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"The Sunday Times" Recommendation

We are thrilled that the Sunday Times has recommended our painting holidays, a real honour.  The article below  was born from travel writer Richard Green's idea to write a feature on "learn to do" holidays, (cookery, yoga, creative writing etc.. and painting) which, in his words, have been "proven to be an effective and fast route to relaxation, as well as a personally rewarding form of learning or improving".

We were contacted by Richard Green (pic below) while working in Spain and he joined our holidays for the last week of the Spring/Summer season '03.  We received 10 out of 10 (the only company to do so!) and we had no idea there was a scoring system!

Below is his much treasured account of his experience on our painting holidays. Furthermore Richard was great company and we all had a memorable week and still keep in contact from time to time. 

I WANT TO PAINT

Richard painting

The skill: watercolour painting in rural Andalusia, with expat Scots Eddie and Gill Lange.

The student: for me, school art lessons were an ideal cloak for messing about. But I did enjoy “Paint along with Nancy” — a television series that revealed the secret of oil painting with a trowel. I produced a set of still lifes that looked like polychrome grouting, and I haven’t picked up a trowel, or brush, since.

The school: the beautiful mountain village of Ojen is itself the learning environment, with snaking lanes, whitewashed walls and terracotta pots billowing with blooms. There’s still an Arabian echo in the streets, the people and their pace of life, and everyone really does say “Hola” as they pass by.

Eddie and Gill are from Dundee, and pitched up here by accident on a Mediterranean driving holiday. Eddie is a professional artist, and he provides the tuition while Gill organises the trips. Their approach is supremely informal, and Eddie has a light touch — suggestions and tips rather than must-dos and mantras. Lunches are in village tapas bars, dinners at a clutch of simple local restaurants, with outstanding seafood paella, fried fish and crisp local wines.

We stayed at the delightful Posada Del Angel, its rooms, around a tranquil courtyard, decorated in spare Andalusian style. The hotel is peaceful, yet still feels part of the village, with views of washing drying on the rooftops and the sounds of family life below.

The course: Eddie puts you at your easel from the word go. I thought I’d be embarrassed sitting with palette in direct line of titters from passers-by, but it wasn’t so. The locals are supportive, and painting in their village made me feel temporarily part of their community.

My first painting took a couple of hours. It was of a sagging housefront on a steep lane, and I soon learnt that it doesn’t matter if you think you can’t paint — Eddie knows you can.

Each session produced a painting and each left me itching for the next one. Groups are kept at fewer than 10 people, and while some students can paint well, it’s ideal for beginners.

It’s a scenic drive up to Ronda, made famous by its dramatic gorge. Avoiding the tourist ruck in the town, we pitched our easels in a silent, flower-scented field far below. Had I been walking here, I’d probably have stopped just long enough to snap a photo — so it was wonderful, instead of winding on, to unwind and absorb the view properly.

On the final evening, Eddie assessed our work. It was uplifting to find that everyone had achieved their goals. I came away with unique mementos of the week and a new way to interpret my surroundings.

Extracurricular activities: Wednesday is a free day. Marbella is four miles away, with a regular bus link.

Pupil’s progress: I’ve bought paints since returning, and can be seen attempting to transform the drab East End skyline. I don’t think I could have become anything like as fired up without the intensity of a week’s course or the vivid surroundings of Andalusia. My mini palette is already packed for my next trip.

Marks out of 10: 10. It was a privilege to share Eddie and Gill’s love of art and Andalusia. If you like your learning to be fun, this is an ideal choice.

The package: a week between March and June starts at £940pp, including transfers, five days’ tuition and seven nights’ full-board, but not flights. Call 01382 553736

Richard Green travelled as a guest of Lange Art Studios and GB Airways

Richard Green

Please note that since Richard visited us we have made some changes to the programme.