Ballycastle - N.Ireland
Ballycastle is located on the north coast of Northern Ireland overlooking Scotland and Rathlin Island. The town is located on the sea front and offers beautiful landscape for painting, walking and exploring – many of the sights you may recognise from famous movies or TV drama including the ‘Game of Thrones’.
A short drive from Ballycastle takes you to the Giants Causeway and the Bushmills whiskey distillery, both of which are well worth a visit during your holiday.
This holiday is for complete beginners to art and painting, and the course will deal mainly with watercolours. Your teacher Dora will inform you 4 weeks before of the items to buy and bring with you on the holiday. Think sketching pad, paint brush, pencils, paints and a great imagination!
Dora was born in Dublin, raised in Canada and today lives in Olhão, Portugal. She attended Ryerson University, Toronto, and the Ontario College of Art and Design and has studied painting with masters such as Roger Dellar, Grahame Booth, John Dinan, Alvaro Castagnet and Chinkok Tan and has been successfully teaching for over 15 years. Her “Absolute Beginners” series of workshops has inspired many to pick up a paint brush with curiosity and trepidation and to put it down with confidence and self-satisfaction.
As a painter, her work is colourful, whimsical and fun and mainly with water colours. She has been exhibiting annually since 1999 and her work hangs all over Europe, Canada and the U.S.A
The Hotel
Our base is the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle. Situated directly facing the sea, this modern hotel is a great base for your beginners holiday. The newly refurbished lounge area is welcoming and you can relax with a coffee looking out to sea. Dinners are enjoyed in Marconi’s Bistro which serves a variety of Irish and European dishes.
Your Room
The rooms are decorated with clean, bright colours and have all modern amenities available. Each room is ensuite with shower, includes tea and coffee making facilities and TV. Prices are based on rooms with a inland view, upgrades to a sea view room are available for £20 per night.
Hotel Facts
- 51 rooms
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant and bar
- Costa Coffee Shop
- Double or twin bedded ensuite room
- Hairdryer
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly into Belfast City airport or Belfast International airport. Our group transfers will depart Belfast City at 9.30am and then pick up at Belfast International for 10.00 hours before travelling onwards to Ballycastle. Check-in at the hotel and settle into your bedroom before dinner with your art teacher Dora, this evening.
Day 2
After breakfast join Dora in the painting studio. She will begin at the start with the basics of holding a paint brush, colours and all the basics you need to start painting. A break for a light lunch (included) before you enjoy some fresh air and a walk along the beach to look at possible painting locations. Dinner included tonight.
Day 3
After breakfast Dora will teach you the basic strokes and sketches required to start painting. After lunch (included) you take your sketch pads outside to create your first sketches under the guidance of Dora, your art teacher.
Day 4
Today we enjoy a bus trip to the Giants Causeway and Bushmills area. Explore these areas, sketch some ideas and enjoy lunch (payable locally) before returning to the hotel for a discussion and exchange of ideas, before dinner (included).
Day 5
After breakfast everyone collects their pads and paints and walks to their focal point to paint the landscape opposite the hotel area. It is your choice – Rathlin Island – Fair Head – Scotland or simply the beach and sea. A final discussion on what you have learned and what to try to continue painting after your holiday before dinner at the hotel tonight (included).
Day 6
It is time to say goodbye to Dora and depart to the airports for your flights home. Our private bus will leave Ballycastle at 12 midday to drop off at Belfast International airport at 1pm and Belfast City airport at 1.30pm, ready for your flights home.
Location
Our base is the town of Ballycastle situated just over 1 hours drive from Belfast, on the North Coast of N.Ireland. Ballycastle is a seaside town which offers a range of shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy.
In the area is breathtaking scenery and a short drive from Bushmills and the Giants Causeway – perfect areas for painting.
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