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.

2024 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.

Skye Textile Experience
Dates: 20-27 April 2024 – fully booked – waitlist only
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Tutors: various (see description)
Activities: Weaving, Spinning, Felting, Dorset Button Making
Suitable for all creative skills levels; max. group size: 10

Fabric of an Island ~ Drawing, painting & walking on the Isle of Iona
Dates: 11-18 May 2024 – fully booked – waitlist only
Location: Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Tutor: Nicky Sanderson
Activity: drawing & painting (mixed media)
Suitable for all skills levels; max. group size: 10

Plant, Print, and Collage: Sacred Geometry & the Scottish Landscape New!
Dates: 2-11 June 2024 fully booked – waitlist only
Location: Glasgow & Argyll
Tutors: Reni Gower & Melissa Hilliard Potter
Activity: Printmaking, collage
Suitable for all skills levels; max. group size: 12

Summer Landscapes Oil Painting Retreat in Galloway
Dates: 15-22 June 2024 fully booked -waitlist only
Location: Galloway, South West Scotland
Tutor: Elizabeth Gilbey
Activity: Oil painting

Small Ship Painting & Wildlife Cruise – now open for booking!
Dates: 28 June – 5 July 2024 – fully booked -waitlist 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; max. group size: 10

Painting Retreat in Knoydart – Scotland’s Last Wilderness
Dates: 19-25 August 2024 – Cancelled*
Hosted by: The Knoydart Retreat
Location: Knoydart Peninsula
Tutor: Ellis O’Connor
Activity: Mixed media drawing & painting. Medium: mainly acrylic and watercolour paints, ink, pastels
Suitable for all skills levels; max group size: 10
*Please note: Sadly the host at The Knoydart Retreat had to cancel this retreat for health reasons. They will email everyone who has booked a place to arrange refunds.

Sense of Place – Drawing & painting in the Outer Hebrides
Dates: 25 August – 3 September 2024 – fully booked – waitlist only
Location: Lewis & Harris, Outer Hebrides
Tutor: Nicky Sanderson
Activity: Drawing & Painting. Medium: mainly watercolour, inks, charcoal, pencil, graphite
Suitable for all skills levels; max group size: 11

Fabric of an Island ~ Drawing, painting & walking on the Isle of Iona
Dates: 28 September – 5 October 2024 – fully booked -waitlist only
Location: Isle of Iona, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Tutor: Janet Melrose
Activity: drawing & painting (mixed media)
Suitable for all skills levels; max. group size: 10

And looking beyond next year we already have a few dates secured for 2025:

Full details won’t be available until spring/summer 2024, but can can register your interest at anytime.

4-11 May 2025 – Iona Art Experience with Janet Melrose (opens in Spring 2024)

28 June – 5 July 2025 – Small Ship Painting & Wildlife Cruise, various islands on the West Coast of Scotland (opens in Summer 2024)

22-31 August 2025 – Sense of Place – Drawing & Painting in the Outer Hebrides with Nicky Sanderson (opens in Summer 2024)

13-20 September 2025 – Iona Art Experience with Janet Melrose (opens in Summer 2024)

Sign up for our newsletter so we can keep you posted!