Volunteers

Volunteer or Intern with Paint Out Art Festival

Volunteers at Paint OutPaint Out is once again calling for volunteers to be a part of its multi-day art festival in Norwich and Norfolk. We are so appreciative of the many volunteers, interns, art students and supporters of the arts that have assisted the artists and exhibition visitors in previous years and we’re hoping that students, community, art and event lovers will want to get involved again this year.

Options include coming out for full days on location with us to a few hours stint staffing the gallery of 100s of artworks to being part of the entertainment in the early evenings if you have musical talent! Several evenings we have socials on site or on location.

Some of our volunteers become interns and go from having food & expenses covered to earning a small stipend whilst simultaneously being taught about art, social media, photography, web design, video, technology, data, curation, marketing, e-commerce and sales. Plus being immersed in a world of a 100 artists and a 1000 paintings for 1-10 days. Commute, camp or couchsurf with other team members.

 

Intern at Paint Out

Volunteers are needed to help guide members of the public and assist the artists on location, as well as support and staff the exhibition. Volunteers who excel may be invited back as interns or staff in subsequent years. We are particularly looking for skills in social media, photography, sales, hospitality, spreadsheets, gallery & exhibition.

The 2023 event takes place from 13-22 July in Norwich, and availability need only be for a day or half-day or couple of hours within that period.

“It was a wild ride and I’m so glad I took part. This team is glorious!” (2022 volunteer)

Volunteering opportunities exist for morning, afternoon, evening, or full-days. There will be a welcome event, thank you gifts, and a chance to interact with the art and artists. We are also looking for hosts who can put up an artist or fellow volunteer in Norwich 12-23 July, for a small nightly fee.

Intern filming at Paint OutThe Social Media and CV website LinkedIn allows you to add Volunteering Experience to your online curriculum, job and career history, citing the fact that:

“1 in 5 managers hired someone because of their volunteer experience”

Paint Out offers an enjoyable opportunity to assist and observe the dozens of artists and hundreds of artworks being made during the competition.

“We aim to provide easy opportunities for people to gain experience with the arts. It’s a great way to be involved, have a great day out, and learn about the history of the arts in Norfolk.”

Members of the public, who are interested in volunteering and would like further information on how to be involved, you can join the volunteers Facebook group, contact the team or fill in the form below:

The event is based in Whitlingham Country Park, Trowse, NR14 8TR but on other days we can be around the county and will get you places if you don't have your own transport
Please type any additional offers, needs, questions here

Artist Stephen Johnston

Artist Stephen Johnston painting plein air at Paint Out Elsing Hall Gardens, Norfolk
Artist Stephen Johnston painting plein air at Paint Out Elsing Hall Gardens, Norfolk

Part-time teacher and artist, Stephen Johnston lives in Norwich and regularly paints with the Norwich Outdoor Painting Group. He first participated at Paint Out Norwich in 2017 and also entered two Paint Out events in 2018. In 2019, he was the only artist to manage all 7 Paint Out Gardens visits around the county of Norfolk across the seasons producing 14 artworks and winning Third Prize at the Awards and Exhibition.

Awards | Art Gallery | Purchase

He describes himself as a creative person who gains much satisfaction from producing artwork.

“Being outdoors and in nature’s grip gives me space to be inspired and refreshed. The process is the most important aspect in my journey, I am often dissatisfied with the results but keep the outcome as a record of my observations, aspirations, application, time spent outdoors painting plein air.” – Stephen Johnston

Paint Out History

Paint Out Gardens Series – Third Prize (2019)
Paint Out NorwichWinter Nocturne First Prize (2018)
Paint Out Great Yarmouth – selected and participated (2018)
Paint Out Norwich – selected and participated (2017)

 

Art Sale Enquiry

Artist Susan Isaac

Artist Susan Isaac painting Carrow Abbey at Colman's, Unilever, Paint Out Norwich 2018. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Artist Susan Isaac painting Norwich Market, Paint Out Norwich 2018. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Artist Susan Isaac painting Norwich Market, Paint Out Norwich 2018. Photo © Katy Jon Went

Susan Isaac trained in fine art at Cardiff and Newport Art Colleges. Design history at Brighton followed and then industrial archaeology at Birmingham University. She initially worked as an illustrator and surveyor of historic buildings and landscapes before turning to painting and sculpture full-time at the turn of the millennium.

