2025/2026 Courses

Rehabilitation Retreat

with Karolina Lenart || 13 April - 20 April, 2025

At Lucca, Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

Full 8 days where you can allow yourself to switch off from all concerns , fears , personal problems with nobody and nothing to disturb you. A week where you receive guidance and support to develop and nurture inner peace, relaxation, and wholeness in your life. A week where you hit the reset button to return to physical and mental health. Your Tuscan Experience Our course its held at the beautiful Villa Foresta , on the idyllic hill overlooking the city of Lucca. Tuscany is one of Italy’s best-loved regions. Its beautiful countryside is reminiscent of calming landscapes As well as rolling hills and vineyards, it also offers a rich relaxation possibilities– not forgetting premium wines and Mediterranean food.

1. Rehabilitation sessions
2. Healing massages
3. Meditation
4. Private therapeutic session

THE MAGIC OF TUSCANY with DORI BETH

with Dori Beth || 21 April - 30 April, 2025

At Lucca, Italy

I am so thrilled and excited for a 10 day get away to Tuscany ! Come paint with me under the magical Tuscan sun. We will stay at a 300 year old villa, where everywhere you look is a painting waiting for you to create! Each day we will dine on original Italian cuisine that inspires anyone’s “palette.” We will have many excursions and adventures to explore the Regional countryside and towns. Visiting the village with the Bay of Poets, a seaside village, a town of towers all to entice creativity. I will teach four , 3 hour sessions, where I do demos and assist each students to help them complete 2 paintings to take home. You will learn a number of techniques working with watercolors. In Lucca there is a wonderful little art store that only an artist can appreciate. Beginners and advance students will be inspired beyond their wildest imagination in the atmosphere of romantic Tuscany. This is an adventure that you will draw upon for the rest of your life!

1. instruction by Dori
2. Beautiful accommodation in traditional Tuscan farmhouse on the hills of Lucca
3. Private driver
4. Personal Chef offering best Italian cuisine
5. Lucca , Florence , Cinque Terre day trips
6. Tuscan cooking lesson with personal Chef
7. Wine Tasting in local bio dynamic winery
8. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner with art gallery
9. Cyanotyp experience with Domi Allan

Discovering Tuscany with Ian Fennelly

with IAN FENNELLY || 01 May - 08 May, 2025

At Lucca , Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

Join exceptional UK artist for unforgetable one week sketching experience in heart of Tuscany. Come with me on a journey of looking as together we sketch and discover the beautiful landscapes and cities in Tuscany. Each day I will deliver an Urban Sketching Workshop in pen and watercolour, which will enable you to tell your story, what you notice and experience, and to express your feelings about being in such a visually rich environment. My workshops are divided into clearly structured steps; from outlining the big shapes, to introducing colour and emotion, and finally going deeper into the subject to record detail, texture and pattern. They are suitable for artist of all abilities. Sometimes we pass through this world without allowing our senses a chance to really take notice of the things that surround, and what really matters. This magical adventure of creativity will fix you in the moment, and help you to appreciate through drawing and painting, how beautiful out world is. Check the book here : https://www.ianfennelly.co.uk/urban-sketching-books/

1. Itensive classes and instructions by Ian
2. Most beautiful destination for skeching session in Tuscany&Liguria -Lucca -Colonnata -Villa Reale -Monarola -Iddylic vineyards
3. Beautiful Villa Setting
4. Special selected activities
5. Private Chef offering best Tuscan & Italian cuisine
6. Private transportation

Discover TUSCANY

with James Richards || 09 May - 19 May, 2025

At Lucca , Italy - Villa Vistosa

Join me for an unforgettable 10 days in one of the worlds most inspirational places! I’ve been sketching and painting in Tuscany for years, and I can’t wait to share my favorite artistic and cultural immersion experience with you. Our workshops are a celebration of the transformational experience of travel, and the added richness, exuberance and creative rush that on-location sketching brings to it. You'll learn to use sketching as a tool for exploration and a doorway to discovery in some of Tuscany’s most beloved hill towns, landscapes, and coastal villages. Along the way, we’ll enjoy gourmet regional cuisine by our personal chef, the region’s finest wines, winery visits and tastings, a cooking class—even a Puccini opera performance! The goal of this workshop is not for you to draw like anyone else. My goal is to equip you with eye-opening lessons, techniques, shortcuts and inspiration from my own decades of experience and travel that can help you develop your own style, provide sketching breakthroughs and shave years off your learning curve. Our workshop guests often say we've "given them permission" to be themselves and to enjoy every day of the process. You’ll depart with a newfound sense of freedom and confidence that's the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment and continued growth.

