Landscape & the Imagination – art retreat in Kintyre, September 2020

Landscape & the Imagination with Lizzie Rose

Art holiday on the Kintyre peninsula in the west of Scotland

Dates: 20-26 September 2020
Tutor: Lizzie Rose
Location: Whitehouse, Tarbert, Argyll

An in-depth art experience over five days, professionally guided by inventive and exciting landscape painter Lizzie Rose. Discover creative ways of seeing, adding new dimensions to your work, in the comfortably relaxed and informal atmosphere of Whitehouse Studio at Glenreasdale House. Glenreasdale House is the home of artist Karen Beauchamp, who will be your host and supporting Lizzie with the art course.

You will be encouraged by Lizzie to draw and to experiment with mark making and materials. Creating some work outside and gathering memories, marks, images and ideas to bring back to the studio – and to take home with you. You will be supported to use memory and drawings to create work that reflects your experience and feelings when outside.

Your tutor Lizzie Rose

Lizzie likes to immerse herself in the landscape; in a forest, by the sea, on a mountain top, the light and energy of these places inspires her to create her work. She loves to draw and is keen to encourage others to enjoy making marks and find a way to express themselves. She encourages her students to work outside as much as possible to absorb the atmosphere and energy of the landscape. Her work is bold and full of creative mark making.

Lizzie was born in Oban, Scotland, in 1972. She has a BA Hons Fine Art from Newcastle University and also completed a Foundation Year at Leith School of Art, Edinburgh. Lizzie has exhibited widely in Scotland, the rest of the UK and New Zealand. She has lived briefly in Amsterdam and in New Zealand but Scotland is her home and she has now settled in Ardfern in Argyll.

The course is planned to provide a varied programme of short journeys to inspiring locations, all specially chosen and never far from the sea. Alternatively, working in the studio will give you time and space to develop your ideas and recharge your creativity in a supportive environment.

This art holiday offers a fully guided experience for all with plenty one to one tuition. It starts on Sunday afternoon and finishes on Saturday morning after breakfast.

Cost & inclusions

Cost: £1150 per person, based on two sharing (£150 single supplement). A non-refundable deposit of £300 will secure your place. 

This includes:

• 5 full days of art tuition (6 hours per day in two 3-hour sessions)
• 6 nights in comfortable accommodation, each room with a view of either the garden or West Loch Tarbert
• Home made bread and breakfast cereals with fresh fruit each morning. All dietary requests catered for
• 5 x buffet, picnic or cafe lunch
• 6 x three course evening meals cooked with locally sourced produce
• Discussions and talks; possible musical evenings
• Use of studio space: The studio is equipped with easels, drawing boards, printing press & other printing equipment, cleaning agents, paper towels and a varied selection of art materials. Please bring with you your preferred medium and paper, boards or canvas.
• Use of large and cosy kitchen with Aga style range – the hub of the house, definitely the place for tea and chat.
• Log fires each day for afternoon tea an a browse through the extensive art library.

Please note that transport to and from the holiday venue is not included. This art holiday will be provided by our partners at Whitehouse Art. 

Book your place now

Studio & accommodation

Glenreasdale House is a spacious, light and airy Arts and Crafts house built in 1907 by Peter J. Mackie, founder of White Horse Whisky. The original house was subdivided into four huge sections seventy years ago, now Karen lives in the centre section with the tower and the walled garden. Not only has Karen renovated the house but her home also reflects a lifetime of collecting beautiful and interesting objects during her career as a designer.

Overlooking West Loch Tarbert and in a secret location up an old farm lane in Kintyre, it is secluded but not remote. Surrounded by stunning and inspring scenery; rocky and rugged shores or soft and rolling hills, the area has been a mecca for artists for centuries; the `Glasgow Boys’, the ‘Glasgow Girls’, and the Scottish Colourists all found inspiration here. Two hours spectacular drive west of Glasgow, Whitehouse is close to the small atmospheric fishing and sailing village of Tarbert, with its pubs and restaurants. The area is renowned for its seafood, local produce and whisky.

Situated between the ferry port of Kennacraig serving Islay and Jura, and Claonaig for the Isle of Arran, the area has a characteristically undulating landscape which creates micro-climates; often when it is raining on the east side of the peninsular it will be bright sun on the west side.

Although the location is very peaceful and remote, it’s easily accessible by car or public transport from both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. The journey takes a few hours but takes you through beautiful scenery. Find more information on how to get there in the practicalities pages.

A warm and friendly welcome awaits you !

Autumn on Kintyre and Knapdale – All the turning colours of the Summer’s growth, purples and reds, ochre’s and raw umbers next to turquoise and soft blue ray rocks and the sharp limey green lichens on the shore.