After a hearty English breakfast, we will embark on our first art lesson during which Sarah will teach you loosening up techniques to create a beautiful English hare in graphite and watercolour. This exercise will help free up your style and paint with an emphasis on expressive mark making and not precision brush work. After a delicious lunch Sarah will help you start your first main considered piece: a beautiful otter in its natural habitat. Once drawn she will take you steadily through the techniques to bring its character to life, from the texture of its fur to the playful look in its eyes! Its watery surroundings will be painted after a visit to see them in action the following day.

After afternoon tea, Andrew will end the day’s art session by introducing you to the theme of urban sketching. He will run through some useful demonstrations and the materials needed to help you draw and paint whilst out on location. That way you will be able to make the most of the next day’s exploration. 

With this practical session finished you will have time to relax and refresh ready for a beautifully prepared meal at Stinchcombe Hill House. 

Your third day unfolds with breakfast, fresh juices and coffee where we can chat about the day ahead before heading out to the ancient Fortress and family home of the Berkeley’s, Berkeley Castle. During the tour of this stunning 12th Century Norman castle you will get to see the China room where Queen Elizabeth 1’s bedspread is on display, the Kings Gallery where Edward 11 was held prisoner and later murdered amongst a host of other rooms and gardens. Andrew will be on hand to help you sketch your surroundings using the minimal amount of tools. This is the perfect opportunity to start a sketch book habit or perhaps build on an existing one. What a perfect memento to take back with you! 

You will then head out to the award winning Wetland Wildlife Trust at Slimbridge, a remarkable and vast mosaic of wetlands, including open water reef bed, grazing marsh, ponds and pools. After lunch at the Kingfisher Kitchen, Sarah and Andrew will help you explore parts of the 650 acre site, home to the world’s largest collection of exotic, rare and endangered ducks, geese and swans as well as a multitude of other wildlife such as kingfishers, water voles, otters and five different types of flamingos. Whilst Sarah will be on hand to help you find subjects to paint, Andrew a professional photographer will be on hand to give you expert guidance on how to capture magical images and make the most out of your camera equipment.

 Then armed with sketches, ideas and photographs, you’ll head back to the Manor House for a welcome home cooked evening meal, washed down with some delicious wine. 

After a freshly prepared breakfast, we will have a steady and solid day of painting at the venue. During the morning Sarah will teach you how to paint the water surrounding the otter which was started on Sunday. This will involve a host of new colours and techniques in which timing and pigment control will be key. After a light buffet style lunch, we will then prep and paint flamingos in situ. The painting of these iconic birds will teach you how to paint the sky using a

graduated wash, as well as convincing reflections, shadows, splashes and feathers. And of course, there will be the obligatory afternoon tea! Andrew will lead the late afternoon session in which he’ll demonstrate his unique take on landscape painting. Using just 2 colours and embracing a playful and explorative style, he will show you inspiring ways of depicting the stunning landscape in just a few minutes. These sessions are perfect for those who have found landscape painting a little overwhelming in the past, or for those who seek new sources of inspiration. Once the painting session has finished there will be some time to relax and freshen up before heading out to a traditional village pub for a evening meal in cosy surroundings.

Day five starts with a gorgeous selection of breakfast items with coffee, tea and fresh juices. After breakfast, Andrew will led the session on urban sketching, giving you some invaluable lessons to set you up for the day. Sarah will aid him in teaching ways of quickly rendering iconic Cotswold doorways and flowers. Armed with the lightest of sketching materials, you’ll set out on a fabulous tour of some of the prettiest towns and villages in the Cotswolds. The Cotswolds is a region known for its picturesque scenery and quintessentially English charm. What a fabulous chance to put your sketchbook journaling skills to use! This will be the perfect opportunity to sketch, take photographs of the iconic stone buildings and ancient market squares, visit antique shop and cosy pubs and marvel at its myriad of bridges, streams, and natural beauty. A minimum of at least 5 villages will be visited with lunch taking place in one of the larger towns such as Stow On The Wold. As the afternoon draws to a close, you will head back to the warm and inviting atmosphere of Stincombe to enjoy a seasonal apple cider aperol spritz, by the fire before getting ready for a delicious 3 course evening meal freshly prepared by the house cook. 

 After a nutritious breakfast, we will embark on a day of uninterrupted painting. During this session,  Sarah will show you how to paint a majestic stag using a range is desaturated colours. During this class you will learn how to paint beautiful soulful eyes as well as the characteristic colours and markings of antlers. After lunch, you will have time to complete the Stag by adding environmental elements such as forest trees and undergrowth. Sarah and Andrew will be on hand to show you how to create the tangled nature of undergrowth with cling film, salt, negative painting and layering techniques.

The day ends with a beautifully cooked dinner freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients. 

- Over breakfast, the final day presents the ideal opportunity to reflect about the kind of painting that you would like to create as a result of the sights, sounds and photographs that you will have taken during this immersive retreat.

- Throughout the day Sarah will be on hand to carefully guide you through any pieces that you want to start or complete, whether they are art journal pages or fully fledged paintings. With a printer on hand, you will be able to print off any reference photos you need to recreate your work. Inspired by the trip to Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, Sarah will also be demonstrating the painting of a swan for anyone who wishes to follow her in painting this piece.

- Topped up throughout the afternoon with homemade seasonal delights, the pace of this last day will be relaxed and steady. Just after afternoon tea, an informal exhibition of work will be set in the cinema room… presenting the ideal chance to chat to fellow guests about techniques used and images inspired. The last night calls for a very special celebration whereby our private chef will prepare a delectable 5 course meal paired with a superb selection of wines. 

Enjoy a filling breakfast together, exchange any last contacts and catch the 10 am transfer to London Heathrow.