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Update: June 2023

For those of you who enjoyed our Painting Holidays in Italy and those who were interested but never made it. Keep looking here and on our newsletter as we may have some exciting news soon.

“We are passionate about putting our heart and soul into making sure that each guest on our Painting Holiday in Italy is looked after and has a great holiday with memories to treasure for a lifetime”

Our painting holidays are a thoughtfully planned balance between learning new drawing and painting skills from expert tutor Alan Reed with over 35 years of teaching art.

Relaxing and socialising with like minded people, eating home cooked Italian food and drinking wine from the estate’s own vineyards are just some of the wonderful delights of our holidays.

Nestled at the foot of Monte Tezio lies Chiesa del Carmine, a 13th century church and adjoining 18th century farmhouse you will call “home” during your Reedart Painting Holiday.

You will be immersed in the Umbrian life and Italian culture, with visits to nearby villages and towns like Todi, Gubbio and Assisi. You can be assured that we will look after you from start to finish, beginning with a pre-holiday dinner at the Alan Reed Art Gallery in Ponteland.

It’s a wonderful way to meet fellow guests before we live together for a week! It’s a fun and informal evening where Susan cooks a delicious Italian meal.

Our holidays are suitable for single people travelling alone and also for non-painters who are free to join us on our trips out. Whilst at Carmine non-painting guests can play golf at the Antognolla Golf Course, relax or swim. Guests can explore some of the spectacular mapped walking trails which meander through the valley and allow guests to admire the different views of what is one of Italy’s most beautiful valleys.

After a delicious breakfast painting guests will receive expert painting tuition, continuing again after lunch. All abilities ages and stages are catered for including those who have not painted before and would like to give it a try.

Each day ends with an Italian 4 course dinner cooked by our own private cooks. To find out more visit www.reedartholidays.com or contact 01661 820 626 / art@alanreed.com www.alanreed.com

Private paintings lessons are always available by Alan, please contact for enquiries.

Package includes:

  • Breakfasts and evening meals.
  • Bedroom, bathroom and kitchen linen.
  • Towels for the swimming pool.
  • Hairdryer
  • A well stocked library including local maps and guidebooks, magazines and novels.
  • CD’s, DVD’s and board games.
  • Wi-Fi Broadband available throughout.
  • Sterio & Ipod docking stations throughout.
  • Satellite TV and DVD in the sitting room.
  • Intercom system between the church & farmhouse.
  • Transfers free from Newcastle flights, other airports please contact.
  • Transport provided throughout the holiday for visits to nearby towns and villages.
  • One to one and group painting tuition from beginners to advanced.
  • £1350.00 pp small single room with shared bathroom
  • £1500 twin room with shared bathroom.
  • £1500.00 pp double en-suite room.
  • Flights not included.

Contact us should you be interested in finding out more about Painting Holidays in Italy.

+44 (0) 1661 820 626 or art@alanreed.com

To see more take a look at REEDART HOLIDAYS  and  Alan Reed’s Painting Blog

Painting Holidays on Facebook

Painting holiday reviews:

Hi Susan and Alan,

We had a great time at Chiesa Del Carmine with you!!

Having found a truly exquisite spot to host your painting holidays. If a potential painter isn’t inspired by the beauty of the surroundings, they have no chance of becoming an artist. Having said that I was inspired, but ……

You assembled an interesting group of people – all very different, and the fact that we got on so well is testimony to your warmth, hospitality and perhaps the excellent food and wine which was always plentiful, tasty and flowing!!

An organised brilliant schedule of visits. I enjoyed them all, and I am sure I will remember the places much better than previously as you honed our observational skills.

Susan – nothing was too much trouble for you. You paid attention to every detail, and if anything was lacking, it was quickly rectified.

Alan – as everyone will acknowledge, you are a terrific artist, but you are also an outstanding teacher, as was evidenced in the ‘show and tell’. We had all made significant progress. Personally, I shall dream in lemon yellow for ever more, and my nightmares will feature taps and scrubbing bushes.

I know the week must have been very stressful for you. I expect you are having a good rest today, and hope that Susan’s back is feeling more comfortable.

Lots of love and thanks to you both.
M H“

Dear Susan and Alan,

This is just a brief message to say how much I enjoyed this last week on your Painting Holiday.

Superb food as usual, a good blend of interesting people and stimulating places to visit and draw.

Well done the pair of you! Best wishes.

