Artizan Collective is delighted to announce a weekend of outdoor art inspired by plein air tradition, as with the help of ten professional artists, we take over the streets and seafront to show off this creative town like you’ve never seen it before.
“Plein air” is French for “out of doors” so the tradition literally means leaving the studio to directly observe the landscape and paint outside. It’s a centuries old practice but was popularised by the French Impressionist movement and the desire to capture ephemeral qualities of light.
But we’re talking plein air with a difference, and whilst we celebrate the work this painting tradition is synonymous with, we’ll also be welcoming a range of incredible artists with unique, contemporary outdoor practice.
Spread over two days, a range of events will celebrate Paignton’s built heritage and start conversations about the creativity of the town.
On Day 1, see if you can spot one of our artists creating live and find out about the buildings that have caught their attention. Then on Day 2, it’s your turn! Join us all on the seafront as we invite you to “Paint Paignton” with us. Whether you’re a pro, an aspiring talent, or have never picked up a brush before, this day is open to everyone to get involved. Bring your favourite art supplies or pick some freebies up on the day from our art station, and whether you’re a painter, prefer charcoals, or sketch on your iPad, it doesn’t matter, so long as you come on down to help us gather the biggest group of artists Paignton Green has ever seen. Get tips and advice, watch live demos throughout the day, but most importantly, create!
The Great Paignton Paint Out takes over from 22nd-24th September but look out for artists popping up throughout the month or even have a go at “Painting Paignton” yourself. For tips on getting creative outdoors and to find out more about the full schedule of events, head to www.artizangallery.co.uk/paigntonpaintout
The Great Paignton Paint Out is part of “Wide Open” a programme of activity curated by Filament Works CIC and supported by Tonic Creatives CIC. It is funded as part of Torbay’s Cultural Development Fund, a Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) fund, administered by Arts Council England.
Dates and Event Schedule
Day 1 - Painting Paignton: Artist Heritage Trail - Saturday 23rd September - 10:00-16:00
Discover Paignton's Heritage Through the Eyes of Professional Artists
Eight artists take over Paignton to create new works on location across the town. Will you stumble across a couple of them, or walk the whole trail, discovering some of Paignton's heritage treasures along the way and seeing them through the eyes of unique contemporary artists.
The "Painting Paignton: Artist Heritage Trail" starts from Paignton Sands before taking a route through the high street and around Paignton Old Town. There are eight artists to meet all painting at Paignton sites with unique stories. Walk the trail, discover the history, and see Paignton in a new light.
Day 2 - The Great Paignton Paint Out - Sunday 24th September - 10:30-16:00
Take Part in a Mass Paint Out on Paignton Green
Join us all on Paignton Seafront as we invite you to “Paint Paignton” with us. Whether you’re a pro, an aspiring talent, or have never picked up a brush before, this day is open to everyone to get involved. Bring your favourite art supplies or pick some freebies up on the day from our art station, and whether you’re a painter, prefer charcoals, or sketch on your iPad, it doesn’t matter, so long as you come on down to help us gather the biggest group of artists Paignton Green has ever seen. Get tips and advice, watch live demos throughout the day, but most importantly, create!
Whether you're spending the whole day or just passing through there'll be plenty to discover all day. Four of our commissioned artists will be producing new works in situ with talks and demos on every hour. Visiting artists will be sharing tips and on hand to help, and you can drop of your completed works to our pop-up gallery where they'll be in with a chance of being exhibited in showcases following the event. Plus we'll have experts on Paignton's history on hand to tell you about the incredible heritage of the town.
Tell Us You're Coming!
If you're planning to join us on either of the days, you can use the links below to RSVP to our Facebook events and stay up to date on event timings and activity.
Are you a practicing artist planning to attend The Great Paignton Paint Out? We'd love to hear from you and share other opportunities for how to get involved on the day. You can fill in a quick form at the link below to let us know you'll be taking part and we'll be in touch.
Heritage Walk & Contemporary Plein Air Masterclass with Jayne Farleigh - Saturday 23rd - 10:30-15:30
Come and discover our Artist Heritage Trail and enjoy a contemporary take on plein air technique with professional artist Jayne Farleigh.
Starting with a heritage walk around Paignton guaranteed to intrigue both seasoned locals and inquisitive visitors, and concluding with an afternoon masterclass suitable for artists of any background, we have just 10 places available at this full day event arts heritage event.
Places are £58.00 inclusive of lunch.
Heritage Walk
Starting at the seafront and taking in locations across the town centre, historic Winners Street and the Paignton Old Town, this approximately one hour walk will be guided by local history experts and supported by our workshop leader, who will provide context on applying plein air techniques to capturing a variety of locations.
