Dalbeattie’s first ever Book Festival 10th-15th August 2026 Supported by The King’s Arms and Dalbeattie Library. Programme Download the programme Dalbeattie is home to many talented writers, from science fiction, crime, poetry, historical novels as well as non-fiction. The Library will be hosting storytelling and Margaret Movement Dance. Follow the Golden Hedgehog trail in Dalbeattie woods and compose a poem with pebbles. Pre-readers make your first book, using stamps. More details to follow on musical events.   Gordon Smart About the author Gordon was born in Brisbane, Australia and grew up in the South Side of Glasgow. He studied at Aberdeen University and graduated in English. He taught English in secondary schools in Glasgow, Western Australia and Clydebank before working as a development officer, then as a Quality Improvement Officer before he decided to retire and fulfil a lifelong ambition: to be a writer! Between 2017 and 2020 he published a series of three crime novels set in and around Glasgow: A Rendezvous with Death, The Deadly Shadows and Death of an Angel. His latest crime novel is Deception, published in 2024. He lives in the West End of Glasgow with his family.

18th April – 31st July 2026 With Phil Crennell, Seanin’ Tinelly, Laura Derby, Annie Horsley, Alex Little, Ian Gascoyne

28th February 2026 11am – 6pm

Meet every third Friday of the month with Heather Taylor. heather.commingled@gmail.com www.commingled.org.uk

Saturday 21st June 2-6pm 2025. Come and chat to Phil about his inspirations and philosophies around his art. Drinks and nibbles available.

Poetry book launch by Dalbeattie poet Claire Phillips, reading from her debut poetry collection; “Here to Stay”. Claire will be joined by poets, John Burns, Angus Macmillan and Jane Macbeth. Come along from 7 till 9 on Friday 15th August 2025 to hear beautiful, tender and fine tuned poetry. This is a free event. Here to Stay is out now on Drunk Muse Press.  

From 3rd May until 12th July the gallery will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 11-6pm 2025. “I shape my work to display the infinite tactile forms to be found in wood.I love to see boards cut as unseen pages from a tree.What will it become. A dwelling, workshop, table, seat by a blazing fire.Or so much more.” “I paint visionary landscapes, trees, nature spiritsand take pareidolic journeys into other dimensions.” Open by appointment and meet the maker 07753 420661. Our first exhibition since re-opening.