Paint the Town returns to White Rock, South Surrey
Published 2:00 pm Thursday, July 23, 2026
Attention all artists – it’s time to paint the town again.
Semiahmoo Arts Society’s Paint the Town plein-air (open air) painting event is set to return to White Rock and South Surrey on Saturday, July 25.
Presented by Schill Insurance, and co-produced by Crescent Housing Society, it’s billed as an “an all-ages, all-abilities celebration of art, painting and the beauty of the Semiahmoo Peninsula.”
For the 11th year of the event, SAS has made it more accessible to the entire community. Skill level is not important – participants can be anything from full-time practising artists to “enthusiastic novices”.
“This year, for a $10 registration fee, we supply a canvas and paint supplies to anyone who wants to give plein air painting a try,” said SAS executive director Amanda Silvers.
Event tents will be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations: Memorial Plaza (on White Rock’s waterfront) and in Ocean Park neighbourhood in South Surrey adjacent to Islands Coffee, and artists are invited to paint an outdoor subject of their own choice in those two areas or anywhere else on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
Artists had to sign up by July 20.
“We already have close to 30 local artists signed up to participate, including Vern Simpson who is known for the ‘Gassy Jack’ that used to be in Gastown, and Carla Maskall, the illustrator of Sherry McMillan’s What the Seal Saw and other books,” Silvers said.
Following the event, participating artists have the option of keeping their work, or submitting it to the Paint the Town Exhibition.
The July 27 to Oct 4 juried exhibition, at the Turnbull Gallery (South Surrey Arts and Recreation Centre, 14601 20 Ave.), will be also be open to community online voting, and selected works will be eligible to be included in the Paint the Town auction on Oct. 2.
The latter event will be a ticketed, charitable evening, with proceeds benefiting both the artists and Ulee’s Access the Arts Fund – named for the late former Semiahmoo Arts executive director Dr. Ulee Maschaykh –which provides financial assistance and program funding to support those in our community who otherwise would not be able to participate.
Paint the Town is designed to deliver on Semiahmoo Arts Society’s “arts for everyone” mandate by “providing an accessible, inclusive arts celebration that supports arts participation, community pride and connection, as well as showcasing the many talented visual artists living and practicing on the Semiahmoo Peninsula,” Silvers said.
Participants can register online, or get more information, at semiahmooarts.com