1. Sketching instruction by James
2. Lucca, San Gimignano, Lerici & San Terenzo, Viareggio, Pietrasanta tours
3. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
4. Puccini Concert in a Romanesque church
5. Glamorous Tuscan food & wine
6. Pizza feast

The Light of Tuscany

with Alex Hillkurtz || 20 May - 30 May, 2025

At Lucca , Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

In this workshop I will teach you techniques to enhance the story you want to tell with your painting: composition, perspective, lighting, detail (or lack of detail). We will work in watercolour sketchbooks, and larger sheets, and the media will be pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour. I will show how I choose a composition designed to draw your eye into a piece. Using a quick pencil sketch to jot down spontaneous ideas, then moving to ink for rough details, and finally watercolour, I will show you how I “see” the subject on the page, and how to avoid common mistakes. I will share insights about the importance of light and shadow to define shapes, perspective to add depth, and colour to tell a story. Most of all we will have fun! You’ll come away with a sketchbook you can be proud of, full of your unique paintings and colorful memories of this beautiful part of the world.

1. Lessons by Alex
2. Day trips to : Lucca , Carrara , Pietrasanta , Lerici & San Terenzo , Florence
3. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
4. Classical concert in a Romanesque church
5. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner, Pizza Party and best Italian Food and Wine during entire stay

Going Home-Sketching Scotland with Iain Stewart

with Iain Stewart || 22 June - 01 July, 2025

At Scotland, UK

My favorite place to explore and sketch is with beyond a doubt my home country of Scotland. It is where I spend my sketching vacations and I’ve been drawing and exploring it my entire life. My family moved to the US from Glasgow when I was very young but when we would visit my parents always said “we’re going home for the summer.” That stuck with me and seeing the country man and boy and finally as a professional artist has taught me so much about where to go, the little tips that help anyone work in a country that can toss 3 seasons at you in an afternoon, and most importantly how to convey that love of place to others. I have taught numerous workshops in Scotland but this one is the first I’ve had a real hand in curating. As aways my motto is low stress and more places visited. Simply sitting down with my sketchbook and recording where I am whether it’s something extremely familiar or a new location I get to explore the thrill is always there. For me it’s the kind of beauty that just makes me want to throw my hands up and shake my head knowingly. Scotland gives and I certainly take what I can from that. Join me as I share my love of such an amazing country.

1. Learn how to quickly capture the world around you in your sketchbook
2. visit Edinburgh, St Andrews, Stirling, Glen Coe and South Queensferry
3. Distillery visit and Whisky testing
4. Local beer and cheese tasting
5. Best British food and drinks during your stay
6. Experience the unpredictable weather
7. tunning accomodation in 17th century Scottish Estate

DISCOVER THE ESSENCE OF CRACOW

with IAN FENNELLY || 04 August - 09 August, 2025

At CRACOW-POLAND

Explore the beauty of Cracow with a pen and watercolour. Professional urban sketcher Ian Fennelly will show you techniques and methods that help you to create your own lively and atmospheric sketches. Learn to find your individual style and fill your sketchbook step by step. Intensive course of 5-6hours a day. Inspired by the charm of the unique Cracow scenery you will be able to capture your favourite travel memories with brush and pen.

