Creative Workshop : Morocco Marrakech & The High Atlas Mountains
Pack your sketchbook and join artists Tessa Pearson and Lara Harwood for a wonderful inspiring creative adventure!
October 17th - 26th 2026
““Can’t remecomend this enough! Its a fab holiday - go on embrace the sketch book ..btw its much much more than that! September 2019”
A Drawing, Painting, Mixed Media and Printmaking Holiday.
Enjoy the gardens and souks of the exotic city of Marrakesh. spectacular landscape and Berber traditions in the High Atlas Mountains, making time for sketchbook drawing, experimenting with mixed media & printmaking.
Staying five nights in the beautiful Boutique Riad Les Yeux Bleus in Marrakech’s old Medina, 4 nights at the famous Kasbah du Toubkal.
Lara and Tessa will share their favorite places, ideas and demonstrate their techniques with one to one tuition time.
All welcome ! Suitable for beginners to advanced artists. Maximum number of artist participants 14
9 nights / 10 days Twin share price per person £2565 and limited single @ £3782 Price includes all transfers (within the trip dates), all meals except two lunches (see itinerary), guides , welcome drinks, water, and soft drinks at the Kasbah. Artists are asked to bring their own art materials and sketchbooks (list given for guidance) but all printmaking materials and some paper is included. (Your TRAVEL to Morocco is not include)
““ Had one of the best creative weeks of my life, rediscovered my love of drawing and learned so much from Lara and Tessa - now need to develop all these and turn them into something ! April 2018”
For Bookings please email : bookings@discover.ltd.uk
(Deposit is 30% on booking ) We are partnering with Discover Ltd. (ABTA bonded and ATOL licence holder)
(PRICE does NOT include flights & insurance or Alcohol) IMPORTANT : You will need to book your own travel arrangements to arrive for the first day of the workshops. If flying transfers from Airport to Riad will be arranged etc once we have this info from you. Please let us know ASAP about your flight bookings. * For RETURN HOME We strongly recommend, if you are flying, choose a mid afternoon or evening flights to avoid a very early start on the last day ( Its an hour and a half travel back to Marrakech and you’ll need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight leaves. )
For future trips please JOIN MAILING LIST
See Full itinerary below....
Itinerary
Day 1 – Saturday October 17th - Welcome to Marrakesh and introductions
You will be met at the airport and escorted to the RIAD LES YEUX BLEUS in Marrakesh medina. If you arrive earlier in the day you will be able to relax on the Riad rooftop terraces, have lunch (not included) and maybe go out and explore a little. Later arrivals should be in time for evening drinks around 6 pm and an introductory talk by Tessa and Lara which will give you the opportunity to meet each other and we can discuss the following days arrangements. Dinner will be in the Riad.
Day 2 – Sunday October 18th - Sketching in Musee de la Palmeraire
After breakfast we will go by private transport to the Musee de la Palmeraire, a gallery of contemporary Moroccan art with three wonderful gardens. Lara and Tessa will demonstrate and advise, and you can wander and sketch in the gardens or sit and soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the artworks on display . Lunch is included. In the afternoon we propose an optional visit to the gorgeous Majorelle Gardens (entry fee) where you will be able to draw and photograph the exotic colourful garden . You can also visit the Yves St Laurent museum next door and the Berber museum within the gardens. Dinner will be at the Riad
Day 3 - Monday October 19th - Place Des Epices and Le Jardin Secret
We will spend the morning in the colourful Place des Epices in the middle of the souk, where Lara and Tessa will discuss and demonstrate techniques for capturing sketches of people and busy market scenes. You are then free to explore the square and draw for the morning. Choose from the many cafes around the square for lunch (not included) and this afternoon we suggest a visit to the beautiful Jardin Secret (entry fee) a relative 'oasis of calm in the heart of the medina', where you can continue to draw, wander and relax. Return early evening for Show and Tell before dinner at the Riad.
