The Iron Thistle 2026
Event Description
The Iron Thistle – Miniature Painting Competition & Hobby Day
Whether you’re entering your first competition or you’re an experienced display painter, The Iron Thistle is a relaxed, community-focused day celebrating every aspect of the miniature painting hobby.
Spend the day painting, learning new skills, meeting fellow hobbyists and showcasing your best work in our inaugural painting competition.
Included with your ticket
Miniature Painting Competition
One entry in as many categories as you wish:
- Single Miniature (Max 54mm Scale and under 80mm model height)
- Large Scale / Bust
- Vehicle or Monster
- Squad
- Diorama / Vignette
- Beginner
Every competition entry will receive a professional plain-background photograph, perfect for your portfolio or social media. In addition, after judging is complete, the judges and workshop hosts will be available to you for feedback on your miniatures offering valuable insights to help develop their painting/sculpting skills.
Entrants in the Beginner category can also receive constructive feedback to help develop their painting/sculpting.
Community Diorama
Help create a unique collaborative display by painting a miniature at our hobby stations. This year’s scene features brave warriors and peasants battling a fearsome creature from Scottish mythology.
Optional Add-ons
Painting Workshop (4 Hours)
Join @alexpaintstinythings for an in-depth painting workshop.
Sculpting Workshop (4 Hours)
Learn sculpting techniques with @requiem__82 in this hands-on workshop.
BoxArtYourMinis
Give your finished miniatures the box-art treatment with professionally staged photography, placing your painted models into realistic scenes that look ready to appear on the front of a games store box.
More than a competition
The Iron Thistle is designed to bring together miniature painters of all experience levels in a welcoming and inspiring environment. Whether you’re competing, taking a workshop, contributing to the community project or simply enjoying the day with fellow hobbyists, we hope you’ll leave with new skills, new friends and plenty of inspiration.