1. Intestive learning course by Ian
2. beautiful accomodation in heart of Cracow
3. The best Polish food during stay
4. Airport and local transportation
5. Guided tours of Old town , Wawel castle and Jewish Quarter

Painting People from Photographs- Watercolor workshop with Ted Nuttall

with Ted Nuttall || 01 September - 10 September, 2025

At Lucca, Tuscany

“I’ve always been drawn to people and the figure and I think one of the most exciting things about a country’s culture and environment are it’s people. Having had the good fortune to teach workshops in several different countries I came away each time with great images and feelings that developed themselves into paintings. I’m excited to have the opportunity to visit the beautiful Tuscan region of Italy and work with Karolina and David at their charming “Villa Sola”. And I would like to invite you to join me”. Although painting a person in watercolor may seem daunting, it is every bit as approachable as creating a still life or landscape. Ted Nuttall will demonstrate the techniques, and instill the confidence to enjoy painting people. He will discuss the benefits of photographic reference, as well as how to interpret a photograph in order to give life and energy to the subject. In Ted’s daily demonstrations and presentations, he will share his personal approach to painting. Plus, he will introduce the work of other artists with the objective of inspiring enriched seeing and thinking skills. What’s more, significant time is allowed for one-on-one instruction. In an atmosphere that’s both creative and supportive, Ted encourages in each participant a renewed enthusiasm for his or her art – regardless of their skill level.

1. Personalised painting session with Ted
2. Day trip to Portovenere, Lucca and Siena
3. Gourmet Italian Food and wines
4. Pizza party- make your own pizza with our pizza master
5. Wine testing in nearby vineyard
6. Cooking class with the private Chef
7. Winter tasting in bio dynamic winery with one of the top producers in Lucca

Restore Your Soul In Beautiful Tuscany with Mindset Coach Alicia Michelle

with Alicia Michelle || 12 September - 22 September, 2025

At Lucca, Tuscany, Italy

Ready to refresh your mind, body and spirit as you explore one of the worlds most beloved regions? Join ICF-Certified Christian Mindset Coach, author and award-winning podcaster Alicia Michelle for an unforgettable 10 days of rejuvenation, exploration and fun in beautiful Tuscany, Italy! Imagine being able to fully escape the pressures of daily life as you immerse all your senses in the Italian culture-the incredible scenery, historical monuments, dynamic cultural experiences, and amazing food-while also connecting deeply with Christ and other Christian women through intentional coaching exercises, Bible study, prayer, journaling and more. Together we will restore our focus on God and rediscover His direction for our lives as we honor past struggles, discover current opportunities and dream big about what could be. In addition, we will release stress and refresh our minds as we explore some of Tuscany's most beloved hill towns, coastal villages and old-world city centers (such as the amazing towns of Florence, Lucca, Volterra and Portovenere)! Along the way we will enjoy gourmet regional cuisine by our personal chef, the regions finest wines and cultural experiences, two cooking classes, yoga, massage, shopping, and so much more. And our accommodations? We will stay at a spacious, breathtaking Italian villa surrounded by lovely gardens that overlooks the Tuscan countryside! Discover a renewed sense of freedom and confidence in Christ as you enjoy a full 10 days to hit the reset button and switch off from all concerns and worries to focus on wholeness in God, relaxation and fun. There is truly nothing else like this experience-a life-changing gift of spiritual, mental and physical restoration that you will always remember!

1. Science-and-scripture based mindset teaching from a trained coach that’s worked with hundreds of women
2. Private tours and transportation to idyllic Tuscany destinations, including Florence, Lucca, Volterra, Viareggio and even Portovenere (the Italian Riviera)
3. Beautiful villa setting filled with quiet places to calm your spirit and connect with God Cooking classes, massages, yoga and other creative experiences
4. Mouth-watering Italian cuisine prepared by personal chefs, including an outdoor pizza feast, four-course gourmet meals, bio-dynamic wines from local wineries, and dessert at every lunch and dinner at the villa

Tuscany with Monique Carr

with Monique Carr || 05 October - 14 October, 2025

At Lucca ,Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

Join Monique in this spectacular holiday in Tuscany. You will get a joy-filled workshop that will help you embrace freedom in both art and life! From your private villa accommodations, prepare to be immersed in a once-in-a-lifetime art adventure while enjoying gourmet meals (made with love by your private Chef), splendid wine, exquisite landscapes and spectacular seascape. You will get to experience the magic of Tuscany:Cypress, vineyards, olive trees, medieval villages, markets. It will be a journey you will never forget.

