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 - SOLD OUT
Thur 24 - Mon 28 Sept 2026 - SOLD OUT
Time: 10am - 5pm daily
Group size: 8 - 12 people
Studio location: Calle Veedor 10, 11003 Cádiz, Spain
Website: casapalaciolasmarias.com
Also available:
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 an 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 rich portfolio of illustrations.
Throughout the week you’ll have the chance to work with your own preference of materials through guided demonstrations and tailored feedback, filling a book with characterfully imperfect illustrations. We’ll explore a range of techniques, including watercolour, colour-pencil drawing, lino cutting, and print-making, plus sharing tips for playful creativity and pushing your work in new directions.
By the end of the week you’ll have a range of drawings, prints and paintings, inspired by visited interiors and local surroundings. Through individual conversations 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:
Five full workshop days, including daily group tuition and demonstrations
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 de Abastos and Jardines de Alameda Alpodaca
Lunches on four days provided by Vanilla’s Kitchen
Tea, coffee, and light refreshments during workshop hours
Additional materials
Local knowledge and recommendations
Supported by:
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Cádiz is a small city, 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) is:
£350 (approx. €400) - private room, shared bathroom between two bedrooms
or
£550 (approx. €630) - 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, which I will aim to accommodate where possible.
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After paying an initial £100 (€115) booking fee to hold a space on the course, you’ll be sent an invoice for the remaining £400 (€450) deposit. This will be due within one 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.
“It exceeded my expectations! I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of the content, though I was a little worried that there might be a forceful push towards 'playing' and 'loosening up' etc! I was very pleased to find the approach was much gentler and spacious than that and much, much more effective for me.
The emphasis on facilitating and allowing for unrushed one-to-one time was very good. Whilst I love the art you produce, it wasn't all about your process but you allowed each person to discover more about their own, without judgement. That's a high level skill!”
- Sarah / From Sketchbook to Studio / Rotterdam ‘25
“I have never been on anything like this before! It was a truly life-enhancing experience. Since the workshop, I haven't stopped drawing or having ideas for more work. The workshop has really helped me to prioritise my creative time and to feel much more confident. My confidence grew over the course of the week and the last day was pure magic!”
- Penny / A Sense of Things / Cádiz ‘26
“Where should I begin? Maybe it didn’t seem that way to you, but everything we did seeped into me and travelled to places I probably knew were there, but didn’t know how to reach or break open. Because of the way you are, Laura.
I liked working with new materials, and in new ways, being gently guided through murky, mean waters of frustration. In short, it brought me joy. Some of the experiences and emotions will eventually fade and colours grow dull, sadly. But certain marks are permanent, and will stand out bold and bright.”
- Peter / From Sketchbook to Studio / Italy ‘25