This week-long painting holiday led by British artist Karen Pearson will bring you inspiration and art in abundance from your base at stunning Lake Skadar in Montenegro!

Your accommodation for the week is in two beautifully restored villa farmhouses in the secluded hill village of Zabes, by Virpazar, gateway to the lake and National Park. Here you will find landscapes and subjects galore on your doorstep as well as at the glorious Adriatic coast nearby. Mountains climb from the lush green valley in never-ending shades of grey, birds flit from the wooded hillside, while an ancient fortress and the lake also come into view.

‘Villa Miela’ acts as the group’s base for painting with its large outdoor studio and owner-hosts Ben & Emma on hand to cater to the group’s needs. Daily art classes will take place here and also out on visits to some amazing locations in the National Park and the nearby Adriatic Sea. For example, we visit Budva, an ancient walled Venetian port city rich with architecture and history.

Our itinerary also includes the chance to swim wild in waterfalls, the sea and the lake, the largest spread of freshwater in southern Europe at roughly 400 square km in size.

This is a small group holiday for a maximum of ten people with all breakfasts and dinners included. It means you’ll get lots of personal attention from Karen as well as time to relax and enjoy your wondrous surroundings.

Use the tabs above to see a detailed itinerary for this holiday and our gallery of photos. Places are strictly limited so get in touch asap to reserve your spot!

Designed for people who are in good health and want a relaxing trip which suits their special interests, eg. our painting or gastronomy holidays.

For Families – at present only our painting and gastronomy holidays offer a gentle activity level.

Welcome and check in to your accommodation in the hill village of Zabes, Virpazar. Group welcome drinks and dinner at Villa Miela at 18.00.

Our first painting class is held after breakfast on Villa Miela’s deck, after which we will take a short walk to a nearby panoramic lake view for sketching. Gaze out over carpets of water lilies buzzing with birds, the luminous lake and its backdrop of mountains still wearing their caps of winter snow. Group dinner at Badanj Village House at 18.30. 

We depart at 10 am to drive 50 minutes and reach a truly mesmerising location in the National Park – Pavlova Strana. One of Montenegro’s most famous vistas, this is where the majestic Crnojevic river curls perfectly towards the twin peaks of Vranjina. Lunch follows at a nearby restaurant, then on the drive back, we visit idyllic, mossy waterfalls  (a short hike of 30 minutes down and then back uphill). Group dinner at Villa Miela at 19.00.

Our painting lesson begins at 10 am at Villa Miela. In the afternoon, we will take a private cruise on Lake Skadar to experience its incredible natural beauty close-up. Our destination is the 15th-century Kom monastery, still inhabited by monks today and with surviving frescoes and architecture. There will also be plenty of chances to swim wild in the lake for those who wish! Group dinner at Villa Miela at 18.30.

A later start today. At 1 pm, we take a half-hour ‘approach to drawing’ lesson at Villa Miela before heading off to visit the ancient walled stone city of Budva for sketching and then dinner. According to legend, Budva was first an Illyrian city dating back to the 5th century BC. A long-standing centre of arts and culture, Budva became Roman, then Venetian, from which period its current attractive form dates. Dinner is at nearby Sveti Stefan a restaurant situated above one of Montenegro’s most picturesque and famous stretches of coastline.

Our painting lesson this morning is at Villa Miela, after which we visit the nearby medieval hill village of Godinje for sketching and wine tasting. This hidden gem of ancient architecture is where the 14th century King Balsic, ruler of the Southern Slavs, placed his summer palace. Godinje breathes history with its fortified stone houses and warren of connected vaulted cellars, now largely abandoned except for a working winery which we will have the chance to visit to taste Montenegro’s native grape, Vranac. Dinner is at Badanj Village House at 18.30.

A chance to do your own thing, relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the village, paint a little more or explore more of Montenegro (a group visit to Kotor can be arranged on request). The group will reconvene for a convivial last dinner at Villa Miela with drinks and an exhibition of our works.

Transfer to Podgorica