Nestled within the riverine tranquillity of a private nature reserve, this 4 day course / 4-night stay promises a perfect blend of creativity and serenity. You... Read more
Date26 Aug - 29 Aug 2025
Location(s)SuffolkEUROPE
Tour contentThe simplicity of paper, watercolour, charcoal and pencil for wildlife, landscape and rural history
Tutor(s)Mary-Anne Bartlett
Nestled within the riverine tranquillity of a private nature reserve, this 4 day course / 4-night stay promises a perfect blend of creativity and serenity. You can book with or without accommodation.
Art Safari artist Mary-Anne Bartlett leads an exploration of late summer landscape and its wildlife on paper through watercolour, ink, charcoal and pencil. Our time will also be filled with insights into the stories hidden in the hedgerows, mud flats and ancient villages from landscape historian, Patrick Bowden Smith. Patrick adds to our heady mix of art and natural environment, showing us the secrets of this gentle land, connecting us to a visible timeline that begins before the Iron Age.
On our excursions and using boathouses and hides, we explore the riverbanks, hoping to encounter seals, otters, and kingfishers. We document these exciting moments in our sketchbooks between longer painting sessions. With delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners at the cottage included, this is a perfect blend of art, nature, and relaxation.
Meeting in the morning on our first day, we head to the Boat House for the afternoon to start our observations between the reeds. (Options to take a ride in a vehicle to painting locations, but walking is strongly recommended, sketchbook in hand.) Our days are filled with hilltop vistas, lost medieval villages, woodlands, hedgerows, wildflower meadows and a farm that is already in a long magical process of being restored to a natural landscape.
Suffolk, with its picturesque landscapes and serene riverbanks, offers a diverse array of wildlife including waders, kingfishers, herons, and swans gracefully navigating the waterways. There is a heronry and egret roost over the river. We tune into the sounds of the landscapes as we follow Mary-Anne’s exercises and demos. Mammals such as deer, hares, otters, water voles contribute to the thriving ecosystem. Re-wilding and restoration here helps maintain the delicate balance of nature, promoting biodiversity and ensuring the survival of numerous species.
Please bring your enthusiasm, sunscreen and art materials for four packed days and convivial evenings.
Cost per person sharing: £745 inc VAT – including 4 day course, all meals except on last night, 4 nights accommodation (£185 single room supplement – NB one room has no single supp)
or
Course only: £555 inc VAT – including 4 day course and all 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners (accommodation not included)
Food: Delicious breakfasts, lunches and home-cooked dinners are included in everyone’s price. The last night’s meal will be at the local pub (at own expense).
We will be based at Eel’s Foot Cottage in Hemley near Waldringfield on the River Deben.
ACCOMMODATION:
Hurry to book one of the three rooms available on the farm at Eel’s Foot Cottage, Hemley, near Waldringfield (shared bathrooms, and please note that the single room is also the access to another bedroom).
You can also choose your own accommodation elsewhere (ask us for recommendations) or come as a day trip (inclusive of all meals) if you prefer.
Share this:
Use this page to subscribe to the Art Safari email list.
You can unsubscribe at any time by using the link at the bottom of emails sent by us.
Email address:
First Name
Last Name
Your interests (optional): Workshops Holidays Both
Other interest (optional):
When10 Jul - 24 Jul 2025
WithMary-Anne Bartlett
Duration14 Days
FromFrom £6430 including internal flights
When09 Sep - 16 Sep 2025
WithRoger Dellar
Duration7 Days
From£2,325 pp sharing excl. flights
When14 Sep - 27 Sep 2025
Duration13 Days
From£5120 per person sharing