Painting Competitions

Paint Out Norwich Plantation Garden

13 October 201911 October 2019 by Paint Out

Artist Eleanor Alison painting plein air at Hunworth Hall Paint Out Norfolk Gardens 2019

Ahead of our autumn exhibition 17-27 October in the Norwich Cathedral Hostry our last of seven paint outs in six gardens is on 15 Oct 2019 at Norwich’s Victorian-style gothic Plantation Garden.

The “Gothic” fountain is unique and fancy bricks from a local manufacturer were used to create medieval style walls, ruins and follies. Within less than 3 acres, Henry Trevor established a gentleman’s residence and garden that reflected in miniature the grand country houses of the Victorian period including terraces with balustrades, rockworks, a Palm House, and a rustic bridge.

“3-acre Victorian town garden created 1856-97 in former medieval chalk quarry. Remarkable architectural features include a 60ft Italianate terrace, unique 30ft Gothic fountain, newly re-built Gothic alcove, restored rustic bridge and summerhouse. Surrounded by mature trees. Beautifully tranquil atmosphere. The Plantation Garden is a grade II English Heritage registered garden established 143 years ago in an abandoned chalk quarry some 600 yards from the city centre. It comprises nearly 3 acres in all, and includes, a huge gothic fountain, flower beds, lawns, Italianate terrace, ‘Medieval’ terrace wall, woodland walkways and rustic bridge. There are many hidden and unique features to this idiosyncratic garden, making it a haven of peace and tranquility, and a glimpse into a bygone age.” – Head Gardener

Enter Paint Out Norwich Plantation Garden

Paint Out Norfolk Gardens

Each of the events can be entered individually or as a series. The dates and locations of the Paint Out Gardens series are:

Stody Lodge Gardens (26 May)
Elsing Hall Gardens (16 Jun & 15 Sep)
Houghton Hall walled garden (14 Sep)
Hunworth Hall garden (5 Oct)
Norwich Bishop’s Gardens (14 Oct)
Norwich Plantation Garden (15 Oct)

The finished artworks will be shown and available for sale at the eleven-day art exhibition during the October Hostry Festival in Norwich.

Paint Out Norwich Bishop’s Gardens

13 October 201910 October 2019 by Paint Out

Fittingly, for our autumn exhibition 17-27 October in the Norwich Cathedral Hostry we are also painting the Norwich Bishop’s Gardens on 14 Oct 2019.

The Bishop’s Garden is a historic private four-acre formal city centre garden that has belonged to the Bishops of Norwich for over 900 years and includes 14th-century ruins. The general form of the garden was laid down at least 300 years ago and includes many hidden and historic delights.

“The garden has many hidden delights for visitors such as the large traditional herbaceous borders, a small woodland walk, boxed rose beds, a long shade border with hostas, meconopsis and tree ferns. Also a large wild grass labyrinth, extensive shrubberies containing many rare and unusual plants, among these being a Hebe planted from a sprig taken from Queen Victoria’s wedding bouquet in 1840. There is an organic kitchen garden, bamboo walk…and the garden continues to evolve with new plants and features being introduced year by year.”

Enter Paint Out Norwich Bishop’s House Gardens

Paint Out Norfolk Gardens

Each of the events can be entered individually or as a series. The dates and locations of the Paint Out Gardens series are:

The finished artworks will be shown and available for sale at the eleven-day art exhibition during the October Hostry Festival in Norwich.

Paint Out Hunworth Hall Garden

30 September 201930 September 2019 by Paint Out

Hunworth Hall garden, on 5 Oct 2019 is the fourth of six of Norfolk’s great gardens we are painting in this year as part of a series exploring the draw of the English garden in our cultural and artistic psyche. Whether a cottage garden or a landscaped historic estate they all change through the seasons and our final three gardens are seen through autumnal eyes.

Near Holt and Melton Constable, owners Henry and art historian Charlotte Crawley researched the horticultural heritage of their home and restored its Dutch-style pleasure gardens including flowing lines of sculpted hedged, twin canals, a folly, and extensive topiaried trees cut into balls, cones, and parasols.

Hear Henry describing the garden on the BBC which are partly inspired by the 17th-century Dutch water garden at Westbury Court, Gloucestershire. The garden featured in Country Life, 2013.

Charlotte is also a former Director of the East Anglia Art Fund and has been a Paint Out judge.