Awards | Art Gallery | Purchase

“A central theme in my paintings is a search for those particular characteristics that define British towns and countryside. I seek to convey this in a distinctive loose figurative style, drawing on my early fine art training whilst continuing to reflect influences from my time studying industrial landscapes and the built environment.”

Artist Susan Isaac painting Carrow Abbey at Colman's, Unilever, Paint Out Norwich 2018. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Artist Susan Isaac painting Carrow Abbey at Colman’s, Unilever, Paint Out Norwich 2018. Photo © Katy Jon Went

Susan’s practice is a mixture of studio work and en plein air work and she first tried her hand at Paint Out at Wells-next-the-Sea 2017 before entering the Norwich event.

“I instantly fell in love with the whole thing and have taken part each year since. This juried, leading exponent of plein air practice is also a tremendous collective event with similarly motivated and yet singular artists each focussed on their own way of working.”

In 2018, she won the Nocturne First Prize for her 2-hour oil painting, “Up The Steps”, painted from the rear of St Peter Mancroft with its eerie gothic feel late at night lit by a single street lamp. In 2019 with “Below Bishop’s Bridge” and 2020 with “Against the Waves”, she walked away with first prizes in Oils and then the overall competition prize. In 2022, she also repeated her first prize winning streak with “In Memoriam” at Wolterton Hall.

“I was pleased with the theatrical effect of this composition and the slight sense of foreboding and mystery. It also made me think of an emptied auditorium, its proscenium lights inverted and cast upon the emptied raked seating, following the days performance. “ – Susan Isaac [more on the creation of her Nocturne winner here]

Her works are definitely distinctive, often described as dark, reminiscent of John Piper and his love of brooding landscapes and iconic churches. There is always a strength to Susan’s works in her choices of subject, composition, and contrast.

“Painting in the public gaze can be a daunting prospect and is often best done in the company of others. Paint Out Norfolk with its various iterations had been my introduction to a supportive community of plein air painters, from regional to international, many of whom return each year, becoming perennial friends. It’s a wonderful way to challenge yourself as well as the genre of plein air and winning the odd prize is always a bonus.”

Paint Out History

Paint Out Norfolk – First prize (2022) awarded by Dr Sally Anne Huxtable
Paint Out Norfolk – First prize (2020)
Paint Out Norfolk – First prize in Oils (2019)
Paint Out NorwichNocturne First Prize (2018)
Paint Out Norwich – selected and participated (2017)
Paint Out Wells – selected and participated (2017)

Other Awards

Buxton Spa Prize Open Art Competition – International Festival Choice (2017)
Leicester and East Midlands Art Exhibition – Open26 winner of Wilson Brown Prize (2015)
Oxford Art Prize plein air competition – winner of 1851 prize (2015)
Artist & Leisure Painter Open Art Competition – winner of Winsor & Newton Award (2015)
Thoresby Gallery Open Exhibition – exhibition prize & Tony Wilkinson Prize (2011, 2012, 2015)

 

Art Sale Enquiry

Artist Hannah Bruce

Hannah Bruce studied Fine Art at Aberystwyth University before Art Teacher training at Cambridge University and going on to teach Art for 15 years, 9 of those as head of department in Woking and Guildford. She has now left teaching and has been back painting full time since 2015 and since then also been chair of Woking Art Society.

Awards | Art Gallery | Purchase

Artist Hannah Bruce on King's Parade with her painting of Smokeworks, Paint Out Cambridge 2019. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Artist Hannah Bruce on King’s Parade with her painting of Smokeworks, Paint Out Cambridge 2019. Photo © Katy Jon Went

Hannah paints primarily in oils, sometimes ink and occasionally acrylic. She has been actively pushing her own plein air work as well as helping to set up Surrey Hills Plein Air painters.

“I am passionate about painting and creating artworks that are vibrantly colourful, conveying joyous and calming moods that make you smile every time you look at them.”

