You are invited to an exciting 5-day painting holiday in the charming Cotswolds featuring one art class per day taught by renowned Minnesota artist, Andy Evansen. In addition to visiting and painting in several small Cotswolds villages, we will also visit a manor, a castle, a folly and Stonehenge where we will have more opportunities to paint, paint, paint! Together our small group of 10-15 participants will discover the history, food, architecture, and culture of this special part of England. We are looking forward to making art in good company. 

Meet Andy Evansen

Andy Evansen is a signature member of AWS, PAPA, RRWS, TWSA. His interest in art started in childhood. He began painting watercolors in the mid 1990s as a change of pace from his career as a medical illustrator. 

His work gained recognition after winning an international watercolor competition through American Artist magazine, appearing on their cover in 2005. He’s been featured in numerous other publications since. He became a signature member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA) in 2012 and served as their President from 2015-2017.  His paintings have won numerous awards, including the Bronze and High Winds Medals from the American Watercolor Society, and he was their demonstration artist for the 2018 Exhibition.  His love of painting on location also led to him being a featured presenter at the 2014 and 2016 Plein Air Conventions and inclusion in the 2017 Qingdao International Masters Watercolor Plein Air Event. Andy is a sought-after workshop instructor who paints and teaches internationally.

About the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is a region in south-west England known for its "wolds" rolling hills and charming thatched-roof houses. It is a short 2-hour drive from London and most of the villages are accessible by train. In August, average temperatures for that week are highs of 20°C (70°F) and night time lows of 12°C (55°F)--perfect for a lovely painting holiday!dk

When to Arrive?

Tuesday August 24, 2027

Welcome to the Cotswolds!  Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive by at least Tuesday August 24 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop. **

The Day Before--Warm Up Sketch & Welcome Reception

Wednesday August 25, 2027

All workshop participants and nonPainter Companion ticket holders are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm. It is super fun! At this reception you will meet the other participants, Andy the instructor and Brenda the organizer and we will go over the itinerary for the week.

Below is our proposed itinerary. 

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Day 1--Stow-on-the-Wold & Moreton-in-Marsh

Thursday August 26, 2027

Today we will travel a short distance by private coach to Stow-in-the-Wold where Andy will teach Workshop #1.

After lunch we will visit another typical Cotswolds village where we can explore, shop or paint on our own.

Optional: Meet up on the hotel patio in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 2--Hidcote Gardens & Burford

Friday August 27, 2027

Today we will visit a quintessential formal English garden. Hidcote is a world-famous Arts and Crafts-inspired garden created by passionate plantsman and talented designer, Major Lawrence Johnston covering an area of 10.5 acres. Here in one of the intimate formal areas, Andy will teach Workshop #2.

After lunch in the garden cafe, we will move on to Burford, another charming Cotswolds village.

Here we will explore, shop, or paint on our own for a few hours before returning to the hotel.

Optional: Meet up on the hotel patio in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 3--Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Saturday August 28, 2027

Today we will visit Stonehenge, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site and you can read more about it HERE. Stonehenge is one of the most impressive prehistoric megalithic monuments in the world because of the sheer size of its megaliths, the sophistication of its concentric plan and architectural design, the shaping of the stones and the precision with which it was built.

Unrushed, we will enjoy a relaxed "down day" in one location, absorbing the wonder and awe of this special place. Here, Andy will teach Workshop #3 and we will take the time to make several paintings on our own from multiple angles. Lunch will be in the onsite cafeteria. 

Optional: Meet up on the hotel patio in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 4--Chipping Campden & Broadway Tower

Sunday August 29, 2027

Today we will visit and paint the thatched roof houses in Chipping Campden during Workshop #4.

After lunch we will visit Broadway Tower, an iconic landmark designed by “Capability Brown” with the help of renowned architect James Wyatt and completed in 1798. This tower is a "folly", one of the landscape ornaments that were extremely popular during the 18th and 19th centuries in English landscape design, driven by the Romantic movement's love for picturesque and dramatic scenery. For our purposes, we will have great fun exploring or painting this folly on our own.

