Exhibitions
Plesiosaurus 200: Celebrating 200 years since Mary Anning’s groundbreaking discovery
A temporary exhibition
Free with Museum Admission
Our temporary exhibition, exploring the history of Mary Anning’s discovery of the first complete plesiosaur skeleton, opened in the Geology Gallery on 25th May.
The exhibition is brought right up-to-date with amazing local modern finds including the second ever specimen of a very rare new plesiosaur that was the ancestor of Attenborough’s ‘Sea Rex’.
‘Connections’ by the Connections Workshop Group led by Christine Allison
14 November 2025
The Connections exhibition showcases beautiful and thought-provoking scrapbooking art created by participants in our Connections Workshop Group led by Christine Allison at Lyme Regis Museum.
Inspired by the idea that museums are places of exploration and discovery, the project invited members of the group to turn that same curiosity inward, creating deeply personal scrapbooks that tell their own unique stories. Each piece reflects moments of joy, sadness, laughter, and resilience, offering a window into the lives and experiences that shape who we are.
Through the creative process, participants found new ways to express themselves, connect with others and celebrate what makes each story special. The exhibition is a testament to friendship, creativity, and the power of art to enhance wellbeing, showing how making, sharing, and valuing our own work can open up new horizons and help us feel good about ourselves.
Connections celebrates individuality and community, inviting visitors to reflect on their own journeys and the ties that connect us all.
Connections will be running in our Rotunda Gallery from 14th November 2025. For visiting information please see our Plan your Visit page. This exhibition is FREE with admission.
‘Folded Forms of Prehistoric Life’ by Emily Higgs
The Folded Forms of Prehistoric Life exhibition showcases a series of stylised works by Dorset-based digital artist Emily Higgs, who explores the form, structure and movement of ancient animals. Known for bending the bodies of her subjects, Emily creates compositions that may appear unconventional at first glance, yet they still convey a convincing sense of life and behaviour. Through this approach, Emily invites visitors to reconsider how prehistoric creatures might be interpreted beyond strict scientific realism.
By living within close reach of the Jurassic Coast, Emily’s uses her surroundings to continue to inform her fascination with prehistoric life. Drawing inspiration from documentaries and museum fossil displays – particularly those that show evidence of behaviour – Emily’s work reflects moments captured in deep time. Each piece begins with simplified shapes that establish posture and movement, then gradually develops into more complex forms through a considered colour palette inspired by living modern animals.
Emily’s digital process plays a central role in shaping the final images. Starting from loose pencil sketches, she builds up layers before introducing texture and depth, creating the impression of three-dimensional form. This approach, combined with her signature ‘white eye,’ gives her work a cohesive and recognisable identity across the exhibition.
Folded Forms of Prehistoric Life highlights Emily’s ability to balance artistic interpretation with scientific influence. The exhibition invites visitors to look closely at the shapes and structures of both extinct and living organism, and think about how simplified forms can be transformed into lively, expressive representations of life. In doing so, the exhibition offers an engaging look at how the artistic process can influence the way we see and understand the prehistoric world.
Folded Forms of Prehistoric Life will be running in our Rotunda Gallery from 12th May 2026 – 14th September. For visiting information please see our Plan your Visit page. This exhibition is FREE with admission.
Are you an artist who is interested in exhibiting in the Rotunda Gallery? Please download the instructions on how to apply for consideration.