The weekend of 5th and 6th September will mark the end of the highly successful, National Gallery, ‘Art on Your Doorstep’ trail, brought to Torbay by Torre Abbey.
The Great Torre Abbey Paint Out is a spiritual successor to The Great Paignton Paint Out, a 2023 weekend event which saw thousands experience open air painting and participate in creativity to celebrate Paignton’s heritage. Like this event, The Great Torre Abbey Paint out will be a two-day outing, including a trail of artists running from Torquay Train Station to Agatha’s Bench on the harbour, and a Mass Paint Out on Torre Abbeys upper meadow. It’s a wonderful family friendly event, with free art packs, activities, and a chance to get creative and active in Torbay. Attached is a brief outline of each day's activity.
New for this event will be Torbay’s first ever plein air art competition. These events attract professional artists from across the region, think Sky Landscape Artist of the Year style competitive painting under a strict time limit. On day 2 of the event, artists of all practices and mediums will setup around Torre Abbey, painting for the chance to be crowned English Riviera Landscape Artist of the Year 2026, with a youth competition to discover an Emerging Landscape Artist of the Year as well.
The event is also associated with the Pavilion Restoration Programme and will be one part of ongoing engagement activities being delivered over the next 12 months in and around the Pavilion.
Volunteers Wanted
Artizan Collective are seeking volunteers to help us to deliver the Great Torre Abbey Paint Out and Plein Air competition event which will take place over the weekend of 5th and 6th of September. We are seeking volunteers for one or both days or for half days.
Below are some brief notes to let you know more about the weekend and what your role would be to help us make the event an enjoyable and successful one.
The Weekend
The activity will be all outdoors and will stretch from the Railway Station to Torquay Harbour following the ‘Art on Your Doorstep’ Art Trail on day one, and outside at the front of Torre Abbey on day two. You would be spending both days in one location but might be on your feet for an amount of time depending on the activity. The event is subject to weather, but we'll go ahead in moderate to good conditions.
Reimbursement
Reasonable food, drink and travel expenses will be covered.
Roles
Plein Air Art Trail Support Volunteer (Day 1)
We’ll be buddying you up with one of our trail artists to support them on the day. This will include monitoring their setup if they need to step away, supporting engagement with the general public and other reasonable requests that will facilitate them working. Each location will have a support venue that you can make use of for facilities and access to water. We will also ask you to take down any anecdotal feedback (we will provide you with a notepad and pen for this) and make a note of numbers i of people whio engage with the activity.
Specific Duties
Beyond supporting the artists and engaging with audiences, there are some specific tasks we’ll be asking you to do:
- Promote the rest of the trail, letting people know there are other artists to find and explaining a bit about the activity;
- Promote the Day 2 activity, letting people know they can join us for The Great Torre Abbey Paint Out on Sunday 6th at Torre Abbey. You will have a supply of flyers that you will be able to hand out for this.
- Take down any anecdotal feedback (we will provide you with a notepad and pen for this) and make a note of numbers if people not participating in the event directly engage with the activity.
Great Torre Abbey Paint Out and Competition Volunteer (Day 2) Location: Torre Abbey
For those who volunteer to help on day 2, you will be located at Torre Abbey for the whole day. Volunteers will be helping us co-ordinate the space, man stalls and stands and look after audiences for the day.
Specific Duties
Beyond supporting the artists and engaging with audiences, there are some specific tasks to be shared amongst our volunteers:
- Help setup and pack down
- Greet artists taking part in the competition, hand out entry forms and competition instructions
- Greet people and hand out free art packs.
- Support the space, answer audience questions and help people enjoy the event;
- Ensuring the space is clean and litter free throughout the day;
- Gather feedback in two ways: firstly, taking down any anecdotal feedback (we will provide you with a notepad and pen for this); secondly, approaching audiences and helping them fill in a short survey on an iPad.
- Receiving competition entrées prior to judging (note all competition entries will be delivered to the Spanish Barn within a specific time window prior to the judging and prize giving.)
Julie Brandon
Tel: No: 07522 508642
Email: [email protected]