Optional: Meet up on the hotel patio in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 5--Bibury & Sudeley Castle

Monday August 30, 2027

Today we will visit Bibury where Andy will teach Workshop #5 in one of the most Pinterest-worthy spots in the Cotswolds.

After lunch we will explore and paint Sudeley Castle, with its stunning award-winning gardens set on a 1,200-acre estate that dates back to 1066!

In the evening we will meet one last time to celebrate an amazing week at our Farewell dinner (included).

Departure

Tuesday August 31, 2027

It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or you might consider extending your stay so that you can explore on your own some of the nearby towns that we missed!  You're here now--why not enjoy a long, relaxing holiday?

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Recommended Workshop Supply List

The usual suspects. List coming soon...

FAQs

Q: What will my spouse/travelling buddy do while I'm in my art class?

A: Your art class is your time and your spouse/buddy can take this time to explore each village on their own. They will see parts of the village, museums and cafes that you will not have time to see because you will be in your art class. At lunch you can share what you learned in your class and your spouse can tell you about what they discovered during their adventures.

Click HERE for more FAQs.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray at Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

• A welcome reception
• All art classes
• Ground transportation to the villages and admission to sites mentioned
• A farewell dinner 

Tour Excludes

• Flights to/from the area
• Hotel
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Meals (except those listed above)
• Painting supplies
• City taxes payable by guest at check out
• Tips and gratuities
• Porterage/luggage handling
• Travel insurance
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Ticket Prices in USD

*NonPainter Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.

VIP Members get an additional $100 off their ticket price!

This Studio 56 VIP Rewards Program is a new loyalty incentive for VIP Participants who have previously taken part in a Studio 56 Vacation Workshop. Click HERE to learn more.

How to Register for this Workshop

To reserve your spot in this workshop, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonSketcher Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, March 29, 2027 The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, April 28, 2027.

To make a deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.

PLEASE READ OUR  REFUND POLICY.

Bring a Friend and Get a $50 Rebate

Click HERE to learn more.

Greenlighting a workshop

Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) has been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when this happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until we have given the go-ahead for the workshop.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodation is not included in this package but a group rate has been arranged. The Tour Manager and the Workshop Instructor will be staying in a 4-star hotel in one of the Cotswold's finest country house hotels. The hotel features an onsite restaurant and lounge bar on 32 acres of land with scenic hilltop views overlooking the Gloucestershire countryside. 

The group rooms rates start at £116/night for a Cosy room and £136/night for a Comfy room plus VAT including breakfast with free cancellation up to 4 weeks prior to arrival. 

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

Before you make a hotel reservation, click the blue BOOK NOW button below to make your deposit that will ensure that you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop, you will be sent information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room. Please do not make nonrefundable flight or hotel reservations before the workshop has been greenlighted.

Travel + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations in this workshop for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Click HERE for a list of US trip cancellation insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card. Be sure to get medical insurance as well.

Insider Tips

Trains and connecting coaches from Heathrow Airport toward the direction of Gloucester (via Reading) generally run very frequently, with departures occurring multiple times per hour throughout the day. Specifically, RailAir buses run up to every 20 to 30 minutes from Heathrow to Reading station, and GWR operates direct train services from Reading to Gloucester roughly once every hour during off-peak times, increasing in frequency during peak morning and evening commuting hours.

 Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.

Pedestrian Friendly?

We will be travelling by private coach to the villages but once we park participants must be prepared to walk from the parking lots to the workshop location carrying their own gear. Some villages may have cobbled streets. Participants must be fully mobile and able to walk for up to 20 minutes. If you are not fully mobile and able to walk up to 20 minutes, we recommend you consider a different Studio 56 workshop that is less physically demanding. 

Your Tour Manager

Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea (resident for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor, to lead the cultural activities and to ensure that everything runs smoothly.  She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE. 

For More Information

Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.

Book Now

To guarantee your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, participants must pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.

Interested but you have questions? Email Brenda at info@Studio56Boutique.com

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