Jackson's : Plein Air Day : Killerton

Due to limited capacity, places are allocated for participating artists only. Supportive companions are welcome to join the day, but will need to purchase a standard ticket directly via the venue's website or on the day. Entry is free for National Trust members.

£3 covers Jackson's costs, and any remaining proceeds support the venue.

Tickets are refundable up to seven days before the event.

Schedule

• 10am arrival
• 10.15am welcome gathering
• Spend the day painting, drawing, or printing
• 3pm meet-up for a group reflection

What to expect

A casual gathering for artists of all levels to connect and respond to the landscape together, with support and advice on hand from a Jackson's art materials specialist, and a meet-up at the end of the day to look at everyone's artworks. Whether you paint, draw, print, or work with any other medium, everyone is welcome.

How to get there

By car: Killerton is signposted with brown tourism signs. From M5 southbound: leave at J28, go through Cullompton on B3181, follow brown signs for Killerton on B3181. From M5 northbound: exit J29. Keep right onto Honiton road/A3015, take 4th exit at the roundabout and follow signs for B3181. Then follow signs to the main visitor car park (not up the main drive to the house).

By bus: Buses 1 and 1A run frequently between Exeter city centre and Tiverton, passing through Broadclyst, Cullompton, and other towns in between. Killerton is an approximately 1km walk from the 'Killerton Turn' stop. The first 60m is along a grass verge and thereafter is a mix of gravel and tarmac shared cycleway.

Parking

Parking is free for National Trust members and blue badge holders, £5.20 for non-members. Follow signs to the main visitor car park (not up the main drive to the house).

About Killerton

Set in Devon, National Trust's Killerton Estate spans 6,400 acres of working farmland, woodland, parkland, cottages, and orchards. At its centre stands Killerton House, a welcoming Georgian home set within glorious gardens, beautiful year-round with rhododendrons, magnolias, and champion trees. Many of the Aclands, the Devon family who lived at Killerton for generations, were keen amateur artists, creating lively sketches and watercolours of their estate and travels, many of which remain in the collection today.

Recommended views

Killerton exhibits a wide variety of scenery, from the soft dappled shade of the idyllic orchards to the romantic and rustic features of the garden, including the thatched ornamental buildings, the rock garden, and the rhododendron collection. For something more dramatic, there's the old quarry, the Grade 1 listed Gothic chapel, and gnarled Ancient sweet chestnut trees. Or capture a scene of the past with the historic parkland, gently grazed by Highland cattle.

What to bring

If you're new to plein air or returning after a break, we've pulled together a curated list of materials to help you prepare — whether you work in oils, acrylics, watercolour, printmaking, or drawing. With thousands of plein air products available on our website, purchasing in advance is the most practical option, and is the reason why we don't bring materials to our events.

Accessibility

Killerton offers accessible parking and accessible toilets. Most of the paths around the grounds and gardens are gravel. The paths in the upper garden and parkland are grass. More information can be found here.

Food and drink options

Killerton's Stables coffee shop will be open between 10am – 5pm for food and drinks. Killerton Kitchen Cafe is open 11am – 4pm, serving lunch until 2:30pm.

Wet weather contingency

The event will go ahead, whatever the weather, so bring suitable clothing for wet weather if it rains.

Caring for Killerton

This event is being organised to bring artists together and to highlight the beauty found throughout the UK. Please respect the area throughout the event and take all your litter home with you or dispose of it in bins. All dirty water and solvents should be taken home and disposed of responsibly. Nothing is to be staked into the ground (i.e. umbrellas, gazebos etc.), and please respect the out-of-bounds areas.

Please note

Film and photography may be taking place throughout the event to document the day. If you prefer not to be filmed or photographed, please let the photographer know.