Masterclass
“I am really looking forward to running this en plein air workshop in this beautiful park the location has so much to offer! With its geometrical pathways, mature trees and gloriously colourful planting. The park is also encircled by historic iconic buildings such as the Palace Theatre which dates from 1890. There is level access and plenty of benches to sit and sketch from and refreshments nearby. Bring your art materials and please do get involved!”
This workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities. I am a friendly and experienced tutor, and my aim is to make you feel as comfortable as possible during the day.
Paint Paignton This Summer!
Be part of a Summer of Plein Air with Artizan Collective and The Great Paignton Paint Out!
At the end of September, The Great Paignton Paint Out will invite artists of all backgrounds and abilities to get out and get creative with a mass painting event that will take over Paignton seafront. But the event starts right now, as we invite you all to get outside and "Paint Paignton this Summer" and help us find exciting locations, scenes and sights around the town.
We're inviting you all to visit Paignton and do some of your own plein air practice to be a part of this exciting event. Works submitted as part of "Paint Paignton this Summer" will all be included in the "The Great Paignton Paint Out" online archive, and will have the chance to be included in a legacy exhibition at Torre Abbey, a showcase of all the Paignton works at Artizan Gallery, and will have the chance to be selected for the English Riviera Winter Open Exhibition 2023.
How to Take Part
Let us know if you're thinking about taking part this Summer by filling in this quick form. Once you've done this, we'll send you updates about the event, tips on great locations to visit, and heritage stories about the sites other artists are out there capturing.
Get outside and get painting! Make sure your location is in Paignton and make a note of where you are and what you're painting; if you can, grab the exact What3Words location for where you set up your easel.
Snap a photo of yourself painting on location. Jump in the picture yourself if you want to, or otherwise send us a photo of your setup and your view to accompany your completed work.
Submit your details to us at collective@artizangallery.co.uk We need:
Your name;
Where you were painting and your What3Words location if you have it;
The title of your work;
Images of you on location;
Images of your completed work.
And that's it! By submitting your work you're agreeing that you're happy for us to share it as part of the event and that you're ok with us contacting you about The Great Paignton Paint Out and Paint Paignton This Summer.
Thinking about Painting Paignton this Summer? Let us know and we'll keep in touch by sharing great locations, their heritage and what other people are painting. You can fill in a quick form at the link below to let us know you'll be taking part and we'll be in touch.
Our Artists
We'll be announcing details of our participating artists soon!
Event Maps
Event maps coming soon!
Wide Open
The event is part of Wide Open, an exciting cultural and creative programme in central Paignton between 23 September – 22 October co-ordinated by local producing house Filament and delivered by cultural and community partners. More information is available on the Torbay Culture news pages and Paignton Picture House website, and you can also read the event announcement here.
Torbay's Cultural Development Fund - Paignton Picture House
Torbay’s Cultural Development - Paignton Picture House is a collaboration between Torbay Council, Paignton Picture House Trust, South Devon College, Torbay Culture and the Agatha Christie Festival Limited. It is supported by the Cultural Development Fund, a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) fund, administered by Arts Council England. The aims of the programme are to improve the attractiveness of places through culture, and to support cultural leadership, local skills and the economy.
"Torbay Culture Board is pleased to be working with partners from across Torbay to put Paignton's Cultural Development Fund project at the heart of redevelopment in the town. A cultural programme launching this summer with a farewell to the Picture House before works commence, will, over the next two years, celebrate Paignton and its communities, showcasing the contribution of culture to health, wellbeing, and prosperity for our towns."
Jacob Brandon, Chair of Torbay Culture
Partners
We're working with a range of partners to make the event a success and look forward to sharing more with you about them here.
Volunteer
The two days of activity (September 23rd/24th)will require volunteers for a number of roles including event stewarding and artist support and would be ideally suited to painters, creatives or anyone with an interest in visual arts.
Volunteers will work a half day shift (approximately 4 hours) and will receive training, expenses to cover access and sustenance and we will be happy to provide references also where this is helpful.
To find out more about the event, visit www.artizangallery.co.uk/paigntonpaintout
Interested parties should email a CV or short statement of their background and experience to jacobbrandon@artizangallery.co.uk
Get in Touch
If you have any queries about the event, you can reach out to us at collective@artizangallery.co.uk
For press enquiries, please email jacobbrandon@artizangallery.co.uk
For sponsorship and partner enquiries, please email juliebrandon@artizangallery.co.uk
