Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair Bringing British Treescapes to the Heart of Asia
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
What an adventure! May 2026 saw me packing up paintings and heading to the fabulous city of Hong Kong for the Affordable Art Fair. I didn't hav eto go far as I'm currently staying Macau, just a short ferry ride away. After years of exhibiting at the London fairs (Battersea and Hampstead in person), showing my British treescapes to Asia felt both exciting and a little daunting. The fair exceeded all expectations—energetic, beautifully organised, and full of genuine connections.
Hong Kong in May is hot and humid, buzzing with energy, and the perfect backdrop for sharing woodland stories from the other side of the world. I spent the first day (I got there early) wandering through Kowloon Park finding inspiration.
The Journey & Logistics – From Rolled Canvases to the Fair Floor
Getting 14 paintings ready for Hong Kong was no small feat. In the months leading up to the fair, I rolled my acrylic canvases and brought them over in batches to the wonderful Mark at Arco Framing in Wan Chai. Mark was an absolute lifesaver—stretching, framing, and even doing an emergency overnight job when it looked like I might run low on pieces to show. His professionalism and calm efficiency made the whole process so smooth, and I can’t thank him enough.
The Fair Experience – Hard Work, Swollen Feet, and So Much Reward
Art fairs are intense, total love and hate experience. I love the energy of the hanging day: the exciting potential of empty stands, watching other galleries hang intriguing work, seeing all my work up together, a reward for the months of hard work. When the fair opens…fun and wonderful sharing my work, stressful and edgy during the slower
moments. Long days on my feet in the heat and humidity left me with swollen feet and aching legs by the end of each session. But it was all so rewarding.
Being included on the British Consulate’s stand was a real highlight for me. Their curated stand created a wonderful platform for British artists, and I’m delighted to say I sold two paintings directly from it. Huge thanks to everyone involved—it was a brilliant initiative that showcased and supported us Brits.
My lovely stand mate was Pippa Smith, whose wonderful foodie paintings added such vibrancy and contrast to my treescapes and made me hungry all the time..! We had a great time supporting each other through the busy days. It was also fantastic to catch up with Hugo from the London Affordable Art Fairs. Super lovely seeing familiar faces here in HK!
Every morning of the Fair I’d travel from Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) to Wan Chai on the iconic Star Ferry. There’s something magical about crossing the harbour at the start of the day—the illuminated skyscrapers, tonnes of boats, and that unmistakable Hong Kong energy. It set the perfect tone before long hours on the stand.
The Wonderful Reception – British Landscapes in Hong Kong
What touched me most was how warmly my British landscapes were received by people from so many different backgrounds. Chinese visitors, expats from the UK, USA, South Africa, and beyond all stopped to engage with the work.
Many Chinese visitors told me how the water and treescapes reminded them of scenes from home in mainland China…. intriguing….I must visit! That connection across continents and cultures was incredibly moving—it reinforced for me that the language of trees, light, and nature is truly universal.
Following advice from Mary, the brilliant HK AAF organiser, I brought smaller sized works, using a portrait format (around 45 x 80 cm). These are what I think of as “small” pieces, but they proved very popular and sold well. I only brought two of those size paintings home with me—I was blown away.
Gratitude & Reflections
The fair was organised with impressive efficiency, from setup to the busy public days. Meeting so many lovely buyers, browsers, gallery owners, and fellow artists made all the hard work worthwhile. There’s nothing quite like seeing someone connect with a painting that came from a quiet woodland walk back in Oxfordshire or Wiltshire.
Huge thanks to the Affordable Art Fair team in Hong Kong, the British Consulate, Mark at Arco Framing, Pippa, Mary, Hugo, and every single person who stopped by the stand for a chat. You made the experience unforgettable.
Bringing my treescapes to Hong Kong has left me inspired and energised for the next body of work. The connections made and the positive feedback will stay with me for a long time.
If you were at the fair and stopped by—thank you! I’d love to hear from you. And if you’re in Hong Kong or planning a visit, keep an eye on future events.
Next steps for collectors & friends:
Until the next adventure… With heartfelt thanks, Cat
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