Art / Bristol Plein Air Painters
Meet the Bristol Plein Air Painters
Contemporary oil painter Helena Traill describes her work as sitting “between post-impressionism, expressionism, and abstraction”.
In other words, her practice isn’t about reflecting directly what she sees, but rather how she feels to be within any given space.
Traill is neurodivergent, and her painting process has been instrumental in offering her what she refers to as “moments of stillness and depth” within the chaotic pace of modern life.
Artworks produced at Windmill Hill City Farm
As well as working in the studio, she often elects to paint outdoors. After moving to Bristol and finding there was no collective bringing like-minded artists together, Traill decided to form one, and the Bristol Plein Air Painters was born.
“What began as a small gathering has grown into a regular meeting of artists, each bringing their own approach to landscape, yet united by the shared act of painting on site”, the group explain.
December 2025 meetup at the Christmas Steps
“Painting, often a solitary pursuit, becomes here a social and evolving dialogue: a space to learn, to exchange, and to return repeatedly to the act of looking.”
Gathering at 10am on the last Saturday of the month, the Bristol Plein Air Painters spend time together painting in outdoor locations around Bristol; recent meetups have included College Green, The Christmas Steps, Windmill Hill City Farm and Ashton Court Estate.
“We’d love you to paint with us”, they say, “so why not join our group?”
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Bristol Plein Air Painters meet on the last Saturday of each month. For group updates, follow @bristolpleinairpainters.
All photos: Bristol Plein Air Painters
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