In 2018, she won the Spirit of Norwich Prize sponsored by Norwich Art Supplies for her collection of artworks portraying Norwich day and night during Paint Out Norwich 2018. Prior to that, she has won prizes at A Brush With The Broads, Art in the Open and Windsor Plein Air Painting.

Paint Out History

Paint Out Norwich – Spirit of Norwich Prize (2018)

Other Awards

Guildford Art Society – President’s Prize (2017)
Surrey Artist of the Year – Nominated (2016)
Artist and Illustrators – Artists of the Year, Top 50 Nominee (2016)
Art in the Open, Ireland – Public Paint Out Third Prize (2016)
A Brush with the Broads – Public Paint Out public vote winner (2015)
Windsor Plein Air Painting – Third Prize (2016)

Art Sale Enquiry

Artist Michael Richardson

Michael Richardson painting an artist painting Tombland public paint out. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Michael Richardson painting an artist painting Tombland public paint out.

Michael Richardson was educated at Ipswich College of Art and later in Paris. His work has been exhibited in the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA), the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI), the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours’ shows at the Mall Galleries and at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition.

Michael is a member of the Wapping Group of Artists (probably the oldest outdoor painting society in the UK), The Chelsea Art Society, and council member of the United Society of Artists. He is also a founder member of the Brass Monkeys Art Society, a hardcore group of winter outdoor painters.

He won the inaugural Paint Out Norwich Nocturne Prize in 2015 and was runner-up in 2016. He regularly delivers oil painting and nocturne workshops during Paint Out events. At Wells-next-the-Sea in 2017, Michael was a guest artist, demonstrator, and prize judge for Paint Out Wells.

Paint Out Awards

Paint Out Norwich – Nocturne Second Prize (2016)
Paint Out Norwich – Nocturne First Prize (2015)

Artist Richard Bond

Artist Richard Bond painting from the Market at Paint Out Norwich Winter Nocturne
Richard Bond painting on Fye Bridge, Norwich. Photo © Katy Jon Went
Richard Bond painting on Fye Bridge, Norwich. Photo © Katy Jon Went

Richard Bond’s work has been exhibited in national group shows and painting competitions, including the Singer & Friedlander/Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize Competition and the Royal Watercolour Society Open Competition. An article about his work and working methods in watercolour appeared in International Artist magazine (vol. 86).

In the summer of 2013, Richard set up the Norwich Outdoor Painting Group, an informal group of local artists that meets once a week throughout the year to paint en plein air in Norwich city centre.

Richard won the First Prize at Paint Out Norwich 2015. In 2016, he followed that with a First place win in the Watercolour category. The judge, Hugh Pilkington, awarded him a judge’s commendation in 2017 for Richard’s “Indian Summer”, on Mousehold Heath.

Paint Out Awards

Paint Out Norwich – First Prize (2015, 2016), Commended (2017), selected and participated (2014, 2018)
Paint Out Wells – selected and participated (2015)
Paint Out Norfolk – selected and participated (2020, 2021)

Art Exhibition Gallery of Plein Air Paintings

Galleries of Paint Out events

Our events offer everything from mass public plein air paint outs, to one-day pop-up explorations of East Anglian towns and countryside, intense weekend events painting dawn to dusk, and our premier fully-juried and selected 8-day event in Norwich & Norfolk. Click the links below to view the historic event galleries or scroll down for the most recent events. Paint Out Norfolk 2023 online galleries is seeing daily updates/uploads – partial previews showing now – or visit the physical exhibition. Contact us if interested in any paintings for up-to-date availability.

Paint Out Norwich 2022Paint Out Norfolk 2022 | Paint Out Ludham 2022

Paint Out Norfolk 2021Paint Out Norfolk 2020 | Paint Out Norfolk 2019

Paint Out Cambridge 2019 | Paint Out Holt | Paint Out Gardens Series

Paint Out Great Yarmouth 2018Norwich 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | Royal Norfolk Show 2017 | Sudbury 2018Wells 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

Paintings created at Paint Out Norfolk 2023

Paintings created at Paint Out Norwich 2022

Paintings created at Paint Out Norfolk 2022