Patchings Art Festival is probably the biggest arts and crafts festival of its kind in the UK attracting nearly 200 talented artists and crafts specialists who come together once a year to the outskirts of Sherwood forest, Nottingham.

I first visited the Patchings Art Festival back in 2007 and remember walking around the entire day as I was overwhelmed with meeting and chatting to some of my watercolour painting heroes, and there was so much to see and do. I managed to buy tickets to see demonstrations from my favourite watercolor artists such as David Bellamy and Charles Evans who were giving watercolor painting lessons, and even managed to pick up a couple of free watercolor books. I also seem to remember Winsor and Newton were selling ex-stock tubes of watercolour paints at almost one-third of the high street cost! – Unbelievable! I’m planning on going again this year and hope to record interviews this time with David Bellamy,  Charles Evans, Peter Woolley, and whoever else I have the good fortune to meet.

Festival settings

Set in the fields behind the Patchings Art Centre on the outskirts of Nottingham, and just on the edge of Sherwood Forest this is an excellent location for professional and amateur artists wanting to buy art materials and see a full program of demonstrations delivered by professional artists across many mediums, and for the first time in 2013 including photography as their special guest for Festival Sunday is Charlie Waite. Charlie is an internationally known landscape photographer and he will be giving an illustrated presentation – ‘Behind the Photograph . . . Making Landscape Photographs’ – I can’t wait! 🙂

The Patchings 2013 Art Festival brings together some of the very best in art, craft and design with nearly 200 talented artists and crafts specialists taking part.

Click to view 2012 map

Patchings Art Festival 20th birthday in 2013

Being 2013, the Festival is now in its 20th year, and once again their four-day event showcases some of country’s finest artists and craft makers. It offers a special opportunity to view and buy contemporary work whilst seeing many of the creative process involved.

Also represented are the major art material manufacturers and suppliers, with many of them offering demonstrations of their products and services.

The next Patchings Art Festival is on Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 June 2013. Sunday is their Family Art Day with activities for children and young people.

Festival Address and Contact Details:

Telephone: 0115 965 3479
Fax: 0115 965 5308

Social Media and Web Links for Patchings

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Buy Tickets for Patchings Art Festival

 Festival A-Z Exhibitor Listing 2012