(and what better place to find inspiration)
This will be my second year of running these Painting Holidays with a twist...
..the idea is pretty simple and a lot of fun, and I can't wait to dive into another one!!
See below for FULL DETAILS
THE DATES:
5 Days from Monday 21st - Friday 25th September 2026
£335 per person
I'm really excited to be running September one—we tend to have dramatic skies, slightly different light and feel, yet still plenty of chance of warm weather and sunshine! It's a beautiful time of year!! :)
NORTH PEMBROKESHIRE(details below)
Each morning, I’ll be set up at a lovely spot where you can come and join me for some relaxed painting or sketching.
I’ll kick things off with a short demo and a little prompt to get you started, and then we’ll settle in to getting creative.
I’ll be around to give one-to-one guidance and tuition for anyone who’d like it (you’re totally free to use your art time however you wish, and I’m just there to help and guide as needed 🙂).
Once the morning session wraps up, I’ll head off—leaving you with the rest of the day free to explore, relax, or spend time with partners or family. It’s a holiday, after all!
We aim for four painting mornings and one full painting day in the middle of the week (ideally the Wednesday).
That said, the exact plan will depend a bit on the weather and tides, so things may shift around a little.
I’ve got loads of fantastic spots in mind, and I’ll finalise the itinerary closer to the time. (For a moreinformal insight into past weeks, be sure to checkout thisblog post)
One evening during the week, I’ll book a table at a lovely local pub or restaurant for a group meal.
It’s a really nice way to bring everyone together (including non-painting partners if they’d like to join), but of course, it’s completely optional—just like everything else on the trip.
I love this format as it's the perfect informal and fun way to get a group together for some painting and sketching—with just enough structure, plus plenty of guidance and tuition for those who’d like it.
At the same time, it leaves you free to actually have a holiday!
You might want to bring a partner, spouse, or family along… or maybe just enjoy some solo creative time.
Whatever you choose, there’ll be lots of free time to relax, explore, or carry on painting if you fancy. (I’ll be more than happy to recommend extra spots or activities if you’re up for more.)
You’re also free to choose your own accommodation based on your budget and preferences, and set your own rhythm around meals—what you eat, where you go, and when you do it is entirely up to you.
Pembrokeshire is a big old place, so to reduce the extent of travel everyday I have chosen to focus the attention of this week on North Pembrokeshire - very roughly an area from St Davids to Newport.
There is plenty of accommodation within this area, with St Davids, or Newport at the other end of our area, being two wonderful choices with loads of accommodation, facilities and eating options! Yet you will find plenty fo other options in between and around these two.
In short: bring whatever you like!
After running a couple of these, I’ve found that keeping things lightweight and simple is usually best—but that can mean different things for different people, and as most spots on this week are very close to car parks there is freedom to bring more than you need:)
Some folks love to sketch and slosh on a bit of watercolour (line and wash is a great option). Watercolour is quick-drying, lightweight, and works well whether you're using just a sketchbook and a few materials, or going full kit.
While this isn’t a watercolour-specific holiday, I’ll be demoing in watercolour, along with a bit of sketching and line and wash too.
That said—acrylics, oils, or even any other random bits and bobs you love to use (from charcoal to pastels) are all very welcome.
Basically if you prefer to just sketch and take photos—great. Equally, if you want to set up an outdoor studio for four hours a day to work on a masterpiece—also great..and anything in-between.
Whatever suits you!
I will touch on some techniques, but most of the tuition will focus on how to choose a subject, how to look like an artist, and how to turn what you see into a painting.
Any specific techniques or approaches can be explored more in one-to-one time.
Let’s be honest—along with great views and lots of painting inspiration, things like loos and a decent cuppa are very important!
All of the spots I’ve planned for the week tick those boxes.
Demo and painting locations are all easy to access, with very short walks from nearby car parks.
That said, each spot has plenty fo scope for anyone who fancies a longer stroll—maybe a little adventure along the coast path or even further afield.
