Paint with Hazel Soan at Dumfries House, Scotland

Dumfries House

His Royal Majesty King Charles lll rescued the Neoclassical 18^th century Dumfries House and its contents from being sold in 2007 and has been lovingly restored. the house which contains one of the largest collections of Chippendale furniture and exhibits of fine art.  Since 2018 work has focused on developing the 2000 acres of grounds and the Queen Elizabeth ll Walled Garden, and restoring the outbuildings. In the last year the gardens, lakes, arboretum and woodlands have matured and blossomed, making it a glorious setting for artists.

During your stay there will be a private tour of Dumfries House when it is closed to the public to enjoy one of the largest collections of Chippendale furniture and exhibits of fine art. 

Dumfries House is located near Cumnock and is an hour’s drive south of Glasgow. The nearest railway station is Auchinleck, which is a 5 minute taxi ride away.

Painting with Hazel Soan at Dumfries House

Hazel Soan is a versatile professional artist, who has written many instructional books and was one of the judges for the TV series Watercolour Challenge. On this semi-structured tutored painting programme Hazel will be working and teaching in watercolours each day. There will be lots of en plein air painting in the grounds and gardens as well as some indoor still life and portrait painting and group demonstrations. Personal guidance will be offered at Hazel’s discretion and if time permits. This painting programme is most suitable for intermediate students and beginners but all abilities and media are welcome.

Students must be fit and able to walk around the grounds of the Dumfries Estate to benefit from all it has to offer.

Your base for the week will be in the beautiful and expansive Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden which will be full of colourful displays of roses and delphiniums in early July and where vegetables are also grown and there is a Victorian greenhouse. You will have exclusive use of the pavilion in the walled garden for indoor painting, teaching sessions and storing your equipment. You are free to paint anywhere on the estate which includes lakes, woodland scenes, the Lugar River and bridges, pergolas, fountains, an arboretum, the 1761 Doo’cot, the John Adam Temple Gate and the façade of Dumfries House with the Mahfouz Fountain. In July the weather should be warm and sunny with excellent light for painting but even on a dull wet day, Dumfries House and garden is stunning.

Accommodation

Dumfries House Lodge has ensuite bedrooms surrounding the courtyard garden, two very comfortable sitting rooms and a split level dining room where breakfast and dinners are taken. Picnic lunches are included on painting days. It is a 15-20 minute walk from the accommodation through the grounds to the walled garden (limited transport will be available for anyone unable to walk this distance).

An event host will be with you at Dumfries House to take care of everyone and all the arrangements, and help you have the best experience possible.

Useful information

Transport to and from Dumfries House is not included but it can easily be reached within an hour from Glasgow by train or car.

Find out more about Hazel Soan here

Find out more about The Prince’s Foundation here

the artist magazine offers this painting holiday on an exclusive and bespoke basis.

This painting holiday is an exclusive corporate event operated on behalf of TALP (The Artist and Leisure Painter magazines) and Painters-online.

Images: Iain Brown, Nacho Rivera, Dumfries House, Liz Drake