Small group holidays & retreats

Small group art workshop holidays, creative retreats & art cruises in Scotland

Our immersive creative experiences combine art workshops with handpicked accommodation and eateries, visits to galleries and exhibitions, and more. Develop your art skills in Scotland’s dramatic landscapes, in the company of like-hearted creative travelers. Smell the sea breeze and wildflowers, learn about our rich history, explore the Highlands and islands….the winding streets of ancient villages and the buzz in our cities. Let them all inspire your art!

Every year we organise some ready-to-book art experiences on which we can take between 5 and 12 guests, depending on the package and activity. These high quality residential packages are built around a tutored art course led by one of our artists. All our tours are created with love and much attention to detail.

We are part of the Responsible Travel community and believe that with the right vision and values tourism can make a positive difference to local communities, economies and environments.

Click on the links below to find out more about our friendly small group experiences. You can also sign up for our mailing list if you’d like to receive the newsletter we send out once a month or so – sign up here.

2023 Programme of art holidays and creative retreats

Every year we run a small number of hand-crafted small-group creative experiences in different locations. For photos and feedback from past experiences click here.

Fabric of an Island ~ Drawing, painting & walking on the Isle of Iona
Dates: 6-13 May 2023 – fully booked – waiting list only
Location: Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Tutor: Janet Melrose
Activity: drawing & painting (mixed media)
Suitable for all skills levels

Plant, Print, and Papercut: Sacred Geometry & the Scottish Landscape
Dates: 4-11 June 2023 – see trip description for info
Location: Orkney
Tutors: Reni Gower & Melissa Hilliard Potter
Activity: Printmaking, papercutting & foraging
Suitable for all skills levels

Galloway in Summer: Oil Painting Retreat
Dates: 17-24 June 2023 – fully booked, wait list only
Location: Near Kirkcudbright in Galloway, South West Scotland
Tutor: Elizabeth Gilbey
Activity: Oil painting
Suitable for all skills levels

Sense of Place – Drawing & painting in the Outer Hebrides
Dates: 20 – 29 August 2023 – fully booked, wait list only
Location: Lewis & Harris, Outer Hebrides
Tutor: Nicky Sanderson
Activity: Drawing & Painting. Medium: mainly watercolour, inks, charcoal, pencil, graphite
Suitable for all skills levels

Magical Orkney ~ Drawing & watercolour painting holiday in Orkney
Dates: 17-24 September 2023 – see trip description for info
Location: Orkney islands
Tutor: Leo du Feu
Activity: landscape mixed media drawing and painting
Suitable for all skills levels

2024 Programme

And looking beyond this year we already have a few experiences lined up:

Small Ship Painting & Wildlife Cruise – now open for booking!
Dates: 28 June – 5 July 2024 – Fully booked -wait list only
Departure & destination port: Oban
Locations include: Isles of Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Jura & Islay; Sound of Jura; Kintyre & Crinan; Seil Island
Tutor: Nicky Sanderson
Activity:Activity: Drawing & Painting. Medium: mainly watercolour, inks, charcoal, pencil, graphite
Suitable for all skills levels

20-27 April 2024 (tbc) – Skye Textile Experience (for info: this will be very similar to the 2022 trip – check out the page for the past textile experience here)

11-18 May 2024 – Iona Art Experience (opens for booking in Spring 2023)

25 Aug – 3 Sept 2024 – Sense of Place, Outer Hebrides (opens for booking in Summer 2023)

28 Sept – 5 Oct 2024 – Iona Art Experience (opens for booking in Spring 2023)

tbc – Sacred Geometry & the Scottish Landscape

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If none of these fit with your preferred travel dates and interests we can also put together a tailor made experience for you or arrange one of the above itineraries exclusively for your group. Find out more…