• Under the guidance of David Durston and Chris Fothergill you will be encouraged to work in whatever medium inspires you, whether it be drawing, watercolour, oils, or ‘sketch-booking’. There will be demonstrations from the tutors, and the emphasis will be on enjoying the process of painting, despite the inevitable frustrations!

Beginners and non-painting partners welcome!

There will be no lack of inspiration for creativity in the fabulous surroundings of the medieval hamlet of Castelvecchio - nestling in the heart of Tuscany. Come and enjoy a wonderfully relaxing time with us whilst brushing up your painting skills.

Price includes:
Castelvecchio meals and exceptionally comfortable accommodation:
7 nights B & B, plus 4 lunches and 6 dinners (Fabulous Tuscan Menu including local wine) transfers to and from Rome airport (designated flights) - 3 local trips giving time for painting, sightseeing, lunch or dinner, personal tuition and demonstrations every day from two experienced and inspirational tutors, plus unlimited use of swimming pool and fabulous grounds.

Fancy joining us on our next trip to Castelvecchio
or maybe one of our Cotswold painting weeks
planned for 2012?

Register your interest here and we'll send you more details.
In association with Rosie Sutherland Villas

Borgo di Castelvecchio is a beautiful private estate in Southern Tuscany in the Val d’Orcia. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and nestling on the hilltop this is a very special and magical place.

The September painting week at Borgo di Castelvecchio led by artists Chris Fothergill and David Durston was a wonderful success. Both the tutors and all the guests had a memorable and inspiring trip. There were talks, visits, demonstrations and lots of sitting and painting in the Italian sunlight - which reveals so much colour unique to the Val d’Orcia region.

Here's what one of our students had to say about her holiday with the group.

New friends, painting progress and ideas -  seeing the landscape with new eyes, lots of fun and laughter plus of course the memorable 'Beach Boy' art party under David's enthusiastic tuition!

Following a Foundation Course at Gloucestershire College of Art, he completed a Bachelor of Education at St Paul’s College Cheltenham/University of Bristol.

He then undertook an (M.A.) in Fine Art at Birmingham Art College and a Fellowship in Printmaking (A.D.A.D) at GlosCat, Cheltenham in 1987. Working as a full-time artist, he taught part-time from 1975 until 1978 including visiting lecturer at Further Education establishments in the west of England*.

• During 1979 – 1988 Durston was Head of Art at Westwoods Grammar School, Northleach and from 1988 – 2010 was Head of Expressive Arts at the Cotswold School, Glos.

He has taught successfully a variety of styles in drawing, painting and recording images in both avantegard and traditional genres for over 35 years at G.C.S.E; A/S and ‘A’ levels in Art, History of Art and Photography. His personal work varies from large Abstracts to smaller watercolours employing a number of techniques: oil, acrylic, watercolour, inks, wax encaustics and a variety of printmaking processes.

David has had more than 30 sole exhibitions as well as partaking in many group shows in both the UK, and internationally in U.S.A. Europe and the Far East.

*In 1983 he was a South West Arts ‘Major Award’ winner.