1. Instructions by Monique
2. beautiful Tuscan villa accomodation
3. Lucca,Volterra,Lerici day trips
4. Gourmet food & Wine
5. Wine tasting introducing Lucca bio-dynamic concept.
6. Pizza festival with private ,,Pizzaiolo,,
7. Puccini classical concert in 13th Century church

Discover TUSCANY

with James Richards || 17 October - 27 October, 2025

At Lucca , Italy - Villa Vistosa

Join me for an unforgettable 10 days in one of the worlds most inspirational places! I’ve been sketching and painting in Tuscany for years, and I can’t wait to share my favorite artistic and cultural immersion experience with you. Our workshops are a celebration of the transformational experience of travel, and the added richness, exuberance and creative rush that on-location sketching brings to it. You'll learn to use sketching as a tool for exploration and a doorway to discovery in some of Tuscany’s most beloved hill towns, landscapes, and coastal villages. Along the way, we’ll enjoy gourmet regional cuisine by our personal chef, the region’s finest wines, winery visits and tastings, a cooking class—even a Puccini opera performance! The goal of this workshop is not for you to draw like anyone else. My goal is to equip you with eye-opening lessons, techniques, shortcuts and inspiration from my own decades of experience and travel that can help you develop your own style, provide sketching breakthroughs and shave years off your learning curve. Our workshop guests often say we've "given them permission" to be themselves and to enjoy every day of the process. You’ll depart with a newfound sense of freedom and confidence that's the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment and continued growth.

1. Sketching instruction by James
2. Lucca, San Gimignano, Lerici & San Terenzo, Viareggio, Pietrasanta tours
3. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
4. Puccini Concert in a Romanesque church
5. Glamorous Tuscan food & wine
6. Pizza feast

Tuscan Crochet Retreat with Emma – Oh So Pretty And Clever & Marina – Bloodimaryart Crochet

with Emma & Marina || 27 October - 02 November, 2025

At Lucca, Tuscany

Join our crochet experts on this all-inclusive 5-night Tuscan crochet retreat. Indulge in your favourite hobby whilst taking in the best of what Tuscany has to offer. We aim to inspire you through the natural beauty of Italy, envelop your senses with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, awaken your taste buds with delicious home-cooked organic cuisine, and excite you with local culture and extraordinary experiences centred around your love of crochet. Re-ignite your creative spark and nurture your body, mind, and spirit with an abundance of nature, and magnificent views of the Tuscan valley and Italian countryside. All yarns, patterns & daily workshops are included for a truly immersive experience doing the craft that you love with like-minded people.

1. Daily crochet workshops with Emma & Marina
2. Beautiful all-inclusive accommodation in a traditional Tuscan Villa on the hills of Lucca
3. Coordinated private transportation
4. A range of tailored crochet projects with instruction and guidance
5. A wonderful gift bag including all materials, patterns and extras from our sponsors
6. Day trip to Florence and a visit to a charming family-run yarn shop
7. Personal chef offering freshly prepared gourmet Italian cuisine & wine throughout the entire stay
8. Tour of Lucca and the local area
9. Handmade traditional pizza feast with a private Pizzaiolo
10. Puccini concert set in a 13th century Romanesque church followed by dinner at a local restaurant
11. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner & showcase of projects
12. Wine tasting excursion

Essence of Tuscany with Barbara Hack

with Barbara Hack || 11 April - 21 April, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

I am so thrilled to have this incredible opportunity to paint with you in the culturally rich area of Tuscany! We will not only capture the feeling of this gorgeous environment in paint, but also experience the food, wine and history of this region. Join me for 10 amazing days in Beautiful Tuscany ! What better way to embrace the true essence of Italy than bringing people into our experience. Our goal is to Master facial proportions and anatomy to create realistic portraits in our Oil Portrait painting Workshop. For 10 days This hands-on workshop is designed to take you through a classically inspired approach to painting the head/portrait from a live model. All four stages of the painting process will be covered, including underdrawing, with the emphasis on improving color, drawing skills, value relationships, understanding edges, and capturing the feeling of light. Through a series of demonstrations, guided exercises, and one-on-one instruction, attendees will learn how the power of light and shadow add dimension and drama to a portrait . My intention is to help you better tackle the difficulties of this challenging subject. No matter what background you have with oil paints, I will assist in teaching you at your comfort level. What better place to capture memories than painting in Tuscany! We will truly make memories together!!! All levels are welcome, Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today.

