Sketching and Painting Holidays
With the popularity of ‘staycations’ this year, it’s inevitable that Assynt is busier than I have ever known it, as news of its beauty, tranquility and warm welcome reach previously uninitiated ears.In fact I’d go as far as to say it’s pretty inundated, and not always in a good way. You may have seen reports … Read more
For some time now, I’ve been hung up on trees. Not literally, I hasten to add… but when you’ve spent a good few years living somewhere trees are scarce, you really do appreciate having them around. They’re just huge, overgrown weeds really, aren’t they, yet nearly everyone feels some kind of affinity with them, conscious … Read more
When is a holiday not a holiday? When it is work, I suppose, although it’s difficult to know where one ends and the other begins. All travel is good travel as far as I’m concerned, and I truly love what I do! I am so lucky to spend my time in some of the world’s … Read more
It was during the blissful, if hardworking, season employed as art tutor for a mountain holidays company that I fully discovered my love of watercolour, and at the same time, realised what a completely perfect setting I found myself in, surrounded each day by views that even the most brush-shy would long to paint, and … Read more
Meet the locals Being an island, water naturally features large; in addition to the beaches and incredible waterfalls there are some notable rivers, and an excursion by small boat can provide a fascinating insight into rural Sri Lanka and its wildlife. Colourful birds, monkeys and water monitors will compete for your camera lens with hidden … Read more
Perhaps because of the indulgences over the festive period it’s natural that my attentions should turn be turning to food, although I confess it is something I think about throughout the year and sometimes throughout the day! Delicious, authentic local food is always a feature of a Vistas sketching holiday. On sketchbook ‘journeys’ we can … Read more
Meet the locals On a Vistas Sketching Holiday, in addition to limitless incredible landscapes you are guaranteed authentic local flavour through the places we stay, the food we eat and the people we bump into or visit. In many cases these experiences become an established part of the itinerary as our new and old friends … Read more
In addition to leading all Vistas Sketching Holidays trips, I have been known to do other things in order to keep the wolf from the door. I’ve nearly always been lucky (and determined, sticking to my guns) in being able to follow my passions and earn a living from doing what I love. Most people … Read more
On the Highland hillsides the bracken is turning from green to gold to sienna; the colour of the Moroccan desert, where a Vistas holiday group should be enjoying some warm autumn sunshine.It is now a whole year since we sped across dusty plains, crouched in lush pomegranate groves, brush in hand and wandered the dark, … Read more
As the moorland grasses and birch leaves begin to turn a rich gold and summer in the Highlands reaches a blustery close, thoughts which would normally be turning to winter adventures in far off places are remembering, instead, the precious days on the hill or on the water, taking the time to revisit old haunts, … Read more
