Jackson’s Plein Air Days is a year-round program of occasions designed to carry artists of all ranges collectively for a day of creativity in inspiring outside places throughout the UK. Established in 2024, our 2025 program actually flourished, with seven memorable occasions that took us from January’s frosty Hampstead Heath panoramas, via a scorching summer time’s day within the fairy-tale setting of Scotney Fort, and eventually to a character-building but atmospheric session amid the rain-soaked fantastic thing about Hestercombe Gardens.This overview of our inaugural yr recounts the number of climate, inventive output, and topics that our spirited artists have loved portray, drawing, and printing.
Jackson’s Plein Air Days: 2025 in Evaluation
Hampstead Heath, London – January 2025
Our yr en plein air kicked off to a crisp begin on Hampstead Heath. A dozen or so artists, eager to shake off festive indulgences, gathered in entrance of Kenwood Home and have been greeted by a shocking expanse of frost and lengthy shadows.
With many of the artists already accustomed to the Heath from our plein air day in October 2024, there was a collective sense of returning to someplace acquainted, which helped with subject material choice and inspired confidence in brushmarks.
Artists labored with quite a lot of media, together with oils, acrylics, watercolour, and drawing. Regardless of the chilly, the solar stayed out all day, treating us to hours of winter gentle at its most stunning.
Portray by Fiona Sansom
Portray by Jayne Evans
Kilve Seashore, Somerset – March 2025
By March, the frost was a distant reminiscence as we travelled out of London to the South West coast of Kilve in Somerset. Located on the northern fringe of the Quantock Hills Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence, Kilve is thought for its dramatic coastal views, laden with fossils and Jurassic shale formations.
When the tide is out, the rocks jut out from the land in dramatic, virtually threatening angles.
The day at Kilve was exhilarating. For the primary time, we had not solely painters and drawers however printmakers too! Whereas the rain held off, the bracing winds relented and added to the rugged magnificence. The artists responded to this with every part from kitchen lithography, iPads, oil paints, charcoal, and watercolour.
Jackie Curtis printmaking at Kilve
Not solely did artists share suggestions with each other on methods and supplies, however we additionally noticed some genius methods of transporting moist work, together with using these plastic crates.
We have been grateful to the Chantry Tea Rooms, who hosted our end-of-day sharing of works, and fuelled the discussions with their glorious tea and cake.
Bristol Harbourside – Might 2025
The numbers doubled to almost 100 artists for our plein air day at Bristol Harbourside. We exchanged rocks and pebbles for sky-high cranes, vibrant terraced homes, and rowers darting throughout the water. It was thrilling to fulfill artists from as far-off as London and Lancashire, eager to hitch in our occasions, uncover new locations to color, and meet fellow creatives.
The solar shone all day, and Bristol Harbourside was its regular bustling self, stuffed with color and curious onlookers. It was a very completely different day to Kilve and provided our first flavour of city plein air to the Jackson’s Plein Air Day program.
Molly Lemon wooden engraving at Bristol Harbourside
North Shore Seashore, Wales – June 2025
We loved one other superb day of solar at Llandudno for a smaller-scale plein air occasion.
Our artists had the pale glamour of the Victorian structure, the dramatic coast, and the colorful lights of the pier to attract inspiration from. Llandudno provided an incredible number of each man-made and pure subject material.
Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset – July 2025
Our occasion at Sculpture by the Lakes was our sunniest and largest but, and for the primary time, we partnered with a venue.
Sculpture by the Lakes is a sculpture backyard located by the banks of the River Frome and two fishing lakes. Founders Simon and Monique Gudgeon have developed it right into a pure sanctuary, plentiful with wildlife, sculpture and tranquillity.
Because it was 4th July, it was unimaginable to welcome our first artist to journey from New York to hitch us particularly! We additionally welcomed quite a lot of thrilling media, together with mushy pastels and pyrography, alongside artists working with watercolour, oils, and acrylics.