There might be the odd location that isn’t right next to facilities, but we won’t be there for long, and I’ve planned things so we’re always close to toilets, refreshments, or a café when needed.
I’ve done my best to make the week suitable for a range of mobilities, and no walks longer than 5 minutes are involved.
That said, this particular week unfortunately isn’t suitable for those with very limited mobility—but I’m currently planning a future painting week designed especially with that in mind. (See details below.)
If you’re unsure or have any questions at all about accessibility or the walking involved, please feel free to drop me an email at tom@tomshepherdart.com and I’ll be happy to help.
All I can say here is, you’re coming to coastal Wales in September!
While historically, it is a truly glorious time to visit Pembrokeshire (famous last words), we’ve got to be ready for anything… a heatwave, a ten-year storm, and probably both in the same day!
Joking aside, Pembrokeshire is stunning in all weather—especially through an artist’s eyes—but having a realistic expectation definitely helps. I’ve got a few back-up spots that are a little more sheltered or have some cover if the weather’s against us.
And if it turns really bad, I’ve got access to a couple of rooms and village halls in good locations. They might not all have amazing views, but they’re close enough that we can nip out, snap some photos, and head back in to work.
Worst case scenario? We might end up in the pub sketching each other. (But that really is the last resort!)
You’ll be sorting your own accommodation for the week—but I can absolutely offer a bit of guidance if needed.
There’s a huge range of places to stay in Pembrokeshire to suit all budgets and preferences, so rather than try to recommend specific spots, I’d suggest doing a quick search and having a browse to find something that suits you.
Good areas to look include St Davids at one end of the chosen area, and Newport at the other end.
The full painting day will be based around St Davids (in and within a 5 minute drive), which has everything you need for a comfy day out—so it’s a good place to keep in mind.
Yet, we will also be up near Newport also, which will be around a 35 minute drive from St Davids. A good option somewhere in the middle is Fishguard. But of course surrounding areas and villages will have plenty of other options/
I will be booking a pub / restaurant for a mid-week evening meal for those who would like to join (including non-painting partners and family)
I thought about including the dinner in the cost of the week, but with everyone having different tastes (and drinks!), it’s much simpler for everyone to pay for their own on the night—and it helps keep the overall cost down too 🙂
Just to be clear: the price of the week covers my demoing and teaching time only. Please also budget for accommodation, meals, and parking at the painting spots.
As mentioned earlier, this particular week is unfortunately not suitable for those with limited mobility. While a few of the locations are accessible and wheelchair-friendly to some degree, the overall nature of the terrain, paths, and logistics means it wouldn’t be fair or accurate to describe the week as fully accessible.
That said, I strongly believe that this should never be a barrier to painting in such a beautiful part of the world. With that in mind, I’m currently working on developing a fully accessible painting week designed specifically with mobility needs in mind.
The planning and logistics involved are a little more complex, so this is taking some time to get right—but I’m hoping to have something in place for 2027. I know that may feel like a long way off, but I want to make sure I can offer something genuinely enjoyable, safe, and workable for everyone involved.
If you’re interested in a future accessible week, or have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to get in touch—I truly appreciate your patience and interest.
The essence of this holiday is that I’m not acting as a tour guide. Instead, I’ll simply let you know the spot I’ll be at each morning and afternoon, and you’re free to join me for a relaxed, lightly tutored painting / sketching session.
While I am first-aid qualified and will always take sensible precautions, I cannot take full responsibility for your actions or for any accidents or injuries that might occur. This is very much a private arrangement, and all attendees take part as individuals responsible for their own safety and choices.
For that reason, everyone will be asked to sign a short disclaimer to acknowledge this. It’s not meant to sound heavy—it’s simply to make clear that by joining the holiday, you accept that you’re participating at your own risk and that neither I, nor anyone associated with me, can be held accountable for accidents or consequences arising from your actions.
In short: this holiday is about enjoying sketching and painting together in a wonderful landscape, but always with each person taking full responsibility for themselves.
