We will be based at Villa Nobile near Cortona, now well known from the film ‘Under the Tuscan Sun' and the book of the same name; perched high on the hillside of Mount Egidio, surrounded by olive groves and age old cypresses, this beautiful walled town dates back to Etruscan times. Getting to know this timeless city is a close encounter with art, with history and with spirituality. As well as its amazing historic gems, Cortona offers enchanting views out across the Valdichiana to Lake Trasimeno and the Appenine mountains. Cortona is not just about the past, life here is vibrant – there always seems to be something going on, and there are plenty of outdoor bars and cafes, as well as some great restaurants and shops to enjoy along the way.

The workshops will include a variety of breathtaking locations chosen to inspire your creative work. Subjects will include architecture, perspective, landscape, and most particularly texture, tone, and colour, working with the clarity of light that is so much a part of Tuscany's natural beauty. We will provide the bulk of your equipment, ie boards, chairs, parasols and easels, but you will need to bring some materials e.g. sketchbooks, pencils and brushes. A selection of materials and stretched canvasses are available at cost price, and at the end of your holiday we can arrange framing and shipping of your finished paintings should you wish.

On a typical day we will paint for most of the morning, either in the grounds or out on location. At various times during the workshops there will be demonstrations by the tutor. The afternoon will provide more opportunities to continue our morning's work, working on into the early evening to take full advantage of the wonderful clarity and warmth of the Tuscan light. There will also be a free day during the week to do as you please - transport into Cortona will be on offer for those who would like to explore or shop.

All your meals are provided, either making use of the best local produce and specialities at the villa, or out and about at good quality restaurants. Each morning we will offer a healthy breakfast including fresh croissants, cereals, yoghurts and a selection of seasonal fruits. Lunch will be a relaxed affair – perhaps a picnic lunch at the villa or on location, or at a local trattoria. Evening meals will be a mix of barbecues or dinners at the villa, and there will be some evening meals at quality restaurants in Cortona.

There will be a variety of free excursions on offer in our Tuscany in the Frame minibus to museums, art galleries and medieval hill top towns . Excursions will include a visit to the nearby thermal springs, which have been reputed since Roman times to have healing properties. We will often be travelling through the fabulous countryside of the Val d'Orcia, with its classic Tuscan views, so always have your sketchbook and camera handy as there will be lots of opportunity to collect information and material to work on back at the studio. Our trips will include two beautiful hill towns - Pienza, with its famed local Pecorino cheeses; and also Montepulciano, known for its wonderful wines. Here we will have the opportunity to visit La Cantina Redi, one of the oldest wineries in Tuscany, where you may sample the famous Vino Nobile – sadly no relation!