Art Holidays in Greece

The holidays are based at the Lagou Raxi Hotel a Mediterranean Centre for Art, Gardens Plants and Design, in Lafkos the South Pelion. It is therefore a wonderful opportunity to be invited along to run Plein Air courses exclusively in these inspiring surroundings. I will be joined by past and new participants to capture a sense of place in Greece through a unique colour palette and freestyle approach. Our sessions will take place in the village, by the sea and at the Hotel. I will guide you to reveal the character of Lafkos, a beautiful and laid back traditional medieval village. The aim is to capture a sense of place in a loose, playful style whilst addressing the rudiments of drawing and perspective. I will help you to focus on the main elements of a composition without getting too hung up on unnecessary detail.

Art Holidays in Turkey

I am an artist in residence with Creative Getaways, a small independent company offering small group holidays. Set on the Turquoise coast of Turkey is the enchanting historic town of Kalkan, which is our painting holiday base. It is a sophisticated place with its narrow streets leading to a picturesque harbour. It is renowned for its high quality restaurants, many set at roof top level. By night Kalkan has a bustling relaxed atmosphere with its narrow cobbled streets lined with small boutiques and atmospheric bars playing blues and jazz. On your painting holiday in Turkey you will have many opportunities to explore and capture this beautiful town. We organise bespoke week holidays with an emphasis as much on fine wine and food as creating art. It is such a privilege to be able to set up with our easels and interpret the ancient Lycian Ruins dotted around Antalya. Here you can see a gallery of work in Xanthos, Patara and Tloss. I always start with a painting demonstration on location to encourage the group to make their interpretations emotionally charged and indicative of the history of the place through gestural brushwork and expressive use of colour with the important elements as the focal points. As always the best results are about simplification and abstraction.

Painting Holidays in Spain

MALAGA I run painting holidays in Malaga Spain and have done so for the last decade. More recently I have been based in the white washed village of Frigiliana, Spain, which was voted the ‘prettiest village in Andalucía’ by the Spanish tourism authority. I enjoy the rewarding experience of acting as a creative catalyst for small groups in beautiful locations and am always amazed though never surprised at how people excel in a small friendly group dynamic on location even as complete beginners. My groups typically include a variety of levels from beginners to improvers and group sizes range from 4-12. I normally take people to paint in ‘plein-air’ mode on location such as Moorish castles, ancient Lycian ruins, beaches and mountain villages. I mainly demonstrate in acrylics and sometimes watercolour and offer sketching days as well as one on one help depending on the needs of the group and the medium which best suits the location. 

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MURCIA I also run painting holidays in Murcia based at the Hotel Ribera https://www.hotelribera.es at my family hotel. This area of Spain is renowned for its local rice and vegetable platters and the views of the Mar Menor make for spectacular views.

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Painting demos during Spanish painting holidays.

Painting Holidays in the UK

I am an art leader with HF Holidays a walking and special interest holiday company offering UK based trips in different art disciplines including Drawing and Sketching, Ramblers with a sketchbook, Watermixeable Oils and Acylic Painting. The trips are based in various locations in the UK and the painting sessions take place inside and outside the grounds of the properties owned by HF holidays throughout the year.
In addition I am running 3 day workshops in the Cotswolds based on small groups and a tailor made itinerary depending on the needs of the group. This could include painting and sketching on locations in the beautiful surroundings of the Cotswolds whether in a country estate, woodland or picturesque village.

I also run bespoke painting trips and workshops in the Cotswolds. Prosecco and painting in Watercolour and weekend painting sessions in Bouton on the Water and Lower Slaughter.

Contact me if you are interested in a group session or a one-on-one session.

Highlights of Drawing and Introduction to Water-based Oils highlights with HF Holidays in Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds.

Highlights of Pen and Wash Holiday with HF Holidays November 2021

Walking and Sketching Holidays

As a keen walker and traveller I really enjoy exploring dramatic landscapes. I have therefore developed a sample itinerary programme for leading walking and sketching holidays in Spain. This would provide an opportunity to walk and capture the views with a sketchbook, camera or iPad whilst exploring a coastline dotted with wild flowers ruins and rocky formations. The region of Andalucia with its year round sunny climate make it the perfect location for winter sun. I would run a follow up session to further the sketches into more resolved paintings depending on the location and weather conditions either in an indoor or outdoor studio. I also run urban sketching sessions in Malaga and Almeria.

Incorporating the mind and body link into art

Book your place on the next painting holiday in Spain and Turkey

Book your HF painting holiday in the Cotwolds