Learn Italian, get painting or write a best-selling novel

The secret to The Watermill at Posara’s success is its winning formula: expert tuition, delicious Italian cuisine and a spectacular rural Tuscan setting…

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year, The Watermill at Posara offers a wide range of creative courses, all based at its home set in atmospheric sun-soaked gardens stocked with persimmon, fig, cyprus, kiwi, plum and flowering artichoke trees, alongside vines and jasmine for shade and scent.

The expert-led week-long learning courses run from May until October and include a new Italian Language Course plus painting, creative writing and knitting for all abilities.  As well as tuition, there is a midweek excursion by train to the Cinque Terre region, and a Prosecco reception for guests on the last night. Here are some of the courses currently with availability:

NEW: Learn Italian from the experts (25 April–2 May)

Suitable for all levels, Language Holidays Lunigiana is The Watermill’s first foray into language-based courses and it will be led by Langues Services, a prestigious language school based in Florence.  During the week, students will be fully immersed in all things Italian and can expect around 20 hours’ formal tuition under the Watermill’s vine-laden verandah, interspersed with excursions to walled towns, castles, vineyards and local markets. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

Write a romantic blockbuster with a Mills & Boon author (2-9 May)

Inspired by the success of 50 Shades of Grey? Renowned author Sharon Kendrick has written numerous books for Harlequin Mills & Boon and will impart her expert knowledge on the Writing Romance course.  Learn how to write sizzling sex scenes that are worthy of a top-seller and pick up expert tips on how best to sell your masterpiece to publishers. Sharon’s advice is clearly spot on, as seven of Sharon’s previous course participants have since become published novelists. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

NEW: Watercolour painting in the fresh air (9 May-16 May)

Malta-based artist and teacher Doranne Alden has led many watercolour workshops and is as happy teaching beginners as she is more experienced painters – ideal for anyone who hasn’t picked up a paintbrush for a while.  Doranne’s Watercolours course will provide tips on painting with passion and personality.  Classes are generally held in the open air; both in The Watermill’s fragrant gardens and in the surrounding villages, towns and countryside. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

For a full list of the courses available please visit www.watermill.net or call The Watermill at Posara on (UK number) 020 7193 6246.

*Seven-night trips to The Watermill include all tuition, seven nights’ accommodation, all meals (including those in local restaurants), drinks and aperitivi, transfers (to/from Pisa), local transport, materials and a mid-week excursion. Prices start from £1,345 pp (two sharing).  Flights extra.

N.B. Partners are welcome, either as course participants or simply as companions who prefer to do their own thing, joining the groups for meals and outings.  Partners not participating in courses receive a £200 pp discount and are charged from £1,145 pp (two sharing).

ENDS – 23 March 2015

For press enquiries, to discuss press trip commissions or for photography, or to interview the owners Bill and Lois Breckon – please contact Julia Farish or Camilla Colley at Travel PR, tel: 020 8891 4440, email: j.farish@travelpr.co.uk or c.colley@travelpr.co.uk.

Note to editors

For a full list of the courses in date order please see below:

Language Holidays Lunigiana (25 April–2 May)

Sharon Kendrick – Writing romance (2-9 May)

Doranne Alden – Watercolours (9 May-16 May)

Sue Ford – Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylic (16 May-23 May)

Marie Wallin – Knitting and La Bella Vita (23 May–30 May, 8-15 August & 12-19 September)

Kevin Scully – Watercolours, oils, pastels or other media (30 May-6 June)

Sarah Yeoman – Watercolours (6-13 June 2015)

Trevor Lingard – Watercolours (13-20 June)

Sandra Strohschein – Watercolours (20-27 June)

Sandra Iafrate – Acrylics, oils, watercolours and drawing (4-11 July)

Laurence Marks – TV comedy and drama scriptwriting (11-18 July)

Trevor Lingard – Watercolours (15-22 August)

Laraine Simpson – Oils, pastels, watercolours, etc. (22-29 August)

Mike Willdridge – Watercolours and drawing; also pastels and acrylics with an emphasis on sketching and drawing on location (29 August–5 September & 5–12 September)

Carol Tippet Woolworth – Oils and gouache (19-26 September)

Charles Sluga – Watercolours (and acrylics and oils) (26 September–3 October)

Keiko Tanabe – A unique 10-day watercolour painting holiday (seven days plus an optional three-day Florence add-on), (30 September-10 October)

Anne Kerr – Watercolours and pastels (10-17 October)

Julia Farish
Travel PR