Artober
At Royal William Yard this October
Artober is back for its third year, turning Royal William Yard into Plymouth's autumn home for contemporary art. It will feature exhibitions with locally and nationally renowned artists, some in residence for the duration and others with shorter pop-up shows, creating a constantly evolving display of contemporary art, large-scale oil portraits, landscape photography and interactive installations.
There will be a Paint Out inviting artists to capture the character of the Yard's waterfront setting, the Affordable Art Market, an art installation raising awareness for homelessness charity Path, and a full programme of workshops from paint-and-sip evenings to drawing fundamentals.
Once again, the Yard will become a key part of Plymouth Art Weekender, the city-wide celebration of Plymouth's independent creative scene, bringing artists, organisations and audiences together.
Paint Out
Saturday 3rd October, 11am – 3pm
Join fellow artists for a four-hour Paint Out across Royal William Yard, capturing the historic waterfront setting from your own choice of viewpoint. With striking architecture, harbour views and lively public spaces to work from, this is a relaxed, sociable session for anyone who enjoys painting or sketching outdoors. Booking link coming soon.
Good Food & Craft Market
Sunday 4th October, 10am – 3pm
The Green
Known for showcasing some of the region's most talented artists and makers, the market offers everything from tasty treats to handcrafted gifts. A staple of Royal William Yard's event calendar for years and an award winner along the way, expect stalls ranging from food to jewellery to original art, with art and crafted goods taking centre stage for Artober. A wide range of local artists and creatives will set up on The Green, with plenty of original and inspiring work to browse across the day.
The Affordable Art Market
Friday 2nd – Sunday 18th October
Melville Corner
Original art direct from the artists, with a curated selection of contemporary work spanning landscapes, abstracts, printmaking and ceramics. Prices start from £25 and are capped at £500, making this a chance to collect original pieces while supporting some of the South West's most talented creatives. Meet the artists on site and hear more about the stories behind their work.
Path art installation
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th October
Melville Corner
A striking installation from Path, Plymouth's leading homelessness charity, working in the city since 1995. Following two prominent art installations in October 2025 that marked World Homeless Day and highlighted local housing insecurity, Path returns to Royal William Yard with a new piece for Artober, aiming to spark conversation and show human resilience in the face of homelessness.
Plymouth Art Weekender
Friday 16th – Sunday 18th October
Melville Corner
A city-wide celebration of Plymouth's independent creative scene, running since 2015. Plymouth Art Weekender brings artists, organisations, spaces and audiences together for a weekend of exhibitions, performances, workshops, screenings and talks, spanning established galleries, artist studios, homes and unexpected spaces across the city. At Royal William Yard, expect a showcase of the city's homegrown talent alongside artists visiting from further afield.
Artober Exhibition
Friday 23rd October – Sunday 1st November, 11am – 3pm
Melville Corner and Arcade
A free exhibition bringing together locally and nationally renowned artists at the heart of Artober, with some in residence for the duration and others showing shorter pop-up displays for a constantly evolving exhibit. Expect a broad spread of styles and talent, from contemporary art and large-scale oil portraits to landscape photography and interactive installations.
Artist list coming soon. No booking required.
South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year 2026 Exhibition
Featuring 23 striking large-format photographs, the exhibition celebrates the beauty, wildlife and people of the 630-mile South West Coast Path, which stretches along the coasts of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. Alongside stunning landscapes and wildlife, the exhibition also highlights the growing impact of climate change on the Trail and the vital role supporters play in helping the South West Coast Path Association, the charity that cares for the path, protect this extraordinary National Trail for future generations
Workshops
Take part in one of the workshops taking place during October as part of Artober:
- Thursday 1st October, 6.30 – 9pm — Mindful Paint and Sip, Steel Brew
- Thursday 8th October, 7 – 9pm — Parisian Stroll: Sip and Paint, Bistrot Pierre, £33pp
- Saturday 10th October — Fundamentals of Drawing and Sketching with Sally Holt (booking link coming soon)
- Sunday 11th October — Fundamentals of Drawing and Sketching with Sally Holt (booking link coming soon)
- Friday 16th October, from 7pm — Sip n Sketch, Tipple Cellar (booking link coming soon)
- Thursday 22nd October, 6 – 8.30pm — Gustav Klimt: Create like Klimt, Mills Bakery. Run by artist Jayne Ashenbury, tickets £35 pp
