8 of The Best Painting Holidays: Time to Think of the Sun

It’s the best time to consider what you want to do in the summer when it’s cold outside. There is nothing better than thinking about being somewhere warm and beautiful, while sketching lazily or improving your artistic skills. Warm yourself up by looking at 8 of the best painting holidays on offer, whether you want to know about painting holidays in Cornwall, go on a trip to Italy, make art with Pompeii as an inspiration or explore rural landscapes during a painting holiday in France. Each holiday is an art course providing you with specialised tuition so that you can experiment with your favourite mediums, learn a new art technique or try out a new exciting style.

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Le Perchoir des Paons: Painting Holiday with Susie Home

The Lot region of South West France offers a great location for an art holiday with balmy weather, almost guaranteed, gorgeous landscape including two stunning rivers and characterful, historic market towns.

Susie and Mike’s retreats at “Le Perchoir des Paons” (intriguingly named the Peacock’s Roost) over five days of tutored painting alongside free use of their converted stone barn studio at any time.

Not only can you expect delicious evening meals, refreshing dips in the pool and trips around the area but also superb, helpful and structured tuition from Susie Home.

Susie studied Fine-Art and Graphics at Ravensbourne and Croydon Art colleges and chose a career in Design and Production in the publishing industry, she was the Cover Design & Production Manager for Sage Publications. She is an experienced lecturer, having taught at London College of Printing and University College London and is sure to provide insightful advice and direction throughout.

• Available Dates:
• 13 – 19 May 2018
• 3 – 9 June 2018
• 8 – 14 July 2018
• 29 August – 4 September 2018
• 16 – 22 September 2018
• 7 – 13 October 2018
• Price:
• £900
• Location:
• Le Perchoir des Paons
  Tournié, 46250 Gindou, France

For more information and to book visit their website here.

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Capturing the magic of Cornwall: Tony Hogan

Fully experience Cornwall’s dramatic north coast, stunning beaches, quaint harbours and interesting landscape with Tony Hogan’s painting holidays in Cornwall.

Tony as a resident in the area will take you to some of the best locations and hidden spots for plein art painting. Each art course is only open to 6 participants meaning Tony has the time to devote the time and guidance each artist needs. While the courses are open to all abilities, any artist could benefit from Hogan’s knowledge. He is a regular contributor to leading art magazines such as the Leisure Painter and Paint & Draw and regularly works with leading art manufacturers to do demonstrations of their products and desirable techniques.

The course price includes packed lunches, coffee, tea and cake to keep you going as well as a four course evening meal. If you look at his website Tony has a list of recommended, local B&B’s for you to book as your accommodation, unless you already have somewhere in mind.

• Available Dates:
• 13 August – 17 August 2018
• 3 September – 7 September 2018
• 24 September – 27 September 2018
• 15 October – 19 October 2018
• Price:
• 4 day course cost £395 per person
• Location:
• Tony Hogan’s Studio, Wadebridge, Cornwall, England

To find out more and to book visit his website here.

Book direct with Tony or Eileen on email: [email protected] or call 01208 895088 mobile 07888852503

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Painting Holiday at Little Alhambra, Frigiliana, Andalucia, Spain with Anna Martin

Little Alhambra, a moorish estate near the white washed, pretty village of Frigiliana is a great location to explore your creative talent while away from home. Andalucía has a rustic charm that is continually asking to be captured, meaning you’ll be able to make the most out of the tutoring by professional artist Anna Martin.

The large Mediterranean gardens surrounding the property along with fountains, a pool and inspirational scenery provide fascinating subjects. Alongside several trips into the surrounding area, the views of mountains and the coast along with the dinners in carefully selected local restaurants make the entire experience as enjoyable as it is luxurious.

Anna Martin’s tutelage aims at freeing up your painting style allowing you to take on an impressionist style and relax into fully looking. Anna started her career at Chelsea School of Art and then later trained in New York at the Parsons School of Design. She is half Spanish and half English and runs painting holidays in Turkey and Spain.

• Available Dates:
• 2 – 9 March 2018
• 18- 25 May 2018
• 2-9 November 2018
• Price:
• £1,695 per week
• Location:
• Little Alhambra, 29788, 29788 Frigiliana, Andalucía, Spain

For more information email: [email protected], call: 07931 742450 or click here to visit their website.

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Landscape Painting Two day Workshop in Brecon Beacons

Painting holidays in the UK can be a great way to engage with the landscape and appreciate your surroundings. This landscape painting course runs for 5 days and is aimed at those who already have a firm grounding in drawing and painting. In particular you will be learning plain air skills and looking for contextual inspiration from Turner and Constable. You can attend for a few days or for the entire length of the course.

The studio is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park just above Tagarth with views over the Middle Wye Valley and the open moor which gives onto the Black Mountains. The workshop runs till 4 each day with the studio staying open until dusk allowing you to capture the landscape in a variety of lights.

