2025 CAPITAL PLEIN AIR

Our 2025 festival exceeded all expectations, bringing together over 100 talented artists from across Australia who transformed Canberra’s autumn landscape into their open-air studio. From the historic streets of Gundaroo to the majestic views at the National Arboretum, artists captured the capital’s unique beauty in every brushstroke.

Here are some of the highlights from our 2025 Festival.

COTTER BEND (Pre-Festival Paint Out Day 1)

GUNDAROO (Pre-Festival Paint Out Day 2)

CUPPACUMBALONG HOMESTEAD, THARWA (Pre-Festival Paint Out Day 3)

WESTON PARK (Pre-Festival Paint Out Day 4)

THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM (Festival Weekend – Friday ANZAC Day)

GOVERNMENT HOUSE (Festival Weekend Saturday)

THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM (Festival Weekend Sunday – Quick Draw)

WORKSHOPS

Leon Holmes, Oil Painting Strathnairn
Natasha Ruschka, Intro to Plein Air Gundaroo
Leon Holmes, Oil Painting
Weston Park
Andy Dolphin, Drawing for Plein Air
Weston Park
Chan Dissanayake – Watercolour
Tharwa

DEMONSTRATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AWARDS AND SOCIALS

Richard Grainger interviews Warwick Fuller
The National Arboretum
Leon Holmes, Oil Painting Demo
The National Arboretum
Warwick Fuller, Oil Painting Demo
Government House
Chan Dissanayake – Watercolour Demo
Government House
Richard Grainger Presentation
The Artist/Gallery Relationship
Government House
Portrait / Life Drawing at Grainger Gallery on Geelong Street
Judges – Warwick Fuller, Richard Grainger & Kacy Grainger
CaPA Committee at Award Ceremony
Rosanna Burston, Chan Dissanayake,
Greg Meszes & Natasha Meszes

Check out our 2025 Winners!


2025 Festival in the News

Artists take to the great outdoors for Capital Plein Air Festival ABC Canberra

Canberra’s very own plein air festival will paint the city in a new light Her Canberra

We can’t wait to welcome artists back to Canberra next year.

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