Patchings Art Festival – A Mixed but Valuable Experience for Artists and Art Lovers

Richard J Hunt
Dec 7, 2024
3 min read

Last week I was in the Nottingham area and took the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the Patchings Art Festival, located just north of the city. The event is promoted as Europe’s largest outdoor art festival and, judging by the scale and turnout, it is certainly one of the biggest art events in the UK. Now in its 35th year, the festival appears to be going from strength to strength.

First Impressions & Organisation

The festival ran from Thursday 11th – Saturday 13th July (10am–5pm) and I chose to visit late morning on the Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised by how well organised the event was. There was ample parking in a nearby field, with smooth access thanks to dry weather — no mud, no queues, no hassle. Events of this size don’t always feel this streamlined.

Demonstrations & Materials

I caught a couple of live demonstrations — one from Soraya French and another from Tushar Sabale, both working in very different interpretations of cityscapes. It was interesting to watch their process and compare their approaches.

As always with these festivals, it’s easy to be tempted by supplies, and I did pick up some plein air materials from stalls inside the marquees. If you’re looking for discounted art supplies or specialist tools, Patchings is a great place to browse and pick up a bargain.

The Artwork: A Personal Critique

My main reason for attending wasn’t the shopping — I go to festivals and exhibitions to see what fellow artists are producing and hopefully discover something new or inspiring. However, I left feeling slightly underwhelmed by the range of work on show.

There are two large marquees of exhibiting artists (one more craft-focused than the other), and for those unfamiliar with the process, artists must be invited to exhibit at Patchings. You can put your name forward for consideration, but acceptance is by invitation only.

This is where I had my biggest reservation.

I found very little that felt innovative or distinctive. Many painters shared a similar style, with a noticeable lack of diversity in medium or concept. For instance:

The watercolour work felt very “chocolate-box” and traditional.
The plein air pieces were largely grey and muted, lacking bold colour or personality.
I saw no graphic art, no expressive charcoal work, and very little contemporary experimentation.

There were definitely some brilliant artists, but only a handful stood out as offering something genuinely fresh.

Artist Engagement

One thing I couldn’t help but notice was the difference in audience engagement. Some artists were brilliant at talking to the public — chatting, demonstrating, or interacting with collectors. Others (including a few fairly well-known names) barely looked up, painting with their heads down and seemingly avoiding conversation.

I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to stand at a stand all day, but when you’re exhibiting, engagement is crucial — especially at an event built around meeting artists face-to-face.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Patchings Art Festival is worth attending, especially if you want to top up supplies, enjoy live demonstrations, or support British artists. However, for me, browsing is not the same as creating — and the artistic range wasn’t as diverse or forward-thinking as I had hoped.

Would I go again?As a visitor: probably not every year.As an exhibiting artist: absolutely. If given the opportunity to attend with my own stand, it would be completely worthwhile.