Painting Holiday Italy
Painting Holiday Italy - unique & exclusive art retreats around Italy with a truly personal touch.
WHAT SETS US APART FROM THE REST
- All Art Materials and Equipment Included
- Beginners to Experienced Welcome
- Ideal for Solo Travellers, Friends and Family Members
- Tuition Focused On Your Individual Artistic Learning Needs – take YOUR Skills to a New Level, Develop Your Own Personal Style & Achieve YOUR Learning Goals
- Clearly Structured Professional Tuition in Techniques, Enabling You to Work with Confidence and Great Pace
- Pay In Your Own Currency ⋅ Choice of Payment Methods
- Instalment Payments at No Extra Cost
Exciting Adventures
Tours to the Hinduist Temple Complexes
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Upcoming Events
Travel To Transform: Walking Around Cinque Terre In Italy With A Paintbrush
Travel
Travel & Leisure Asia
A painting retreat in Cinque Terre – a UNESCO-listed gem on the Italian Riviera – is the best way to savour the taste of La Dolce Vita at your own pace. Here’s why.
01. Exploring Cinque Terre
02. Plan your art holiday
reviews from our guests
Reviews
Reviews
September, 2026 . I was joining painting holidays in Cinque Terre with John as a tutor. It was a great experience all the way. John was a very professional tutor and a very nice and social person. He had a very good and pedagogical way to teach watercolor techniques and develop skills .
I’ve learned a lot and enjoyed the whole course. Great experience to visit all 5 Cinque Terre villages and paint local scenes. We stayed in a very nice hotel at Monterosso. Very good food and kind , service minded staff.
Great group of people. Thanks a lot for John , l’ll definitely will join to his courses at other locations. I really recommend for people who are interested in learning painting to choose this company !
Diana
I’ve learned a lot and enjoyed the whole course. Great experience to visit all 5 Cinque Terre villages and paint local scenes. We stayed in a very nice hotel at Monterosso. Very good food and kind , service minded staff.
Great group of people. Thanks a lot for John , l’ll definitely will join to his courses at other locations. I really recommend for people who are interested in learning painting to choose this company !
Diana
A very special week in the magnificent, quiet, stunning countryside of LeMarche cared for by Jana with her great cooking and John with master teaching. He had us painting right away in the studio with a quick oil painting boot camp and then out into the magnificent scenery to paint plein air. Some had years of experience and some were new to oil. Every day a new location, and even the view from their retreat was stunning of Force. It was magical and truly a unique experience. I would do it again gladly.
I joined a friend for this retreat who is a talented oil painter. Before arriving, I was concerned that although the description said it was for all levels, I might be discouraged or dismissed, having no experience with oils and being only a hobby artist. The scenery is so amazing and varied. John is not only a talented artist but a really great teacher and lovely person. He always has a positive and encouraging approach even with those of us who are lighter on artistic talent. I learned so much and felt very connected with the other artists. Janna cooked us amazing meals, served great wines and made sure everyone was well taken care of. She arranged a lovely wine tasting at a local vineyard. It was a truly amazing experience. I would recommend it to any level of artist.
Phenomenal week at the Retreat. Incredible views. Beautiful accommodations and fantastic food. The art instruction is better than I could have hoped for and has me very enthusiastic for future painting endeavours. I am leaving here feeling like a painter. If you are thinking of attending an oil painting or landscape focused holiday, you would be hard pressed to find better.
What a special art experience! Not only did I gain new technical knowledge and perspective but the sea and the landscapes were so vividly inspiring that they came to life in my paintings! Now mix that with the experienced and congenial instruction from artist John Skelcher!
The wonderful food and hospitality at The Retreat made my stay easy and comfortable throughout- it was for a beautiful time. It’s always special to be amongst like-minded artists and in nature. I highly recommend this trip to anyone considering it to get an authentic view of this unspoiled region doing what you love.
The wonderful food and hospitality at The Retreat made my stay easy and comfortable throughout- it was for a beautiful time. It’s always special to be amongst like-minded artists and in nature. I highly recommend this trip to anyone considering it to get an authentic view of this unspoiled region doing what you love.
"Life-affirming" and "life-changing" are some of the only words I can use to describe the experience I had at The Retreat. John and Jana are impeccable hosts, and some of the most warm, funny, talented and interesting people I've had the pleasure of spending time with. Our guest teacher, Ian Layton, was equally engaging and warm -- and quietly brilliant in his instruction, giving easy-to-follow demos and one-on-one tutelage that visibly and tangibly improved my work throughout the week. The serene setting, fresh & delicious food (prepared by Jana!), impeccable company, and deep immersion into plein air painting made for an unforgettable week. I'm changed for the better - as both a painter and a person. Can't wait to go back!
