The Watermill at Posara celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015

Artistic Tuscan haven celebrates its 25^th anniversary in 2015 and adds new Italian language course to its repertoire

Based at a restored 17^th century olive and chestnut mill deep in the Tuscan countryside, The Watermill at Posara offers a range of expert-led week-long painting, creative writing and knitting courses including a new Italian Language Course that is suitable for all levels.

The Watermill at Posara celebrates its 25^th anniversary in 2015 with the first painting course taking place in 1990.

The full programme for 2015 includes 14 painting courses, three knitting courses, two creative writing courses and the new Italian language course. Here is a summary of the nine new courses taking place from spring 2015:

NEW: Language Holidays Lunigiana – Italian language course (25 April – 2 May)

Suitable for all levels, this 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 verandah, interspersed with excursions to walled towns, vineyards and local markets. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

NEW: Doranne Alden – Watercolours (9 May – 16 May)

Malta-based artist and teacher Doranne Alden likes to inject personality and her life’s philosophy into her work.  She has led many watercolour workshops and is as happy teaching beginners as she is more experienced painters. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

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

Sue Ford, from Yorkshire, is a natural teacher who is happy to work in any medium and pass on her experience to others. Sue’s aim is to get her students to be confident in their own abilities and develop their own artistic vision. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

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

English painter Kevin Scully is a multi-talented artist, illustrator and tutor who has worked in advertising, publishing and the theatre.  He is also a trained draughtsman, calligrapher and an award-winning garden designer. Kevin’s course at The Watermill is suitable for all levels and students are encouraged to choose their own favoured medium. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

NEW: Sandra Strohschein – Watercolours (20 – 27 June)

Sandra Strohschein is a self-taught watercolourist from Michigan with a big social media following.  Sandra only began painting five years ago but her work is already highly sought after.  Sandra first visited The Watermill as a student but will return to The Watermill as a teacher, leaving her students wanting more with her fun attitude and extraordinary talent. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

NEW: Leslie Fehling – 10-day ‘Creating your own watercolour journal’ (24 June – 4 July)

Leslie Fehling’s illustrated watercolour journals have gained her an international following.  Join Leslie on a 10-day painting holiday that includes an optional three days in Florence with Leslie and a tour guide, followed by a week at The Watermill.  Leslie will advise students on techniques for hand-lettering, borders, page designs and, of course, eye-catching watercolour sketches.  Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing) for the course plus £695 pp (four sharing) for the Florence add-on**.

NEW: Rhoda Draws – Fast and loose sketching (4 -11 July)

Rhoda Draws, who lives near San Francisco, combines her love of travel with techniques for rapid sketching ‘on the go’. Her sketchbooks are filled with drawings created from around the world and she works with waterproof pens and aquarelle (water-soluble) coloured pencils to create a variety of styles.  Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

NEW: Nancy Marchant – Brioche stitch and La Bella Vita Italiana (19-26 September)

“Brioching” is an innovative knitting technique that creates a double-sided fabric, forming two layers of knitting in a warm and beautiful texture. Author and knitting expert Nancy Marchant will share the secrets of both one and two-colour brioche knitting and there will be an opportunity for students to create their own motif as well as make a start on a scarf, shawl or cowl under Nancy’s expert guidance. Costs from £1,345 pp (two sharing)*.

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

Anne Kerr is a Cornish-born professional artist with over 30 years’ teaching experience. Anne specialises in bringing each student out of their comfort zone, encouraging them to try a new approach or adopt a completely new painting medium, perhaps swapping from watercolours to pastels.  Anne is also a firm believer that sometimes the simplest paintings are the most stunning. 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 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.

**The optional Florence add-on applies to the courses run by Leslie Fehling (24 June – 4 July) and Keiko Tanabe (30 September – 10 October) and costs an additional £695 pp (four sharing) including three nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast, expert guide and local transfers.

ENDS – 7 January 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)

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)

Leslie Fehling – Creating your own watercolour journal plus optional three-day Florence add-on (24 June – 4 July)

Rhoda Draws – Fast and loose sketching (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)

Marie Wallin – Knitting and La Bella Vita Italiana (23 – 30 May)

Nancy Marchant – Brioche stitch and La Bella Vita Italiana (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)