our art in the Village® holidays cater for small groups of just 8 students so that everyone can have the attention & support they might need to build confidence in drawing / painting.
Cleo Harrington the founder of art in the village® has taught Art & Design for over 15 years and has developed a wide range of bespoke,exciting, unique drawing / painting techniques that really help students to discover and develop new methods in drawing & painting. Cleo can also help more experienced students brush up their skills and revitalise their work.
art in the village® holidays aren't on the cheaper end of the scale, as far as art holidays go, but that's because we are simply one of a kind. Not only do we offer 25 hours of tuition by Royal College of Art trained tutors, but we really do know how to guide you through the creative process. We use tried and tested exercises - taught to us by exemplary teachers at art institutes over the years - to stretch your drawing skills and generate new ones. We explore mark making, composition, light and shade, value scales, expression in painting, themes, textures, colour mixing and much more!
some lower priced art holidays seem to be more about just painting in the sunshine without having proper guidance or learning anything useful. although relaxing is a big part of being on holiday we also want to help you progress in your art.
We teach with a contemporary style while giving a reverent nod to traditional art techniques /traditions when needed.
We aim to give you new insights and new ways of looking at how and what you create
Your tutors: Mark and Cleo
Mark and Cleo understand how to help unlock creativity and explore and stretch creativity - rather than Just staying still. Their teaching methods include a series of unique highly accessible art exercises that really energise and inspire students,
whilst utilising authentic, accurate feedback to train your 'eye' and develop your work. Students are creatively 'stretched' without feeling stressed. Mark and Cleo have a friendly and refreshing teaching style which makes for an enjoyable, creative atmosphere. Another feature of art in the village® holidays is we ensure
students have the chance to really immerse themselves in the local culture. We do this by inviting local Artists/craftspeople to give talks/presentations/demos of their work to our students. In this way students can really get a feel for the local culture and see what inspires local artists to create. We also offer art history sessions on a new artist each evening.
our story:
art in the village® holidays were born out necessity! Many students asked to do longer classes and spend more time learning, so cleo devised these art in the village ® holidays to extend her students' knowledge in a relaxing location.
why gozo?
cleo chose gozo because her family moved to valetta - Malta during the 1960s and then revisited many times for holidays so it's a place she holds close to her heart. the idyllic island of gozo is renowned for attracting artists from all over the world and is an ideal location for drawing and painting. our carefully designed art holiday cater for all levels - beginners and improvers and those wanting to brush up on old skills.
All are welcome! even if you want to just dabble in art but dont want to spend the whole week painting and drawing, you are most welcome too!
our tutors:
Cleo harrington ma(RCA) has over 15 years teaching experience in further education helping students of all abilities. She currently teaches painting and drawing at the mary ward,richmond college and waes in lisson grove and really understands how to create a relaxed, supportive, inspiring art class.
She founded her own arts company called art in the village® way back in 2007 and runs classes in north london. She is expanding the company and classes will soon cover west london as well.
cleo also works as an illustrator.
About Mark James:
Mark James MA(RCA) - one of our brilliant art in the village® holiday Tutors - studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College London and Film at the Royal College of Art. He worked as studio assistant to artist the world renowned Michael Craig-Martin and went on to make films on the arts including 'FREEZE' for the BBC ( the first TV documentary on Damien Hirst/ Sarah Lucas / other 'YBA'S') and Further film subjects included films about Carl Andre, Richard Hamilton, Picasso, Matisse and Van Gogh.
More recently Mark has returned to his initial love of Abstract Painting and has had many exhibitions, including the Southbank Oxo Tower Group Show & the Kindred Studio show in 2018 and He has a painting in the permanent collection of the Groucho Club, Soho.