The fact this painting holiday is set in the Brecon Beacons makes it particularly well suited for going on a break with a non-artist companion, who instead can walk and enjoy the scenery. It is non-residential but there is a wide range of accommodation options on their website.

• Available Dates:
• 23 June – 27 June 2018
• Price:
• £300
• Location:
• Brecon Beacons National Park

To find out more and book click here.

 

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Azenart Painting Holidays Pompeii & Amalfi

Azenart Painting Holidays run a series of stunning luxury painting retreats throughout the summer. We decided to focus on their trip to Pompeii and Amalfi but every holiday features 4-star accommodation, restaurant meals, interesting trips and relaxed tuition from a professional, qualified artist.

The history and natural beauty combined with architecture in both Amalfi and Pompeii will make this a very memorable painting holiday in Italy. In a medium of your choice every day will include producing art work and spending time with like minded people. The hush and emotive strength of the ruins of Pompeii is bound to help you produce some interesting work while the blue of Amalfi coast will demonstrate the importance of colour in real life.

• Available Dates:
• NICE – South of France: 15 – 21 April 2018
• ROME: 3 – 9 June 2018
• VENICE: 30 September- 6 October 2018
• CAPRI: 7 – 13 October 2018
• POMPEII & AMALFI: 14 – 20 October 2018
• Price:
• from £1390
• Location:
• Pompeii and Amalfi/ varied

To find out more and to book visit their website here.

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Sandra Strohschein: Watercolour Painting Holiday at the Watermill, Posara, Tuscany

This painting holiday in Tuscany at the Watermill will provide you with a relaxing time and a body of loose, impressionist watercolour work. Led by Sandra Strohschein, a self-taught watercolorist who has had remarkable success, the tuition will focus on composition, light, lost and found edges and producing lively emotive, pieces.

As well as Sandra’s teaching you will be provided with accommodation, meals will be prepared especially for you at the mill or at the local restaurants with wine and local transportation also included in the cost.

The Watermill also has a variety of other painting holidays throughout the year that include, oil painting holidays, pastel painting holidays and acrylic holidays.

• Available Dates:
• 26 May – 2 June 2018
• 2 June – 9 June 2018
• 9 June – 16 June 2018
•  16 June – 23 June 2018
• Price:
• from £1595
• Location:
• The Watermill at Posara, Via del Molino, 12, 54013 Posara MS, Italy

For more information on the course and to book please visit the Watermill website.

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Portraits in watercolour: Holland: Stephie Butler.

A short art course as part of a longer holiday can also be an invigorating activity. Stephie Butler runs a two day course in Breda, Netherlands that demonstrates how to create bright portraits with an impressionistic feel.

Breda is a cozy, historical town known for its medieval architecture and sociable feel.

The portrait class is for all abilities and focuses on learning how to paint by instinct while still using techniques.

Stephie Butler is an award winning artist who has won numerous awards and regularly exhibited in the Mall Galleries, London.

• Available Dates:
• 21 – 22 April 2018
• Price:
• Contact Stephie Butler for price.
• Location:
• Steendorpstraat 2 4826 EP Breda Netherlands

For more information visit her website here.

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Painting Holidays at La Liberté – Autignac Languedoc France  with Linda H. Matthews

Linda H Matthews painting holidays take place in Linda’s home called La Liberté (which means freedom). Every one includes demonstrations, tuition and critiques throughout. The house is a gorgeous building built in 1830 during the restoration era, in the Baron Haussmann style and decorated in the style of that period. There is a large studio space available for use whenever you are not out on location.

The locations where you will be painting plein air include Roquebrun on the l’Orb, La Covertoirade an unspoilt knights templar village in the mountains, the flower market and cathedral in Beziers, and Pezenas market and town which is full of artisan studios and brocantes. This gives you a wide range of subject matter to see and work from.

Linda paints from life at home and abroad and has been a full time professional artist and tutor for over 17 years. Each of her unique art courses is loosely themed to allow to choose the one that suits you best.

• Available Dates:
• 25 April – 2 May – Painting Plein Air in the Spring
• 30 May – 6 June – Painting with Freedom
• 5 -12 September – Painting the Vendage in L’Herault
• 17 – 24 October – Walking and Sketching Autumn
• Price:
• from £850
• Location:
• La Liberté – Autignac Languedoc France

For more information and to book visit her website here.

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If these painting holidays haven’t caught your attention we have a fuller listing of art holidays on our Artist Calendar, click this link and then filter by ‘Art Holiday’ to see what art holidays are available month by month. You can also submit your own art holiday or one you’ve heard about by filling in the form at the bottom of the Artist Calendar page.

Struggling to pack for your art holiday? Then read our blogpost on 7 Art Holiday Essentials to find out what you need.