1. Instruction by Barbara
2. Excusion to most beautiful corners of Tuscany
3. Specialy selected activities
4. Accomodation in beautiful Tuscan Villa
5. Private Villa Chef

Watercolour Tuscany with Julia Barminova

with Julia Barminova || 23 April - 30 April, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany

I invite you to join my masterclass in Tuscany. As a watercolour artist, I have spent many years en plein air, traveling and painting in over 200 cities. Traveling and watercolour sketching go hand in hand. Stepping outside the studio onto the plein air, I immerse myself in the world of new places, finding inspiration for my creativity. I strive to capture not only the details and colours but also the unique atmosphere of every corner, which I embody on the pages of my sketchbooks. Watercolour is perfect for such adventures. With the right approach, it creates real magic on paper, conveying the sunlight, textures, and atmosphere of Italian cities. Join me in Tuscany to discover the world of watercolour adventures together. Here, you will learn to see the surrounding world as a source of inspiration and create picturesque works of art, preserving the spirit and atmosphere of every place we visit.

1. Instructions and lesson by Julia
2. Day trips to : Lucca, Viareggio and Portovenere
3. Visit a local vineyard and wine tasting
4. Cooking lesson by your personal Chef
5. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner and best Italian Food and Wine during entire stay
6. Pizza festival-learn how to do Italian pizza!

Discovering Tuscany with Ian Fennelly

with IAN FENNELLY || 01 May - 08 May, 2026

At Lucca , Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

Join exceptional UK artist for unforgetable one week sketching experience in heart of Tuscany. Come with me on a journey of looking as together we sketch and discover the beautiful landscapes and cities in Tuscany. Each day I will deliver an Urban Sketching Workshop in pen and watercolour, which will enable you to tell your story, what you notice and experience, and to express your feelings about being in such a visually rich environment. My workshops are divided into clearly structured steps; from outlining the big shapes, to introducing colour and emotion, and finally going deeper into the subject to record detail, texture and pattern. They are suitable for artist of all abilities. Sometimes we pass through this world without allowing our senses a chance to really take notice of the things that surround, and what really matters. This magical adventure of creativity will fix you in the moment, and help you to appreciate through drawing and painting, how beautiful out world is. Check the book here : https://www.ianfennelly.co.uk/urban-sketching-books/

1. Itensive classes and instructions by Ian
2. Most beautiful destination for skeching session in Tuscany&Liguria -Lucca -Portovenere -Florence -Villa Oliva -Matraia
3. Beautiful Villa Setting
4. Special selected activities
5. Private Chef offering best Tuscan & Italian cuisine
6. Private transportation

Beyond Technique: Finding Individual Expression

with Frank Eber || 10 May - 20 May, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany

This workshop is about the finding your personal style while negotiating the challenges of painting en Plein air. Personal artistic expression should be the goal for any serious painters. Technique is important of course, but it is only the first step. The most important thing to bring to your art is yourself ( OIL,WATERCOLOR,ACRYLIC,GOUACHE) Frank’s work is emotionally based, painted with a ‘limited palette’, softly expressive and suggestive. He was trained by an Italian master painter in the early 90’s. Typical in his art are color mixes and light that evoke nostalgia while remaining absolutely in the present. Frank's workshops reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting. Frank stresses a solid foundation in the basics, “…so that our focus is on creating timeless art. An emotional link is necessary in our work, as well as the connection to the vibrancy of everything we paint.” All levels are welcome as long as you come with an open heart and mind.

