Day 1

Arrival day - Check in any time after 2pm (earlier arrivals may be accommodated on request) - You will be welcomed on arrival by your hosts Simon and Donna - Take the rest of the day to settle in, relax or explore the beautiful natural surroundings - Simon is always keen to explain the ecology systems employed at the house and will happily show you around - In the evening you will be joined by Simon, Donna and the resident artist for an informal and relaxed dinner at the house

Day 2-6

Watercolour painting on location - Each day, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon - Your first lesson of the day will take place in the studio and after that you’ll head out on a variety of excursions to the stunning landscapes surrounding the eco-retreat to inspire your painting - Simon will teach you everything there is to know about watercolour painting and be on hand at all times to assist you with your artwork and the techniques and application of the watercolours - Enjoy lunch at the house or, if you are heading out for the day, a gourmet picnic - In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the house with your hosts - On one of these evenings the resident artist will be more than happy to give you a presentation of their work, their influences and their experiences in the professional world

Day 7

Penultimate day - This morning, enjoy a leisurely Spanish breakfast before setting off for your day with Simon - Enjoy a delicious lunch of locally produced foods at the house - In the late afternoon you will review your week’s work, either together with other members of the group or, if you prefer, individually - In the evening you will enjoy a farewell dinner with your hosts and resident artist

Day 8

Saturday – Departure day - After breakfast you are kindly asked to check-out of your room ready for departure taking home with you new creative watercolour skills, and a commitment to yourself to pursue your work once you have returned back home

French Cooking Holiday Course Accommodation
You’ll spend 7 nights in a stunning designer eco-retreat set in a rural area of extreme natural beauty in the heart of the 'Parque Natural Sierra Maria-Los Velez' - As you drive over the hill, this incredible guesthouse will emerge almost like an oasis with almond trees to one side, beautiful poppies and wild flowers to another, verdant hills and mountains and desert scenes all encompassed in this undiscovered natural park - This really is an eco-family refuge far from the noise of any city or town and the night sky is unpolluted by metropolitan light - on summer nights you can gaze at the stars for hours - In the daytime the air is hot and infused with the pungent scent of pine trees - Skies are nearly always blue and sunlight is bountiful and with long warm days - The 'carbon neutral' designer eco-guesthouse sitting within the national park is surrounded by 50 acres of land which is arable, almond and pine as well as an olive grove and orchard - Heat and light from the sun, thermal winds and wood from the land combine in a system of solar panels, wind mills and fires to cook and create energy - Rain water is harvested from the roof, waste water is managed and utilised through a system of reed beds and a grey water recovery system is used to irrigate the dry land - However, being environmentally and socially responsible needn't compromise design and the house where you’ll stay was once 5 old farm houses, now converted into one very beautiful and luxurious eco-chic space all with the tiny touches from the artist owners that makes this really something special - On the one hand great homage and respect has been given in its restoration to the simple vernacular architecture of the building, and on the other hand a crisp eye for detail has been employed which makes the place seem stunningly modern - There are 6 large double rooms, 2 of which are twins and 2 with disability access, all rooms have beautiful designer en suite bathrooms with large wet rooms - You may check in any-time after 2pm on your arrival day (earlier check-in’s are possible on request) and check out is by noon 8 days later