A Sense of Things: Colour, Pattern & Collections
Cádiz/Spain/ ‘26
Details:
Duration: 5 days
Price: £995 (approx. €1130)
Dates: Thur 7 - Mon 11 May 2026
Time: 10am - 5pm daily
Group size: 8 - 12 people
Studio location: Calle Veedor 10, 11003 Cádiz, Spain
Website: https://casapalaciolasmarias.com/
Escape for a five-day drawing and painting workshop in Cádiz, one of Europe’s oldest and most captivating coastal cities. Perched on a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic, this vibrant Spanish port is awash with local character, untainted by tourism.
Our studio space, Casa Palacio Las Marias, is a beautiful 18th century house with a calm Moroccan riad-style inner courtyard and rooftop views across the old city. Its natural light and vibrant colours, combined with a variety of thoughtfully designed spaces and collected objects, offer a heap of inspiration for us to draw on throughout the five days along with local sketching excursions.
Pattern, colour and creating collections form the theme of this year’s workshops, giving us a shared focus whilst leaving space for you to choose your own subject matter and personal direction. Whether it’s designing characters inspired by the local puppet theatre, printing Seville oranges or drawing on the ephemera and textiles of Casa Palacio, there is a breadth of inspiration to build a portfolio of lively, energetic illustrations.
Throughout the week you’ll have the choice to work with your own preference of materials with guided demonstrations and tailored feedback, filling a book with characterfully imperfect illustrations. We’ll teach a range of techniques, including watercolour, colour-pencil drawing, lino cutting, print-making, book binding, along with sharing tips for playful creativity and pushing your work in new directions.
By the end of the week you’ll have a mountain of visually sumptuous drawings, prints and paintings, inspired by visited interiors and local surroundings. Through individual conversation you’ll have a better sense of how to bring the best out of your work, along with ways to sustain a creative habit once you return home.
Suitable for adults with all levels of experience and ability from enthusiastic beginners to more established artists seeking new inspiration, this workshop covers new themes and processes and is therefore equally suitable for returning students who have attended my previous workshops or retreats.
Included:
Daily group tuition and demonstrations (5 full workshop days)
Individual feedback and guidance throughout the week
Use of a beautiful workshop space, rooftop terrace and light-filled inner courtyard
Morning drawing excursions to Museo del Titere, Mercado Central and Jardines de Alameda Alpodaca
Lunches provided by Vanilla’s Kitchen
Tea, coffee, and light refreshments during workshop hours
Additional materials
Local knowledge and recommendations
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Cádiz is a small city, easily accessible on foot reachable by train from across Europe. The train station is a 20 minute walk from the house.
Nearby Airports: Jerez de la Frontera: 32 km, Seville: 105 km, Gibraltar: 95 km, Málaga: 162 km.
Travel is not included in the price. Any excursions will be local and on foot.
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A limited number of beautiful bedrooms are available in the house where the workshop takes place. Accommodation is offered as an optional add-on, arranged directly between participants and the organiser at cost, handled separately from the workshop fee.
The cost for 5 nights accommodation (check-in from 4pm on 6 May, check-out by 4pm on 11 May):
€350 - private room, shared bathroom between two bedrooms (same sex occupancy)
or
€550 - private room, ensuite bathroom
Please email Laura with any questions or to reserve a bedroom. Rooms are offered as a double or twin room with single occupancy. All accommodation bookings are provided under the house owner’s terms and insurance.
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You will need to bring a handful of your own materials (a short list will be provided). Additional specific materials you’ll need will be included in the workshop fee. There is a small art shop in Cádiz if you forget any essentials.
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This workshop is suitable for adults with all levels of experience and ability from enthusiastic beginners to more established artists seeking new inspiration. It covers new themes and processes each year and is therefore equally suitable for students who have attended my previous workshops or retreats.
Information and assistance can be provided in Dutch and English but all teaching will be delivered in English.
We will sometimes be walking around Cádiz and standing to draw. If you feel this might be difficult for you please arrange to speak to me before booking to discuss what adjustments can be made. There is a lift in the house, but please contact me if you have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Please email me to discuss any other accessibility needs to see what provision can be made.
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After paying an initial £100 (€115) booking fee to hold a space on the course, a £400 (€450) deposit will be due within a week to secure your workshop place. The remaining balance will be due 6 weeks before the course start date. If you’d like to discuss paying in smaller instalments, get in touch.
Please wait until you’ve received confirmation that the workshop has reached the minimum number of participants to make it viable before booking travel or accommodation.
Accommodation, where requested, will be processed separately.
Please note that amounts are charged in GBP £. Converted € amounts are approximate estimates.
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An optional dinner in the house (or roof terrace) will be hosted for the group on Saturday evening for an additional £35 (€40) per person. Payment for this will be arranged nearer to the event.
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Bookings are non-refundable unless your space can be filled, in which case it will be refunded minus any transaction fees. In the unlikely event the workshop is cancelled, the workshop fee will be refunded in full, but organisers of the event are not responsible for any lost associated costs including travel, accommodation or transfer fees. Please take out appropriate insurance to cover medical emergencies plus the cost of your travel and accommodation expenses in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
“This course changed everything. It raised my painting few levels up. I can’t recommend it enough. Laura McKendry is amazing. Her art is so alive, vibrant and free. I started to draw again, discovered new techniques and new materials. I feel true joy!”
“This course changed everything. It raised my painting few levels up. I can’t recommend it enough. Laura McKendry is amazing. Her art is so alive, vibrant and free. I started to draw again, discovered new techniques and new materials. I feel true joy!”