1. Daily lessons with Frank
2. Autentic Tuscan meals cooked by your private Chef
3. Day trip to Lucca, Viareggio , Pietrasanta and Chianti
4. Cooking class by Chef Karolina and wine testing in nearby vineyard
5. Puccini Concert in a Romanesque church
6. Pizza Night
7. Private transfer

Discover the essence of Southern Poland

with Iain Stewart || 12 June - 21 June, 2026

At Krakow & Zakopane- Poland

Simply sitting down with my sketchbook and recording the world around me is perhaps the most enjoyable and rewarding thing I can think of when traveling. My cares drift away and I am in the moment observing. There is no pressure to perform or to allow my sketches to become precious. Sketches are simply a record of my day and where it has taken me. We all have something unique to say and my goal is to show you how to listen for that inner voice that only you own. I have designed a simple process to help you let go of the desire of accuracy in favor of interpretation and your impression of place. There is an honesty in a sketch that is hard to replicate emotionally or visually. Join me as we explore the riches of one of the worlds most beautiful and historically rich destinations. As an architectural illustrator and Professor of design drawing and presentation I will show you how to move past representation and embrace gesture and the suggested. Join me in Poland- Im very excited to discover it with you!

1. Sketching intruction by Iain
2. Discover medieval streets of Krakow, the castle grounds and the old jewish quarter
3. Be amazed by UNESCO site- Wieliczka, salt mine tour
4. Visit stunning Tatry Mountains, learn about the warm hospitality and the most amazing local foods.
5. Enjoy river gorge experince on traditional raft
6. Best of Polish cousine cooked by your private chef

The many shades of Scotland

with Alex Hillkurtz || 25 June - 05 July, 2026

At Scotland, UK

Welcome to Scotland. The land of virgin landscapes, wild nature, beautiful islands, castles, best seafood in the world and… whisky! Stand with your feet among the glens and lochs that inspired so many artists. Embarking on your own all inclusive trip to Scotland armed with a sketchbook and a camera. It is a lifetime opportunity to get to know Scotland closer with all the most beautiful corners of this magical country and unpredictable weather.

1. Intense sketching sessions by Alex
2. Enjoy cooking lessons, cheese tasting, cyanotype workshop and more!
3. Experience the unpredictable weather
4. Visit places we know only from stories and movies- Edinburgh, Stirling, St Andrews, Glen Coe, South Queensferry and Dunkeld. Discover castles, monuments and historcal signs.
5. Taste the famous Scotch from the smallest and best distilleries
6. Learn about Scottish food and customs and tried amazing local produce cooked by your own personal chef

Mix Media Painting in Scotland

with Sandra Duran Wilson || 06 July - 15 July, 2026

At Scotland, UK

We are excited to present you this wonderful workshop in stunning and wild Scotland. Join us for 10 days of painting experience with our wonderful teacher Sandra Duran Wilson. Enjoy 17th century, five star accomodation in stunning Pershire region of Scotland. Just half an hour drive from Highlands.

1. Enjoy innovative painting schedule with Sandra
2. Visit Scottish capital- Edinburgh with a stunning castle Stirling , St. Andrews and Glen Coe valley
3. Try the best local foods cookedy by your own private chef!
4. Cyanotype (blue print) and aromatherapy workshop. Cooking class, gin and cheese tasting and much more!
5. Local distillery visit and Whisky tasting
6. Experience the unpredictable weather
7. Stunning accomodation in 17th century Scottish Estate

Sketching Scotland’s Spirit of Place

with James Richards || 16 July - 26 July, 2026

At Scotland, UK

“I never saw myself as Monet in the studio. I wanted to be Anthony Bourdain with a sketchbook.” - from Travel Artist, by James Richards Travel sketching isn’t about art. It’s about using a sketchbook as a tool for discovery. The world is your studio, your sketchbook is your passport. And Scotland offers opportunities for discovery like no other. Here, your sketchbooks can capture individual scenes and stories that make Scotland a legendary place in the imagination of the world. Collectively, your travel sketches can reveal the powerful and almost mystical quality known by writers, poets, artists and architects as spirit of place. Here in Scotland, this quality is steeped in history and legend, and shaped by the most memorable castles, historic towns, fishing villages, landscapes and lochs in the world. You’ll be using pencil, ink, watercolor and mixed media tools to capture your own impressions of this storied place, working in the essentially British tradition of the artist traveler. We’ll do this through fun morning studio sessions that illustrate my own keys to travel sketching, then take those lessons on the road to captivating destinations, where you’ll receive individual attention to help take your sketching to the next level. My goal is to equip you with eye-opening lessons, techniques, shortcuts and inspiration from my own decades of experience that can help you develop your own style, provide sketching breakthroughs and shave years off your learning curve. With new knowledge and confidence, your sketches will take on a loose freshness, and individuality that comes from your own hand. We don’t want a collection of masterpieces. We want you. After 10 days, you'll depart with a newfound sense of freedom and confidence that's the foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment, art-filled travel and continued growth. This is the travel experience of a lifetime. I can’t wait—grab your sketchbook and let’s go!

