Friday 28th August
AITG 2026 has arrived. The madness starts on Saturday at 11am.
At the weekend we brought “George “ home. It was a little stressful as the roads were manic here on Sunday.
The idea was to load all my paintings in there before we took it to the Greys Inn on Thursday. That meant that we didn’t have to keep making trips back here after we’d set up the marquee on Thursday. We could get all the tables, stands, easels and “A” boards in Matt’s van in one load. This would make set up on Friday much easier.
I intend to stay overnight in George over the weekend for “security” and peace of mind. It means I could be on site early and late. I have a bed, shower, toilet, cooker and kettle. I also have the pub in the evenings and a short walk home!!
On Monday I loaded George up with the artwork. There’s a lot. Probably too much but better that than too little. I also loaded up the “set-up crates” with cloths, bunting, signs, pegs, lights, chord, labels and stands. I managed to get my several small display easels/stands and sack trucks in as well. We use these to unload and as stands in the show. ( we use anything to hand). George was pretty stuffed.
As usual, there’s a huge eclectic mix of artwork of all styles , sizes and media, framed and unframed. From my beautifully framed ex-Buckinghams paintings to more modest small seascapes and watercolours and everything in between. Prices range from £3 for my printed art cards to several hundred for large framed paintings. Everything is at “Studio Sale” prices so there are many bargains to be had with over two hundred paintings on sale.
I also have a charity painting to raffle off at £5 per ticket. The 24”x24” Embleton Bay painting “Surf in the Bay” ( see previous blogs) would be £995 in a gallery and all proceeds will go to The North Northumberland Hospice Charity. This painting allowed me to get a poster up in our local Sainsbury’s this year after they refused last year as it was classed as a “commercial event”. I’ve had the “Surf in the Bay” painting on display in the pub all week to attract tourists who might not be here at the weekend and it will get a shout out at my quiz on Thursday. I also posted it on my social media as I will post to the winner. I also arranged to drive down to Blagdon Gallery in Newcastle on Tuesday to collect my “Alnmouth Sunset” painting which features on the poster. I’ve had a lot of comments on it so I thought it would be good to actually have it in the show.
The logistics of this years event are complicated. It was always easy setting up in next doors garden. This year we have to get the vehicles, marquee, artwork and personnel up to the Greys and back and forth for more equipment. Matt and Sarah are driving up from Chesterfield with the marquee on Thursday morning and I’m driving George, with all the artwork, up to the small car park on site. We’ve got Luna in Doggy Daycare for 2 days so she has to be taken and collected from Alnwick. We’ve got to find time to eat and get back to The Greys for the quiz on Thursday night? The weather isn’t helping with rain forecast!
To be honest, it makes my head spin.
We did get it all done and set up ready for paintings on Friday.
Fortunately Natasha had the day off which was a huge help. Together with Matt and Sarah it was easily sorted. I will have all day Friday to set up the paintings and after that I should enjoy it?
Next week won’t be any easier as after breakdown on Tuesday, we only have a day before we’re off to The Lindisfarne Music Festival in George on Thursday. All the gear and paintings will have to be out of the motorhome on Wednesday. We might have created this chaos for ourselves but as we’re not managing a Summer Holiday this year we thought we’d treat ourselves for a long weekend.
If I can find time I’ll do a full report on AITG next week.