Wells

Giles Adams, the chair of Visit Somerset, contacted the gallery and artist Joanne Short in May 2019 to see if the artist would agree to license her art for the new Visit Somerset 2020 visitor guide and website.

Giles was attracted to Joanne's colourist contemporary work and by her acclaimed and popular wall art vintage style art posters of Somerset. 

With paintings and art posters of Wells Cathedral, Vicars' Close, Bath and Glastonbury the artist has managed to capture many of the key locations in the county and the Visit Somerset team felt her paintings would make ideal front covers for their 2020 and future visitor guides. Joanne Short lives and paints in Wells in Somerset for part of the year as well as painting from her studio in Falmouth in Cornwall.

After meeting with Giles and the Visit Somerset team at Wookey Hole in Somerset, it was agreed that Joanne's painting of Wells Cathedral in the springtime 'Wells Cathedral from the Bishop’s Palace Gardens' should be licensed for the cover of the 2020 visitor guide.

"The plan is to use different images by the artist over the next few years to establish a strong and contemporary look for Visit Somerset."

Visit Somerset

In addition to licensing Joanne Short's painting for the cover, Visit Somerset also commissioned the artist to create a series of digital iPad drawings for a map of Somerset.

Locations include Glastonbury Tor, Wells Cathedral, Cheddar Gorge, the Royal Crescent Bath, the Pier at Weston-super-Mare, the Lighthouse at Burnham on Sea, the Museum of Somerset Taunton, the Wellington Monument, North Hill Minehead, Ham Hill Monument, Burton Pysent Monument at Curry Rivel, Burrow Mump at Burrowbridge, Dunkery Beacon, Bishops Lydeard West Somerset Railway and the East Somerset Railway have all been drawn by the artist for the map.

Visit Somerset was delighted with the Joanne Short designed map.

"It's lovely! Ties in so well with the cover and branding."

Visit Somerset

The artist designed the entire map including the background and layout with Joanne's famous flowers decorating the edge and special drawings of weeping willows, poplar trees and more making an appearance.

The Visit Somerset visitor guide is available now in selected locations across Somerset and is also available to view online.

View the Visit Somerset 2020 visitor guide online

View and buy the map online - perfect for holiday homes in Somerset.

In 2021 Visit Somerset again turned to Joanne Short for inspiration and commissioned a beautiful painting of the seaside town of Minehead in Somerset. 

"We love it, well done to Joanne - again!!"

Visit Somerset

License art for your business or organisation

If you are interested in licensing contemporary art for marketing, homeware or gift ranges please do get in touch as we have a long history and knowledge of licensing art.