Enter Paint Out Hunworth Hall Garden

Paint Out Norfolk Gardens

Each of the events can be entered individually or as a series. The dates and locations of the Paint Out Gardens series are:

Stody Lodge Gardens (26 May)
Elsing Hall Gardens (16 Jun & 15 Sep)
Houghton Hall walled garden (14 Sep)
Hunworth Hall garden (5 Oct)
Norwich Bishop’s Garden (14 Oct)
Norwich Plantation Garden (15 Oct)

The finished artworks will be shown and available for sale at the eleven-day art exhibition during the October Hostry Festival in Norwich.

Paint Out Elsing Hall Gardens

10 September 201928 May 2019 by Paint Out

Elsing Hall Gardens on 16 Jun & 15 Sep 2019 is the second of six days painting in several of Norfolk’s great gardens, and this grade I listed rural home has been described as “one of the hidden treasures of East Anglia”. The one-day paint out will take place among the 20-acre estate of the fifteenth-century house and medieval moat near Dereham. In the nineteenth-century, its appearance was recorded in watercolour paintings by Rev James Bulwer now held in the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery.

Of particular interest in June are the roses in full bloom including:

“a multitude of old English roses that adorn the walls of the house, the walled garden and many borders giving off an almost overpowering scent when in full bloom. Roses in the collection include the famous R. Mme. Alfred Carrier, Vita Sackville West’s favourite R. Souvenir du Dr. Jamain, R. Fantin Latour, R. Cardinal de Richelieu, R. Rambling Rector, R. Ragosa Rosa de l’Hay as well as literally hundreds more.” – Elsing Hall Gardens

The romantic gardens were established over 30 years ago under the direction of Shirley Cargill and have constantly developed ever since in terms of both restoration and innovation. There is a historic hydraulic ram pump that was installed almost 200 years ago and is still housed in its original underground brick pump house accessed by a spiral stairway.

Many other interesting features include the probably unique gingko avenue, the rapidly maturing pinetum, the formal Osprey Garden, the flowing planting around the moat, and densely planted with Lonicera Nitida viewing mound with a spiral path taking one slowly to the summit.

Enter Paint Out Elsing Hall Gardens

Paint Out Norfolk Gardens

Each of the events can be entered individually or as a series. The dates and locations of the Paint Out Gardens series are:

Artist Robert Nelmes painting plein air at Paint Out Elsing Hall Gardens, Norfolk

Stody Lodge Gardens (26 May)

Elsing Hall Gardens (16 Jun & 15 Sep)

Houghton Hall walled garden (14 Sep)

Hunworth Hall garden (5 Oct)

Norwich Bishop’s Garden (14 Oct)

Norwich Plantation Garden (15 Oct)

The finished artworks will be shown and available for sale at the eleven-day art exhibition during the October Hostry Festival in Norwich.

Paint Out Stody Lodge Gardens

28 May 201920 May 2019 by Paint Out

Artist Kate Gabriel painting Carrow Abbey at the Unilever Colman's site during Paint Out Norwich 2018

Stody Lodge Gardens, the Azalea Walk, Norfolk

Stody Lodge Gardens on 26 May 2019 is the first of five days painting in several of Norfolk’s great gardens. The one-day paint out will take in the winding woodland walks, rhododendron blooms, water garden azaleas, and yew hedges of the early twentieth century Lodge.

“The borders of the Azalea walk, flanked by tall yew hedges, neatly frame Stody Lodge as you approach from the visitor entrance to the gardens. Its colour and overwhelming scent are a veritable assault on the senses.” – Stody Lodge

Stody Lodge Gardens, Long Walk, Urn, Norfolk

Stody Lodge and its gardens were designed by London architect Walter Sarel in 1932 for the 1st Viscount Rothermere, the British newspaper proprietor. They are renowned for their stunning spring floral displays with 200 different varieties of rhododendrons and 2,000 azaleas spread across a four-acre water garden.

“One of the most photographed parts of the garden, the Long Walk extends 200 metres from the Main Lawn to the ha-ha which overlooks the park. The urn at this far end of the Long Walk is a copy of the Coalbrookdale Milton Vase depicting scenes of Adam and Eve being expelled from the Garden of Eden.” – Stody Lodge

Enter Paint Out Stody Lodge

Paint Out Norfolk Gardens

Each of the events can be entered individually or as a series. The dates and locations of the Paint Out Gardens series are:

Stody Lodge Gardens (26 May)

Elsing Hall Gardens (16 June)

Houghton Hall walled garden (14 Sep)

Hunworth Hall garden (5 Oct)

Norwich Plantation Garden (15 Oct)

The finished artworks will be shown and available for sale at the ten-day art exhibition during the October Hostry Festival in Norwich.