1. Learn new, sketching skills from James
2. Discover the culture and traditions, taste famous Scotch from the smallest and best distilleries
3. Day trips to Edinburgh, Stirling, South Queensferry, St Andrews, Culross
4. Enjoy The best British food cooked by your private chef
5. Luxury accomodation in converted hunting lodge- Part of the Blair Atholl Castle estate .

The Light of Tuscany

with Alex Hillkurtz || 01 September - 10 September, 2026

At Lucca , Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

In this workshop I will teach you techniques to enhance the story you want to tell with your painting: composition, perspective, lighting, detail (or lack of detail). We will work in watercolour sketchbooks, and larger sheets, and the media will be pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour. I will show how I choose a composition designed to draw your eye into a piece. Using a quick pencil sketch to jot down spontaneous ideas, then moving to ink for rough details, and finally watercolour, I will show you how I “see” the subject on the page, and how to avoid common mistakes. I will share insights about the importance of light and shadow to define shapes, perspective to add depth, and colour to tell a story. Most of all we will have fun! You’ll come away with a sketchbook you can be proud of, full of your unique paintings and colorful memories of this beautiful part of the world.

1. Lessons by Alex
2. Day trips to : Lucca , Carrara , Pietrasanta , Portovenere , Florence
3. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
4. Classical concert in a Romanesque church
5. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner, Pizza Party and best Italian Food and Wine during entire stay

The Fearless Sketchbook- How to Sketch with No Consequences

with Iain Stewart || 12 September - 22 September, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany - Villa Vistosa

Simply sitting down with my sketchbook and recording the world around me is perhaps the most enjoyable and rewarding thing I can think of when traveling. My cares drift away and I am in the moment observing. There is no pressure to perform or to allow my sketches to become precious. Sketches are simply a record of my day and where it has taken me. We all have something unique to say and my goal is to show you how to listen for that inner voice that only you own. I have designed a simple process to help you let go of the desire of accuracy in favor of interpretation and your impression of place. There is an honesty in a sketch that is hard to replicate emotionally or visually. Join me as we explore the riches of one of the worlds most beautiful and historically rich destinations. As an architectural illustrator and Professor of design drawing and presentation I will show you how to move past representation and embrace gesture and the suggested.

1. Instructions by Iain
2. Day excursion to Lucca , Florence , Carrara , Lerici
3. Beautiful accomodation
4. Delicous Italian food & wine during the course
5. Cultural activities :Cooking class , Wine tasting , Pizza making class, historical villa visit

A writing and painting workshop with Marcia Meier and Helena Hill

with Karolina Lenart || 25 September - 02 October, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany

We are excited to be returning to Lucca and the hospitality of Chef Karolina and her husband, Dawid, for a women’s writing and painting retreat Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2026! We are Marcia Meier, award-winning memoirist and longtime book editor and publisher, and Helena Hill, writer and exceptional watercolorist and teacher. We have led similar workshops in Italy, Spain, Mexico and Peru over the past six years. We love Karolina and Dawid and their awesome hospitality, and can’t wait to return.

1. Eight days in a gorgeous villa nestled among the luscious Tuscan landscape surrounding the romantic village of Lucca, Italy.
2. Four days of writing and painting sessions at the villa, interspersed with time to explore Lucca; a Tuscan cooking class with Karolina; optional massage and/or yoga; wine tasting at a local wine producer; dinner at a 5-star restaurant in Lucca; and time for hiking and shopping.
3. A day trip to Portovenere, the beautiful ocean gateway town to Cinque Terre, with optional boat tour.
4. A day tour of a beautiful hill town with time for shopping and lunch.
5. A visit to Villa Reale di Marlia, Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister’s villa in Lucca, with its spectacular history and surrounding gardens.

