painting holidays in europe 2025

27 February 2025

Painting on location on the north coast of Spain

From the moment I picked up a brush 25 years ago, I knew I wanted to paint outdoors. There’s something about slowing down, sketching on location, and capturing the stories of my travels, that makes the experience unforgettable.

Some of my most priceless moments have been with a sketchbook in hand — pausing to take in a scene, feeling the atmosphere, and chatting to passersby. My completed sketchbooks are some of my most treasured possessions.

One of the most rewarding parts of my journey has been helping others experience this too!

That’s why I’m so excited for this year’s painting holidays ...

FRANCE : 10-19 June.
@perigordretreats
Fully booked, ask to join the waiting list

PORTUGAL : 3-8 September
@sofia_in_monsaraz

ITALY : 18-24 October
@hortulanustuscany

If you’ve ever wanted to fill your sketchbook with travel memories, I’d love for you to join me!

Contact me here.

With a fantastic team in France, June 2024

A free lesson for you!

One of my all-time favourite paintings of a stormy day in a ruined Roman town in Spain.

You can do this! Let me show you how. Join my community to receive this free video tutorial.

Join here

premixed greens for watercolours

9 September 2026

I'm off to Italy next week for my last retreat of 2026 and I'm getting all sorts of things ready. One of them is, of course, my palettes. One of the questions I get asked a lot is how I decide which c...

from plein air sketch to finished painting

1 September 2026

A couple of weeks ago, while hiking with friends in Val Ferret on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif, I made a decision that will surprise no one who knows me. An hour in, we stopped to shed ou...

sketching retreat in spain : sept 2027

11 August 2026

My first watercolour retreat in Spain — Cabo de Gata, September 2027. Four years ago I moved to Spain. I've been painting here ever since — and quietly planning the day I could share it with you. ...