Holiday itinerary
Stay in a unique luxurious eco retreat in the heart of the unspoilt Parque Natural Sierra María-Los Vélez on this watercolour painting holiday with a difference.
This is no ordinary watercolour painting holiday. The creative eco-retreat is in a dreamlike location which has to be seen to be believed, surrounded by almond blossom, poppies and wild flowers, rolling hills, orchards, olive groves, rocky mountains and desert-like scenes.
This unparalleled diverse landscape is the perfect backdrop to stimulate your creativity and passion for art and will serve as a major inspiration to your artwork.
During your stay, you will learn everything there is to know about watercolour painting, from how to mix colours to how to make your own paint from natural surroundings, the effects of different washes to glazing techniques, and how the quality of materials you use affect your work to exploring wet and dry techniques.
Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to advanced painters, tuition will be expertly adapted to suit your own personal level of experience. Beginners will learn basic techniques such as washes, wet in wet technique, dabbing and much more, and more advanced level painters will receive personal guidance on how to implement the techniques to take your paintings to the next level.
Your tutor and guide is Simon, a graduate of ‘Fine Art’ from Manchester School of Art as well as postgraduate at The Royal Academy Schools in London. Simon and his wife Donna also host residencies for professional artists who will typically be on hand during your stay to discuss techniques and all things creative with you, as well as other guests on the course.
Donna will be doing all of the catering and she cooks to a very high standard and creates dishes she has picked up from her extensive travels around the world including North African cuisine. Although the focus of this holiday is watercolour painting, meal times are also one of the highlights, as all guests will come together to socialise and relax over delicious food.
Discover the fascinating medium of watercolour with expert tuition, stay in a luxury inspiring eco-retreat, and get your creative juices flowing from inspiringly beautiful natural landscapes on this watercolour painting holiday with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for those completely new to art, those returning to something long neglected and current artists looking to escape distraction and develop their skills
- Minimum age: 18 (under 18’s are accepted if accompanied by an adult)
- Please note that if you are travelling solo, there are no single supplements making this an ideal singles holiday
Non Painting Partner?
- Non-painting partners sharing a room are welcome and will receive a discounted price, click on the costing and extras tab to see the price
Watercolour Painting Course Start Days
- Arrivals every day of the week, all year round (7 nights / 8 days)
- If you can’t find the dates you need, we can be flexible so please email your ideal arrival date requirements to or call us on 08445 020445 and we’ll do what we can to accommodate you
- Please note that there are no minimum numbers on the course so if we confirm a date to you, it will definitely go ahead
Typical Watercolour Painting Course Itinerary
Please note this itinerary is an example only and may change slightly due to time of year and the weather conditions:
Day 1 Arrival day
- Check in any time after 2pm (earlier arrivals may be accommodated on request)
- You will be welcomed on arrival by your hosts Simon and Donna
- Take the rest of the day to settle in, relax or explore the beautiful natural surroundings
- Simon is always keen to explain the ecology systems employed at the house and will happily show you around
- In the evening you will be joined by Simon, Donna and the resident artist for an informal and relaxed dinner at the house
Day 2-6 Watercolour painting on location
- Each day, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon
- Your first lesson of the day will take place in the studio and after that you’ll head out on a variety of excursions to the stunning landscapes surrounding the eco-retreat to inspire your painting
- Simon will teach you everything there is to know about watercolour painting and be on hand at all times to assist you with your artwork and the techniques and application of the watercolours
- Enjoy lunch at the house or, if you are heading out for the day, a gourmet picnic
- In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the house with your hosts
- On one of these evenings the resident artist will be more than happy to give you a presentation of their work, their influences and their experiences in the professional world
Day 7 Penultimate day
- This morning, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon
- Enjoy a delicious lunch of locally produced foods at the house
- In the late afternoon you will review your week’s work, either together with other members of the group or, if you prefer, individually
- In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your hosts and resident artist
Day 8 Saturday – Departure day
- After breakfast you are kindly asked to check-out of your room ready for departure taking home with you new creative watercolour skills, and a commitment to yourself to pursue your work once you have returned back home
What Will I Learn?
- Whether you are a beginner, a practising artist or someone wanting to return to their creative routes, you will learn the skills and confidence to boost your personal and artistic development
- You will be taught at a pace suited to you and will learn all aspects of the creative process with an emphasis on how to paint with watercolours
- Beginner levels will learn a selection of basic techniques such as watercolour, mixed media, painting techniques and processes, paint making, dry watercolour, wet in wet etc
- Advanced level artists will receive personal guidance on how to implement the techniques to take your paintings to the next level, and how to learn about medium specificity such as how watercolour paint, paper and brushes will influence your success with the medium
- Simon will explain how to exercise control with your work and how to prepare for potential challenges you might face along the way
- Simon will be on hand at all times to guide you through your journey and ensure that you leave satisfied and enthused by the versatile medium of watercolour painting!