Paint Out Cambridge 2019 Artist Awards & Prizewinning Paintings

20 May 2019 by Paint Out

Judge James Horton and James Colman presenting Watercolour and Mixed Media winner Susanna Field with her first prize

The inaugural Paint Out Cambridge took place this week and saw over 140 paintings created, each in under 3 hours, across the days and early evenings of 13-15 May. Some 30 plein air artists took to the streets of Cambridge painting its classic colleges, beautiful bridges, meandering River Cam and idyllic meadows with cows, geese and swans, the bustling Market Square, canal boats, punts and of course, bicycles, everywhere.

Andrew Horrod with his First Prize in Acrylics painting of Portugal Street at Paint Out Cambrideg 2019 — Andrew Horrod with his First Prize in Acrylics painting of Portugal Street at Paint Out Cambridge

The successful outdoor art event, run in Norfolk since 2014, finally arrived in Cambridge – aided by partnering with Cheffins Fine Art, whose head of paintings, Sarah Flynn, acted as one of the event judges.

Cass Art donated art vouchers for all participants and the three category winners took home £350 each as well as a box of Cass Art supplies. Artist Robert Nelmes won in Oils, Andrew Horrod in Acrylics, and Susanna Field in Watercolours and Mixed Media.

Artist Sarah Allbrook winning a judge's commendation at Paint Out Cambridge 2019 — Artist Sarah Allbrook winning a judge’s commendation at Paint Out Cambridge 2019

Judge’s honourable mentions and £100 each went to Stephen Johnston, David Wood, and Sarah Allbrook who also sold 5 paintings at the Private View. Dan Llywelyn Hall was noted in dispatches for his imaginative artworks and titling, and the Spirit of Cambridge and £100 went to Alice Thomson for the energy and vibrancy of her illustrative works which also sold well. The paintings were shown at Cheffins Fine Art on Clifton Road until 17 May and a number will be available online at Paint Out Cambridge 2019 gallery.

The artists painted around Cambridge at some of the many locations on this map, taking in ‘town and gown’, the city market and spires, colleges, and countryside on your doorstep that exists along the Backs, greens, ‘pieces’, meadows and fens.

James Colman presenting First Prize in Oils to artist Robert Nelmes — James Colman presenting First Prize in Oils to Robert Nelmes

The winning paintings featured Gonville and Caius College (Robert Nelmes), twilight on King’s Parade (Susanna Field), and Portugal Street from Jesus Green (Andrew Horrod).

The judges were allowed their own personal commendations with London artist Alice Hall choosing Stephen Johnston’s ‘View from the Master’s Garden’ at Trinity looking towards Kitchen Bridge, St John’s College. Local artist and writer James Horton selected local Cambridge artist David Wood’s classic watercolour of Westcott House on Jesus Lane. Head of paintings at Cheffins Fine Art, Sarah Flynn – who also judged at the long-running Paint Out Norwich competition last year, chose Cambridge-based artist Sarah Allbrook’s view south on the River Cam from Garret Hostel Bridge.

Artist Alice Thomson being presented with the Spirit of Cambridge Prize at POC2019

The Spirit of Cambridge award won by Girton-based artist Alice Thomson featured Magdalene Bridge with its punts, bicycles and the views towards Magdalene College and St Giles (Parish of the Ascension) on the slight hill on the horizon – our hospitable hub for the week of painting.

Paint Out is grateful for the packed turnout at the Private View on Thursday 16 May and warm welcome received in the city of Cambridge, particularly from the council when our artists were massed around the Market on Wednesday. Hopefully, Paint Out Cambridge 2019 will just be our first foray into this fascinating city and see us return, perhaps next year.

We have other art events beginning 26 May through to October scheduled in Norfolk historic gardens, at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, and at the Holt Festival. Artists can enter any or all of these to continue to push and present their plein air practice to interested art lovers with a growing interest in and respect of the plein air painting tradition.

