Hi folks, I wanted to share my experience of attending the Cult of Paint Miniature Painting Open 2026 as a non-entrant. Right from the off, the standard of painting and sheer creativity on display was astonishing. You’ll find fantastic photos on the artists’ accounts and on Cult of Paint’s socials showcasing the entrants’ work, and I’ve included a few of the shots I took on the day as well.
Bristol Beacon: a painting competition venue that gets it right
The event was brilliantly organised, with excellent communication both before and during the day from Henry and the Cult of Paint team, who gave a warm welcome to entrants and visitors alike. The Bristol Beacon is a beautiful Grade II listed building, with spacious rooms, large windows, and high ceilings that flooded the space with natural light.
The whole event felt cool and comfortable. You can safely leave your trusty deodorant “Lynx Africa” at home when attending a Cult event. No more sweating in cramped, poorly lit halls or constantly bumping into people. Anyone who’s ever been cracked in the skull by a swinging backpack while trying to view models in display cabinets will know exactly what I mean.
The venue is fully accessible and well-equipped. The bars were great, and there was a café on the ground floor serving food and drink throughout the day. Plenty of people took the opportunity to use these spaces to take a breather or catch up with old friends or indeed make new ones.
The hobby community: friendlier than you think
On that note, we hobbyists are a friendly bunch, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. Painting competitions are, in my mind, a fascinating little ecosystem of “internet-famous hobby celebs”. Many of them know each other well, which can feel a bit intimidating if you’re attending alone for the first time. However, in my experience, everyone is there for the same reason: to enjoy the hobby and celebrate the joy of painting miniatures. One of the main reasons I wanted to attend was to socialise with like-minded hobbyists and get inspiration, tips, and advice from them.
Five drybrushing tips I learned from Byron at Artis Opus
There were several retailers at the event with a great selection of products. I caught up with Byron from Element Games and Artis Opus. I quizzed him about how I could improve my drybrushing and… well, let’s just say I’ve been doing it wrong for years 🤣. I clearly need to revisit the technique and get some serious practice in. Like any veteran, I’ve slipped into bad habits, and by drybrushing poorly for so long, I’ve only reinforced them.
Here are my five “ToP tips” from my conversation with Byron:
- Know your brush: Every brush has a “best face”. Identify it and remember how the bristles are shaped and meant to be used.
- Never go in dry: Lightly moisten your drybrush with a dampening pad before applying paint. It helps achieve cleaner, softer blends.
- Focus your effort: Concentrate on key areas like heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. Don’t overwork the rest, especially when painting large armies.
- Use your palette wisely: Mistakes happen, that’s part of learning. Test on your palette, not on the mini. Using less paint gives smoother, more controlled results.
- Take your time: Follow the process patiently. Apply a layer, let it dry, then pause to assess before continuing. Reflection improves consistency.
There are some great tutorials on the Artis Opus YouTube channel to check out:
Talking painting and sculpting with Gareth Nicholas
Gareth Nicholas attended as a guest, displaying his work, and I spoke to him about his approach to painting and sculpting. We also discussed some of the top tips he’s picked up over the years.
One piece of advice he shared was about preparation and planning: spending time thinking through a project and mapping out the process saves time in the long run. It’s solid, practical advice. This is something Stahly and Garfy have covered here on the blog many times in their tutorials and guides. Fail to plan, plan to fail, as they say.
I must mention Gareth’s model of Geoff Taylor’s epic High Elf artwork, which is fantastic. You can find more great images of this miniature on his blog.
Five tips for building a compelling duel scene: highlights from the seminar
Another highlight of the event was the two fantastic seminars during the day, both free and included in the ticket price. I attended the “Creating a Duel!” seminar hosted by Henry from Cult of Paint, with guest speakers Mark Lifton and Ryan Allen. It was absolutely packed with hobby knowledge and worth the ticket price on its own. I caught up with Mark afterwards to continue the conversation, and here are my “ToP” 5 takeaways:
- Start with a spark of inspiration: A single element like a gesture, a piece of cloth, or a weapon, can inspire the whole scene. Use these details to build motion and emotion into your model.
- Imply movement and story: Tilted poses, dropped weapons, or shifting balance can suggest action. Think of your model as frozen mid-moment in the heart of the action.
- Use the base to build narrative: The base isn’t just decoration; it’s part of the storytelling. Add small “easter eggs” or terrain details that reinforce the scene and make it believable.
- Play with space and perspective: Limited space (like a 50 mm base) is a creative challenge. Keep the composition tight but readable. Too much distance between figures can weaken the drama.
- Capture emotion through eye contact and angles: The intent is in the eyes. Ensure the models’ gaze and posture work from every angle. If it looks awkward from one view, adjust until the scene feels natural.
You can find more of Mark’s work on his socials: Mark Lifton on Instagram
Final thoughts: should you attend the Cult of Paint MPO?
It was an excellent event, and a big thank you to Henry, Andy, and the Cult team. I might even give it a shot and enter next year, if only to get some informed feedback on how to improve as a painter.
One final practical tip that Ryan Allen shared during the “Duel Seminar” really rang true for me, and I wanted to end my thoughts with it: “Get feedback, but don’t quit!” As Clint Eastwood’s character Dirty Harry famously said, “Opinions are like arseholes — everybody’s got one.”
Understanding your weaknesses and focusing on what you do well is vital for achieving great results and making progress in your hobby, whether you’re entering competitions or simply trying to make your models the best they can be.
Did you attend the Miniature Painting Open 2026? If so, we’d love to hear how you found it and what your main takeaways were. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or head over to our friendly hobby Discord to start a discussion.
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