The Best Art-Lovers Holidays

Watercolours in Barcelona

Artist Paul Raymonde opens up his stunning home, Le Terazza Atico for six-day watercolour painting holidays throughout the summer and autumn in central Barcelona. Courses have a maximum of six people and include at least four hours’ painting tuition each morning, with afternoons free to explore Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, visit city galleries and hit the beach (or you could just soak up some rays on Le Terazza Atico’s large roof terrace).
Do it! Accommodation, breakfast and lunch (with wine) and all equipment and painting materials are provided, from €925pp. For flights to Barcelona visit Monarch.

Private tours in Venice

Book a long weekend at The Hotel Bauer and the concierge will arrange for an English-speaking guide to accompany you to private galleries like Ikona, Contini and Michela Rizzo, alongside visiting more famous institutions like Accademia and Guggenheim. And when you return to the Art Deco-style five-star Bauer hotel, just minutes from San Marco, you’re living with art too thanks to walls lined with contemporary and traditional pictures, handcrafted Venetian furniture and Murano glass chandeliers.
Do it! Private art tours from €100 per hour. Rooms at The Hotel Bauer from €350. For flights to Venice visit Monarch.

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Tour of New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 20th century masterpieces at the Museum of Modern Art, Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Guggenheim and the Morgan Library and Frick Collection: the Big Apple sure is a hot spot for art-lovers. If you want to see it all in style, Art Tours will create a bespoke trip including visits to artisits’ studios, private collections and behind the scenes access at public museums. You’ll be taken round by lecturers from a network of specialists, including university academics and museum curators, and stay in luxurious accommodation too.
Do it! Prices for a bespoke New York Tour start from £2795pp.

Art & Culture in Cuba

If you want to go long-haul, join Cazenove+Loyd’s week-long, off-the-tourist-trail tour of Cuba, including rooftop cocktail reception, private dinners with Cuban artists, lunches in art collector’s homes and viewing street art in Havana. In addition, you’ll get to see (and join in!) salsa dancing, meet musicians, enjoy the ballet at Teatro Lorca and go on an Ernest Hemingway Tour.
Do it! This one-off trip is taking place from 5-13 March, 2015 and costs £2950pp incl flights, meals, tours and accommodation.

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Painting the light at Boscombe, UK

Capture the autumn colours on a three-night Paint The Light holiday in seaside escape Boscombe Spa Hotel, close to Christchurch in Dorset. Artist and tutor Gordon Hunt will be on hand to help you compose pictures, learn new techniques and create exciting light effects in the open air (or in the hotel’s art studio if bad weather hits). And when you’re not painting, tackle the South West Coast Path, go on a boat trip and see the Jurassic Coast or visit nearby Bournemouth for shopping and surfing.  
Do it! Three nights in September, including en suite accommodation, full board with wine, tuition and materials, £419pp. Click here for more details.