Paint Out Cambridge 13-17 May 2019

9 May 201912 April 2019 by Paint Out

Artist Sarah Allbrook, February sunshine on King’s Parade

Paint Out comes to Cambridge

The inaugural Paint Out Cambridge takes place 13-17 May in partnership with Cheffins Fine Art. Dozens of experienced plein air artists used to working on the streets will paint Cambridge’s classic colleges, chapels and beautiful bridges, River Cam, Market Square and other views as seen on this map.

Clare Hall and King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, from the Banks of the River Cam, JMW Turner, 1793 — Clare Hall and King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, JMW Turner, 1793

Founded in 2014, the immersive outdoor art event has already run a dozen events across Norfolk and Suffolk and has been keen to come to Cambridge for a while. Partnering with Cheffins Fine Art has finally made this possible and the Paint Out team are excited to be running the competition, encouraging artists to capture and immortalise Cambridge’s iconic views.

Who could resist a city that drew JMW Turner to its banks to paint Clare Hall and King’s College Chapel, whilst also being home to the Fitzwilliam and Kettle’s Yard and a series of famous art collections at several Cambridge colleges?

“Cambridge has long been on our radar but with new partners Cheffins Fine Art now on board, the realisation of a central exhibition venue as well as other potential sponsors lining up to host various parts of the Paint Out, we see this is an event that will have multiple opportunities for artists to paint both town and gown in one of the most vibrant and fast-growing cities in the UK.” – James Colman, founder of Paint Out

Artist Sarah Allbrook painting plein air, February sunshine on King’s Parade, Cambridge

Home to the Cambridge School of Art (now part of Anglia Ruskin University) and the Cambridge Drawing Society the team from Paint Out are keen to see local and national artists casting their creative eyes over the city and bringing their art skills to bear in classical and contemporary styles and various media that can be applied to canvas.

Artists can enter and find out more through our website www.paintout.events.

Sarah Flynn, head of paintings at Cheffins, said:

“Following the plein air painting event’s success at Paint Out, Norwich, last year, we are excited to support Paint-Out’s inaugural competition in Cambridge. Cambridge has long been an inspiration for artists such as Gwen Raverat, Edwin La Dell and Elisabeth Vellacott and with its iconic and world-recognised architecture and views such as the Mathematical Bridge, King’s College, Rose Crescent and The Backs, we are sure that it will provide endless inspiration for the artists taking part. Plein air painting is an essential part of learning to paint landscape from life and anything to encourage its proliferation within the artistic community is well supported. As the leading fine art auction house in the region, Cheffins is proud to support art events locally and is pleased to support the growth of Paint Out throughout East Anglia.”

The juried painting competition is open to amateur and professional artists alike and features 3-hour and 2-hour painting sessions around the city in full public view during the days and evenings (‘nocturnes’) of 13-15 May. Three eminent judges from the world of fine art (Sarah Flynn, Alice Hall, James Horton) will select the winning pieces with circa £2,000 worth of prizes awarded at the Private View and Awards evening at Cheffins on Clifton Road, on the 16 May (more information email pv@paintoutcambridge.org). The finished artworks will remain on display until 17 May and typically range in price from £150-£850.

Paint Out Cambridge 2019 Judges

Sarah Flynn is Associate Director of Fine Art and Head of Paintings at Cheffins. As an auctioneer and valuer she also once discovered a Rembrandt lying in a homeless charity’s box and secured them £1000s for their work at auction by spotting it. Sarah was a judge at Paint Out Norwich 2018.

Alice Hall is an en plein air painter focusing on landscapes. When she sets out to paint, she looks more like a vagrant than an artist: Wearing many warming layers of paint-encrusted clothing and carrying a rucksack full with paints, pallets, brushes and much more essential clobber besides. She sets up her impromptu studio and starts to work, first sketching the composition and then building up areas of colour. The aim being to capture character and mood, while being truthful to the subject. “Hall sets out to distill that moment when even the mundane can be magical. As you look at her paintings, you can travel to another land too.” – Rachel Campbell Johnston, Art Critic, The Times

James Horton works continually from life whether at Portraits, landscapes or interiors. Since leaving the Royal College of Art in 1974, the Cambridge based artist has travelled, worked and exhibited on location all over the world. Since 2000, he has concentrated on trips to India, Tuscany, North Africa and Jordan. His plein air work is rarely adjusted back in the studio, preserving the essence of time and place. He has written numerous books including the well known ‘Pastel techniques’ (Chrysalis) and ‘An Introduction to Drawing’ (DK in association with The Royal Academy).