Call for Artists: The Great Torre Abbey Paint Out

Torre Abbey, Torquay Pavilion Creative Engagement Group, and Artizan Collective are seeking ten artists to take part in The Great Torre Abbey Paint Out. Taking place across the 5th and 6th of September 2026, this event marks the final weekend of the Art on Your Doorstep initiative and will celebrate our local heritage and outdoor creativity.

About the Opportunity

We are looking to commission ten artists to form our Plein Air Artist Trail on Saturday, 5th September. Commissioned artists will paint on location, engaging with audiences about their practice and being a part of the events activity. You will be stationed at key sites along the Art on Your Doorstep route and the Agatha Christie Mile, spanning from Torquay Train Station to Agatha’s Bench, via Torre Abbey and the Pavilion.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a diverse range of practices that demonstrate the breadth of plein air and open-air creative processes, from the more traditional association with oil and watercolour, through to digital, urban, printmaking, and other media.

Specifically, we are looking for practitioners who:

• Have experience working outdoors on location, OR have experience working in an engaged way with the general public.
• Are comfortable actively engaging in conversation with the general public about their practice while they work.
• Are available to participate fully in the weekend's events, including joining the Plein Air Art Competition on the second day.
• Are able to commit to the opportunity to its fullest extent. This includes continuing with works after the event and providing a minimum of one final work for the legacy exhibitions. (For context, during the previous Paint Out, artists produced an average of three works for the legacy event, alongside their on-the-day sketches and plein air studies).

Fee Details and Benefits

Each commissioned artist will receive a fee of £150.00 plus reasonable travel expenses.

Additionally, all commissioned artists will receive two highly sought after exhibition opportunities: the first in Torre Abbey and the second in Torquay Pavilion.

All commissioned artists will also be invited to participate with no fee in Sunday's Mass Plein Air Art Competition (equivalent of £25).