Creative Horizons – Albert Kiefer in Tuscany

with Albert Kiefer || 18 October - 25 October, 2026

At Lucca, Italy

Welcome to my workshop in the beautiful Villa Sole! I would be thrilled to have you join me for an eight day long stay in the wonderful city of Lucca and its surroundings. We’ll be sketching together, enjoying the scenery, and exploring the amazing nearby places. Have you ever felt stuck on a sketch, or afraid to start because you think you’ll mess it up? I want to show you how to let go of perfection and create great and expressive sketches that you can be proud of! I’ll teach you how to enjoy fast and free sketching with colored markers. We’ll have sessions of instruction, followed by plenty of live and on-location sketching. I’ll show you why perspective isn’t always necessary, and definitely not a must for a great sketch! You’ll also learn how to give buildings a unique twist, so you can highlight their striking features in your sketches. Are you ready for that expressive adventure in the Tuscan sun? Join me! Albert Kiefer

1. Personalized Instruction: Daily sessions with Albert Kiefer, focusing on techniques to capture the essence of Tuscany in your artwork.
2. Scenic Excursions: Explore and sketch in picturesque locations such as Lucca, San Gimignano, and the Ligurian coast in charming village of Portovenere.
3. Culinary Delights: Savor authentic Italian cuisine prepared by our personal chef, featuring organic ingredients and traditional recipes.
4. Wine Tasting: Visit local biodynamic wineries to sample some of the region’s finest wines.
5. Cultural Experiences: Enjoy a Puccini concert in a historic Romanesque church and participate in a hands-on cooking class to learn the art of Tuscan cooking.

Tuscan Crochet Retreat with Emma – Oh So Pretty And Clever & Marina – Bloodimaryart Crochet

with Emma & Marina || 27 October - 01 November, 2026

At Lucca, Tuscany

Join our crochet experts on this all-inclusive 5-night Tuscan crochet retreat. Indulge in your favourite hobby whilst taking in the best of what Tuscany has to offer. We aim to inspire you through the natural beauty of Italy, envelop your senses with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, awaken your taste buds with delicious home-cooked organic cuisine, and excite you with local culture and extraordinary experiences centred around your love of crochet. Re-ignite your creative spark and nurture your body, mind, and spirit with an abundance of nature, and magnificent views of the Tuscan valley and Italian countryside. All yarns, patterns & daily workshops are included for a truly immersive experience doing the craft that you love with like-minded people.

1. Daily crochet workshops with Emma & Marina
2. Beautiful all-inclusive accommodation in a traditional Tuscan Villa on the hills of Lucca
3. Coordinated private transportation
4. A range of tailored crochet projects with instruction and guidance
5. A wonderful gift bag including all materials, patterns and extras from our sponsors
6. Day trip to Florence and a visit to a charming family-run yarn shop
7. Personal chef offering freshly prepared gourmet Italian cuisine & wine throughout the entire stay
8. Tour of Lucca and the local area
9. Handmade traditional pizza feast with a private Pizzaiolo
10. Puccini concert set in a 13th century Romanesque church followed by dinner at a local restaurant
11. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinner & showcase of projects
12. Wine tasting excursion

The beauty of Tuscany

with Nancy E.Thompson || 02 November - 12 November, 2026

At Lucca , Tuscany -Villa Vistosa

Teaching art is a way of life for Nancy also a best therapy in this imprevedibile times. She believe that anyone who wants to learn can do it. She teach all levels...beginner classes to master class. Teaching accomplished artists is particularly exciting because it allows help to help others find ways to keep their work fresh and evolving.

1. Wine Tasting in local bio-dynamic winery
2. Cyanotype class with guest : Domi Allan from Soroses aromatherapy - Afternoon full of blue art!
3. Day trip to Lucca , Portovenre Florence and Chianti ( Panzano )
4. Cooking Lesson with personal Chef
5. Glamorous Tuscan farewell dinners with local wine selection
6. The ancient technique of applying gold leaf to artwork is brought to life at Vino & Vinci with this short, inter-active workshop. Guests will be welcomed with a glass of prosecco and pastries as we introduce the history of the gold leaf process.
7. Pizza festival-learn how to do Italian pizza.