Based in the small mountainside village of Mairena, this Art Safari residential tour has beautiful mountains and pretty villages to paint from every view.

In village gardens trees are heavily laden with bright succulent oranges, flowers spill out from pots on windowsills and long blue shadows play on the white washed buildings.

This is a peaceful haven for nature lovers with a rich diversity of plants, flowers, birds and butterflies.  In May the European bee-eater’s return to the Alpujarra, weaving bright flashes of colour into the silver grey tones of rock and bark.

Shelly will tutor in watercolour, helping you to develop your own style of working in the rich tapestry of this gorgeous Mediterranean landscape.  Tackle sweeping vistas or contain your paintings concentrating on a smaller frame, producing detailed descriptive works, playing with texture and tone.  In your paintings you will be capturing rugged wilderness and beauty, painting in remote villages surrounded by olive groves and cultivated terraces, peaceful valleys and rocky gorges.

Our en suite accommodation at Las Chimeneas is wonderfully traditional with blue painted shutters, white washed walls and antique furniture.  Hosts David and Emma are looking forward to having artists in residence and will be on-hand with local knowledge, and entertaining anecdotes about life in Mairena.

It is possible to walk back along rosemary scented trails from nearby painting locations and your art kit will be transported for you.  Optional pre-breakfast yoga may be available at the Las Chimeneas’ Studio if you are interested (subject to availability – not included).

We will work up an appetite in the clear mountain air.  Breakfast and supper are taken in the guesthouse dining room, prepared by the friendly team in the kitchen using delicious fresh local produce, much of which is grown at the Las Chimeneas finca.  Lunches during painting excursions are either picnics, or at village cafes or bars.

Mid-week we take a full day excursion to Granada (approx. 2hr scenic drive).  The Moorish quarter is a maze of whitewashed houses, renaissance palaces and minarets.  Narrow streets offer up many architectural treasures to sketch with Shelly.

The Alhambra Palace is a dazzling place to sketch and offers plenty to challenges us, with its elegant symmetry, geometrical patterns, columns, fountains, reflections and mosaics.  The Generalife, the Palace garden attached to the Alhambra, was created as a private place of peace and tranquillity for the Granadan Muslim Kings.

Please note there is a very high demand for Alhambra tickets, so entry is subject to availability. To help us try and make a booking for you, we will need your passport details well in advance.  If we are unable to gain access to the Alhambra, we will find a good view of the castle to sketch it from the outside.