ways of seeing
Painting and Photography
Master Class Retreat
with Nathan Florence and Elizabeth Ashdown
Join us for an immersive week of painting and/or photography in the Coastal Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The long evenings of late June provide an extended ‘golden hour’ in this climate; perfect for photographers and painters. The retreat is based in the Rhidorroch Glen, a verdant valley filled with herds of red deer, a river with waterfalls and native fish, and a crystal clear loch with available boats. You will find added inspiration on a ferry journey to the Outer Isles to visit the 5000 year old Calanais Stones, a standing stone circle that inspired both the movie Brave and the TV series Outlander.
This retreat is about discovering and telling stories with your art, capturing a sense of place, and communicating your experience in the medium of your choice. Presentations and workshops will be in digital and film photography as well as drawing and plain air oil painting.
We are a brother and sister pair of creatives and have both felt our art and human connection come alive in an inspiring way when visiting new places. Some people are super tasters–able to discern flavors in a way that few can–perhaps you are interested in becoming a “super-seer”, as we like to think of ourselves, and your eye is drawn to how light dances on a field, a smile evokes a story, or a person is the art. The location, the moment and subject matter are the story and we as artists put our brush to canvas, pencil to paper or camera to our eye with hopes that what we see and what we create will speak wordlessly.
Rhidorroch Glen, Ullapool, Scotland
June 25-July 1, 2023
Price: $2750 based on double occupancy. Limited single rooms available +$200. Partner options below.
Includes: 5 days tuition, 6 nights accommodation, two meals per day, transfer from Edinburgh, local day-trip travel including Isle of Lewis excursion.
Age: 18+ with exceptions for 15+ accompanied by parent.
Location: Rhidorroch Highland Estate on Loch Achall
Courses of study: Oil painting, drawing, photography (digital and film)
Workshop size: 12 total, often divided into painting or photography groups
Experience: All levels welcome
About the Experience
The stunning, off-the-grid location is ideal for an immersive, creative experience like no other. Learn about narrative painting and the landscape, how to think about composition and the use of color in your work. We will be painting alongside other artists and getting feedback in nightly group discussions as well as one on one instruction with the opportunity to discuss personal goals and direction in your work.
Artists will be able to choose between painting/drawing workshops or photography workshops during the day and participate in joint presentations/critiques/discussions in the evenings. Together we will explore ways of seeing, of creating, and the power of telling a story through our art.
Two meals a day are included and will be home-cooked and eaten together in our large dining room. Other meals can be purchased in the vicinity of that day’s destination. In free time, participants will have use of the grounds to explore, including the billiard room and the loch. During the week we will arrange some evening entertainment which everyone is welcome to join, such as gin tasting from a local distillery and music at town pubs.
Destinations for painting/photo excursions will include the town and port of Ullapool, waterfalls, river and loch with boats. There will also be outings for dinner to the Seafood Shack, boasting local catch prepared by family of the lodge owners.
Mid-week we will make an excursion, by ferry, to the Isle of Lewis to the ancient Callanish standing stones.
Proposed Schedule
Instruction: Monday through Friday, morning daily drawing sessions, presentations and evening group critiques/discussions are available to all participating artists. Photographers and painters will be working in the same relative areas during the day, but in separate groups. Individual instruction will be given to each artist according to your goals.
Daily Local Destinations: We will begin by exploring our immediate environs of the Rhidorroch Glen and its sublime views. We will paint/photograph in the afternoon and then enjoy an early supper to take advantage of the long evening light for an evening painting/photo session.
Isle of Lewis Midweek Excursion: We will travel by ferry to the city of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and make our way to the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, inspiration for the movie Brave and the Outlander series.
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Nathan Florence
PAINTING/DRAWING
I see everything around me in terms of how I would paint it. Everything can be used to make something out of and almost anything can be hacked to make it better.
I have been teaching people to see, draw, paint and create for over 20 years. Art is about communicating, and learning how to do that better makes life richer.
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Elizabeth Ashdown
PHOTOGRAPHY
I was younger than I can remember when I started noticing light and how it plays through space, reflecting life. With photographer parents who had an in-home darkroom, creating images feels part of my DNA and after studying traditional, fine-art photography in Oxford as a high school student, I was hooked; mesmerized by people, their story as art and my camera my pen, becoming my ticket into the lives and hearts of people. See my work here.
FAQ and stuff.
What's included?
5 days tuition - 6 nights accommodation - complimentary transfer to/from Edinburgh -
2 meals per day - Tea, coffee - Gin tasting - Extra activities - Solvents for painting
Prices
$2750 Shared Twin Bedroom (shared with one other participant of the same gender)
+$200 Private Bedroom (limited number)
Participating Partner (or parent of 15+ yo.) - $2250
Bring a non-participating partner or friend - $1750
You are welcome to bring along a travel companion with you who will not be participating in the workshop. Partners can join all of our meals and activities and become a part of our group. Double rooms with Queen beds are available.
The location is outside of town so any activities away from the group need to be self-supported. You may want to consider renting your own vehicle in this situation, but we are happy to advise.
The Food
Breakfast and any other meals at the Estate will be delicious, home-cooked Scottish cuisine, and will take place in our beautiful dining hall or outside whenever the weather is nice. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available; please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements (dietary needs rather than preferences). 6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are provided; other meals are available wherever we are working and is the choice of the artist. Local restaurants are varied and delicious!
+$75 Wine/cocktails with meals at the estate
Materials list, itinerary & more information
Artists and photographers are responsible for their own equipment according to course of study. Materials list for painters is here.
Transfer Information
A complimentary transfer is available from Edinburgh on Sunday
- one midday pickup will be scheduled in town and one at the airport before driving to Ullapool.
Bus and rail transport also available. Return transfer to Edinburgh (stops in town and airport) on Saturday.
Booking information
Click here to confirm your place on this retreat. $750 deposit or the full workshop fee are required for reservation. Terms and conditions can be found on the booking page.