About Your Tutor
- Your guide and tutor is Simon Beckmann, professional artist and ecologist Simon studied ‘Fine Art’ at Manchester School of Art before studying for a postgraduate at The Royal Academy Schools in London
- Afterwards he lived in Milan where he pursued his interest in the early Renaissance painters such as Sassetta di Siena
- Simon paints in oil and is passionate about the portability of watercolour and favours the ‘simply’ executed and the thought provoking
- Simon is also an accomplished photographer
Watercolour Painting Eco-designer Accommodation
- You’ll spend 7 nights in a stunning designer eco-retreat set in a rural area of extreme natural beauty in the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez'
- As you drive over the hill, this incredible guesthouse will emerge almost like an oasis with almond trees to one side, beautiful poppies and wild flowers to another, verdant hills and mountains and desert scenes all encompassed in this undiscovered natural park
- This really is an eco-family refuge far from the noise of any city or town and the night sky is unpolluted by metropolitan light - on summer nights you can gaze at the stars for hours
- In the daytime the air is hot and infused with the pungent scent of pine trees
- Skies are nearly always blue and sunlight is bountiful and with long warm days
- The 'carbon neutral' designer eco-guesthouse sitting within the national park is surrounded by 50 acres of land which is arable, almond and pine as well as an olive grove and orchard
- Heat and light from the sun, thermal winds and wood from the land combine in a system of solar panels, wind mills and fires to cook and create energy
- Rain water is harvested from the roof, waste water is managed and utilised through a system of reed beds and a grey water recovery system is used to irrigate the dry land
- However, being environmentally and socially responsible needn't compromise design and the house where you’ll stay was once 5 old farm houses, now converted into one very beautiful and luxurious eco-chic space all with the tiny touches from the artist owners that makes this really something special
- On the one hand great homage and respect has been given in its restoration to the simple vernacular architecture of the building, and on the other hand a crisp eye for detail has been employed which makes the place seem stunningly modern
- There are 6 large double rooms, 2 of which are twins and 2 with disability access, all rooms have beautiful designer en suite bathrooms with large wet rooms
- You may check in any-time after 2pm on your arrival day (earlier check-in’s are possible on request) and check out is by noon 8 days later
Meals
- Although the focus of this holiday is on watercolour painting and creatively, meal times are also one of the highlights of the days due to the social atmosphere and delicious dishes
- All meals are included for this holiday and are usually taken at the house with your hosts Simon and Donna and sometimes with the resident artists
- Breakfast will be typically Spanish style along with breads, tomato, cereals and fresh fruits
- Lunch will be either at the house or a picnic hamper in a nearby field
- Dinner is taken at the house and is cooked on a wood burning range and where possible cooked using seasonal food bought locally from the small market farmers and the local butcher
- The food is simple and infused with the flavours of your host’s travels to India and north Africa as well as Spain
- Vegetarians are welcome and please note that if you have any other special dietary requirements these might be difficult to cater for as the retreat is located in a remote location (please add your requirements to the special request box at the time of booking)
The Creative Retreat Resident Artists
- This retreat hosts many different resident artists throughout the year
- For example, artists from all over the world come here to spend time away from the cities and to work on their pieces in the quiet and space the retreat affords
- Artists work on a variety of projects from drawing, installations, sculptures, paintings, print making and textiles and much more
- This scheme will give you, as a creative guest, not only the opportunity to hone your own skills but to spend time with a professional artist (often a tutor) to talk art and artists, materials and techniques as well as the experience of being a practising artist
- Having resident artists as well as creative guests and your hosts Simon and Donna makes for a great social atmosphere as meals are often taken altogether
Travel To The Eco-Guesthouse
- Please note that this retreat is in an extremely rural location of natural beauty, around 20 minutes drive from the nearest village with no public transport
- Although rural, this does add to the beauty of the place
- If you choose not to drive, we strongly recommend you pre-book the private taxi transfer
- If you would like, you can take the bus from the airport (takes 2-3 hours depending on what airport you fly into) and your host Simon will collect you from the local village 20 minutes away for a nominal fee which is to cover the cost of petrol
- You can pre-book a transfer when you book or if you want to take the public bus to keep costs low, you can contact your host Simon once you’ve booked to arrange a pick-up time and so on
Revel in all that nature provides at this chic eco lodge and pursue your passion for watercolours on this watercolour painting holiday with a difference.