Malcolm

How could we possibly settle back into normal life after Umbria?!

It was yet another amazing experience, and that is so much because of you and Alan. I was curious to know if the second time would match the first, but we both felt that it was as good as, if not better than 2017….!

I suppose the difference, amongst other factors, was in meeting up with people again. We got to know people better. They are a wonderful crowd, and it is testament to you both, that they all come back year after year. This made it so much more delightful and interesting, and Linda was just great!

It is a very, very unique adventure. Thank you both.

Anne

Watercolours….and Wine!

This was our first Watercolour Painting Holiday, but not our first wine-tasting! This time, however, it was a very different experience. The invitation to accept this late addition to our itinerary for the week was inspired. What a wonderful way to begin the week after an easy day’s travelling.

Instantly, Chiesa del Carmine became more than an exquisite place to stay. The wine-tasting experience, delivered on the terrace by a well-informed Isabella, transformed the venue into a living, organic establishment where the surrounding vines and olive groves were testament to produce of the highest quality. It felt as though we were enjoying a most intimate insight into the workings of a vineyard.

Isabella made it so interesting and entertaining. She was charming and welcoming, keen to answer questions, and informed in her knowledge of the intricacies of the wines we tasted.

A light buffet of Italian cheeses and meats complemented the occasion, and this was one which we would happily repeat should we be privileged to visit Chiesa de Carmine a second time.

A. L.

This years painting holiday in Italy was the best ever!

The wine tasting was fun, as was the truck ride around the vineyard. We loved the trip to Todi,

Assisi was spectacular and Cortona a real treat.

We have just come back from a wonderful experience in Umbria, and it is all credit to the generosity and expertise ofAlan and Susan Reed.

This was our first course in Watercolour Painting. Hopefully, it will not be our last!

The beautiful location, matched by exquisite accommodation, exceeded all expectations. Attended to by a dedicated,warm, friendly and attentive staff, we enjoyed

THE most amazing local cuisine, matched only by the quality of thewine from the estate. Eduardo deserves a VERY special mention! Meeting in the evening for a pre-dinner Proseccowas always the prelude to a very special occasion.

It was a diverse group of ‘artists’ coming together, a splendid mix of individuals generating interesting conversations,great laughter and immense warmth.

The schedule was well-planned and executed. The well-composed itinerary opened our eyes to a variety of locations,all of which were stunning. Each time, the opportunity to sketch and/or paint gave the visit that necessarydimension, both for novices and budding impressionists alike!

Alan and Susan know this area well, and were able todirect us toward good vantage points for sketching and painting (Alan), and great shopping finds (Susan). Theirsensitivity to the needs and interests of individuals was always evident and appreciated….and that is a very specialgift to have!

Anne

“Of all the many and varied holidays I’ve had this was one of the very best.  So many aspects of it will stay with me:  the beauty, tranquility, flora and fauna of the valley; the superb reverentially restored church and farmhouse; the attention to detail and comfort (who would have thought of building a fridge and glasses cupboard into an ancient wall surrounding the swimming pool?); the wonderfully talented chefs and friendly staff; the lovely and unspoiled local towns and cities and, most importantly of all, the thought and care that goes into combining all of these into a perfectly balanced week with something for everyone and lots of choice.

What about the painting? you’ll be thinking. This was a very personal experience for each of us. As someone with a love of art and no experience of creating any I learned something very important. How to look and how to see. I love Alan’s style and very much enjoy the paintings of his I own.

A treasured possessions is one of his exquisite notebooks. He is a sensitive, encouraging teacher at the same time as being an honest and helpful critic (not an easy balance to achieve). I confess to being frustrated by my own crass attempts at producing an actual painting of something recognisable but was not discouraged.

I learned about mixing colours, appropriate brushes and something about the techniques I’d be so proud to master. I do have a drawing of an olive tree I’m quite happy with.

It was an absolute joy to watch those more skilled (and dedicated!) on site, in cafes, churches and viewpoints learning, sketching and painting. The finished works are more than inspiring.

I’m much better at shopping.  And Susan is a highly skilled mentor and adviser in this respect. Local knowledge and networking is something else that is a huge bonus in so many aspects of this holiday.

Good conversation, laughter and fun were in abundance last week. I’m missing that already – and the sun. Did I mention the sun? It shone all the time and sometimes with a gentle cooling breeze. Perfect. Everything was, actually, perfect.”

Thank you Susan and Alan so, so much,

Maggie C