Paintings by Tony Keene
Scotney Fort Nationwide Belief, Kent – September 2025
Scotney Fort offered a magical backdrop for our September Plein Air Day. Located close to Lamberhurst, Kent, within the Excessive Weald Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence, a formidable 200 artists have been handled to a moated medieval fort, a Victorian nation home, and exquisite parklands and gardens stretching throughout 200 acres.
The climate couldn’t have been kinder to us with solar all day lengthy, which made for blissful artists who travelled from each close to and much to seize stunning reflections, majestic dahlias and sweeping vistas. The right setting for a day of plein air, we have been honoured to have the chance to shine a light-weight on this fabulous vacation spot, with many artists excitedly planning return visits.
Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset – October 2025
Our closing plein air day of 2025 was on the great Hestercombe Home and Gardens, the place artists may select to depict the landscaped Italianate gardens, the Jekyll-designed formal gardens, or the grounds surrounding the attractive Orangery and Home.
This was our one actually moist occasion of the yr, however the climate did nothing to dampen our spirits! Thankfully, with the leaves nonetheless on the timber, many artists discovered dry portray spots underneath the dense foliage of the horse chestnuts. Some work could have turned out just a little extra washy than was initially meant, however many gems have been created, and lots have been calling for a return to Hestercombe for 2026.
The day was rounded off with a beautiful present and inform session within the Orangery, with work and drawings displayed on mantles lining the partitions.
Reflecting on a 12 months of Plein Air Creativity
Having hosted these occasions all through 2025, the advantages of portray en plein air in a bunch are abundantly clear. We’ve met numerous people who’ve shared that they beforehand lacked the boldness to enterprise out and paint on their very own. These gatherings supply an unintimidating, inclusive alternative to expertise outside creativity in a supportive setting.
They’re additionally a beautiful likelihood to fulfill like-minded creatives, alternate useful suggestions, and uncover new methods. In the end, although, it’s the act of responding creatively to the pure world that holds actual transformative energy – each for inventive development and psychological wellbeing.
With ever-changing gentle and scenes in fixed flux, the problem of capturing a fleeting second invitations deep focus and presence. Immersed within the technique of translating a panorama right into a portray, drawing, or print, there’s no room for distraction – solely the aware, absorbing expertise of creativity itself.
Constructing Group By means of Artwork
Jackson’s Plein Air Days are community-strengthening occasions the place we welcome artists of all ranges to come back collectively and share within the pleasure and problem of making outside. We like to see each sort of drawing, portray, and printmaking medium represented, and to witness the variety of expertise and magnificence that every participant brings.
We’re thrilled that each one our 2025 occasions have been a powerful success, with over 500 artists becoming a member of us throughout seven gatherings. Our intention for 2026 is to construct on this success – not essentially by creating greater occasions, however by persevering with to nurture an inclusive, inspiring environment in stunning places, making plein air as enriching and accessible as it may be.
A heartfelt thanks to all of the venues we partnered with this yr, and to each artist who got here alongside, made new mates, and took time to create with us. We are able to’t wait to see you at our 2026 occasions.
Location Solutions
We’re on a mission to carry our Plein Air Occasions to extra corners of the UK, and we might love your assist!
We’re notably in search of venues within the North, East, or West UK that we will associate with and shine a light-weight on by bringing our neighborhood of creatives to reply to your distinctive setting.
When you’ve got contacts at an appropriate location, please fill out our Location Request Kind.
Jackson’s Plein Air Day – 2026 Programme
2nd January – London South Financial institution
tenth April – Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset
eighth Might – Glyndebourne, East Sussex
third July – Scotney Fort, Kent
4th September – Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorset
sixth November – Porlock Weir, Somerset
In the event you spot your work in our photographs and need to have it credited, tell us your full title within the feedback.
Additional Studying
Jackson’s Inaugural Plein Air Portray Day
Three Plein Air Artists Check Jackson’s Skilled Oil Paints
Ideas for Plein Air Portray in Winter
Plein Air Portray at Glastonbury Competition
Store Artwork Supplies on jacksonsart.com
