Perfect for beginners, improvers or talented artists, everyone can learn something new on this Escape.

We head to Northern Spain and your chance 'brush' up on your art skills. this break is perfect whether you are already on your artistic journey or just starting out as our teacher is very experienced at helping all levels of budding artist and most all artistic methods . Bring your our gear or we can order a beginners set for your to collect when you arrive and bring back with you to continue your development. This trip includes tuition as well as the wonderful Agara hospitality.

The plan, step by step

1
This is a guide and subject to change depending on flight arrivals, departures and weather. Dale will adapt the break to suit as required.
2
All mediums can be used but Dale will be teaching different techniques featuring various compositions.
3
Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera – Today the focus will be on sea scape as we head to the coast.
4
La Colsa – this beautiful village offers us the opportunity to feature structure (church etc)
5
Barcena Mayor - home to the most wonderful bridge for our lesson today (and excellent bars)
6
The mountain pass to Carmona - enjoy a picnic as you focus on the wonderful landscape.
7
Agara - we stay local and explore still life
8
There will be other options that can be discussed on the holiday.

Includes

Flights including 20kg hold luggage
Transfers
7 nights accommodation
7 continental breakfasts, 7 light lunches*, 7 evening meals
Local wine, beer and spirits in the hotel just help yourself
Tea/coffee available in the house throughout the day
Transport by minibus
Tuition with Dale Scott
Sketch Pads and a canvas

Optional extras

Personal Travel Insurance
Room supplement
Optional excursions
Lunches if you wish to sample the local restaurants
Personal extras
Art Equipment
Extra Canvas Boards

Your guide for this week

Dale Scott will be your tutor for the break. Dale will teach with almost any medium including oils, water colours, pastels and sketch. Dales work is exhibited and sold under his pen name Drysdale Scott Drysdale A H Scott is a figurative artist who lives and works in Bearsden, in the north of Glasgow. Scott is a painter who specialises in figure compositions portraits and still life. He creates narrative images that are based on modern day themes and events. Like many of the artists who have had an influence on his work, he has a great interest in “capturing a moment in time”. Composition, realism and strong draughtsmanship are of equal importance to him as is the narrative involved in creating his work. His main influences are – Velazquez, Titian, La Tour, Caravaggio, Hopper, Bacon and Freud. Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 1987, Scott has taught Art and Design in several secondary schools in the Glasgow and North Lanarkshire areas. He has also lectured in continuing education programmes at Clydebank College, Ayr College and at Glasgow School of Art. Visit https://drysdalescott.com/ for information

Food & drink, day by day

Included in your trip is a continental breakfast, light lunches (available if we are at the property or a picnic lunch if on a a walk or cycle ride) and evening meal everyday. Also, there will be complimentary tea/coffee available for you to help yourself to. Locally sourced spring water will be available in the house so you won’t need to worry about getting bottled water unless you really want to. Finally local wine, beer and spirits will be available between 6-12pm every day (we will ask your favourite tipple before you travel to make sure we are well stocked!); these drinks will also be available at other times for a small charge and premium brands will also be available at any time for a charge. Sample Menu (based on a 7 night stay - shorter trips will feature part of the menu) Breakfast Alternates between boiled eggs one day and fried eggs and bacon the next supported by yoghurt, muesli, cornflakes, toast, marmalade/marmite/peanut butter, fresh orange juice and endless tea and coffee. Dinner

Day 1tapas and Cava/Prosecco round the fire followed by roasted salmon with buttery new potatoes.
Day 2Homemade courgette soup spiced with Ethiopian Berbere followed by Duck confit with duck fat roasted potatoes and wilted greens.
Day 3Fresh asparagus followed by curry choices. Chicken masala, curried chestnuts and spinach curry. All with rice and homemade lime pickle, mango chutney, green tomato chutney and yoghurt accompaniment.
Day 4Tomato and mozzarella salad followed by seared tuna and new potatoes with a choice of salads.
Day 5Avocado and smoked salmon followed by Cantabrian Mountain stew (Pork and butter beans in a rich gravy)
Day 6Melon and Serrano ham followed by Tudanca beef joint (Tudanca being a local breed of cow).
Day 7Grilled Sardines followed by slow cooked Pork belly with roasted potatoes and baby leaf spinach.

We work hard to cater for all types of allergies and preferences. Oat milk is always available and gluten free is also possible if we know in advance. If most of the group prefer less fish then we will adjust the menu (and we can do the reverse too!). Roast Salmon or Tuna might be substituted for slow roasted leg of mutton with herbs and garlic, as an example. We also work hard to cater for vegetarians and vegans and to date all the guests have offered really positive feedback on the food we provide. Its hearty and nutritious with an informal presentation – that’s Agara!

“I am just back from the Spice painting break in Santander. I have to say, the pre trip itinerary did not do justice to the whole experience! The house was stunning, traditional, homely, but with modern facilities and incredibly comfortable accommodation. Rob, our host, was unsurpassed. He welcomed us into his home, he cooked the most amazing meals, all home made, he took us out every day all day, and we benefitted from his local knowledge and our instructor Dale's advice so that a wide range of different locations could be enjoyed. We painted in town squares, lush peaceful valleys, traditional villages, harbours, and at the top of a mountain, where Rob uncorked Prosecco and we dived into a picnic hamper full of traditional Spanish fare. And lunch at local restaurants, where not a word of English was spoken, left us in no doubt that this was authentic northern Spain. Oh, yes, I have to say a favourite time was after dinner each evening we sat in front of a log fire each evening with cheese and chocolate, helping ourself to wine, beer or spirits. But it wasn't all about the food! Dale, our instructor/now ally and painting confidante, helped us all perfect our work, so that we grew in confidence each day. By late afternoon we would return to the house and build on our daytime pieces, with the benefit of his advice and extensive experience as a celebrated artist in his own right. Its fair to say he nurtured and encouraged all of us, and our different styles and preferences were accommodated so that we grew in confidence. The whole trip was a pleasure, and a it was a joy to meet like minded people in such a glorious setting. I shall certainly take my new found skills, (and pre ordered painting kit), on more trips. Please bang the drum for this holiday ...I feel the itinerary did not even come close to describing the experience! Thanks to Rob, Dale, you guys for organising flights and admin, and to everyone in the group ...I think we can agree we had the very best time.”

A previous group of 10