Day 4 – Tuesday, October 20th — Traditional Crafts
Today’s theme is Crafts, and for the first time we are thrilled to be partnering with ArtEscapes Marrakech, who run traditional Moroccan craft workshops. In their studio just outside the medina, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with local artisans delighted to share their knowledge and techniques. With their guidance, you’ll create your own small one-of-a-kind rug or a Moroccan-inspired zellige mosaic tile.
We will return to the riad for lunch, and in the afternoon we suggest a visit to the Le Map Museum (entrance fee). The museum showcases an extraordinary collection of ornaments, jewellery, and ceremonial garments that highlight the richness, diversity, and uniqueness of hundreds of territories across more than 50 countries.
In the evening, we’ll take the opportunity to experience the medina at night and enjoy dinner out at the iconic Café Clock (included), followed by a walk back to the riad through the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square to soak in its vibrant atmosphere.
Day 5 - Wednesday October 21st - Sketching in Anima Sculpture Gardens
After breakfast we will go by private transport to the Anima Sculpture Gardens , André Heller’s African Garden of Eden”(Der Standard, Austria). Lara and Tessa will demonstrate and advise and you will have time to wander and sketch the gardens or the distant views of the Atlas Mountains from the terraces... Lunch is available at Cafe Paul Bowles in the gardens ( not included ) and we will return mid - afternoon allowing for time to rest, visit a hamman, or explore more of Marrakesh.
There will be a show and tell before dinner at the Riad
Day 6 - Thursday October 22nd - drive to Kasbah (2 hours)
After breakfast we will leave to drive by private transport to the village of Imlil below Mount Toubkal in the High Atlas , from where we will have a short walk up to the Kasbah, our luggage transported by mules. We will have lunch at the Kasbah on the terrace overlooking the valley. In the afternoon we propose a gentle walk and to do a creative nature connection practice. Dinner will be at the Kasbah.
Day 7 - Friday October 23rd - Walking and sketching in the High Atlas Mountains
After breakfast we will take a guided walk up along the ancient paths and mule tracks, enjoying the spectacular views of landscape and on to the village of Arrempt,. Lara will accompany you sketching the stunning landscape en-route. Lunch will be at the Kasbah, in the afternoon you will have demonstrations of watercolour techniques and time to develop sketchbook drawings in the studio. Dinner will be at the Kasbah.
Day 8 - Saturday October 24th - Drawing and painting in the valley by the river
This morning we have two offerings - if you prefer to be out in the landscape, we will walk down to the beautiful river valley below the Kasbah for sketching and painting and if the weather is on our side we will have a picnic lunch under the walnut trees .
OR Have a Studio day to explore painting mixed media at the Kasbah
You will be able to expand your ideas for works on paper with collage and paint in the studio, or work outside on the terraces, sketching drawing or painting. Tessa will be with you to advise and inspire… then join us for the picnic lunch .
In the afternoon there will be time should you wish to walk or explore the village again, or maybe enjoy a traditional hammam, or continue your work as you like. In the evening we will have our last show and tell and discuss the following days printmaking. Dinner will be at the Kasbah.
Day 9 - Sunday October 25th - Printmaking day at the Kasbah
Today you will be based at the Kasbah, where Lara and Tessa will hold demonstration and small group taster workshops in papercut screenprinting and monoprint. Lunch will be at the Kasbah, and in the evening we will have a small show of work to share with the Kasbah and guests and a traditional Berber supper for our last night. .
Day 10 - Monday October 26th - Farewell breakfast and departure.
After breakfast you will be taken by private transfer back to Marrakesh for onward travel. We STRONGLY advise mid afternoon or evening return flights to avoid a very early start to the last day (It is an hour and a half drive back to Marrakech and you need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight). Those with later flights may be able to stay at the Kasbah for a few hours more depending on transfer numbers.
The Tutors
Your Tutors Tessa and Lara
Tessa Pearson
Tessa Pearson is a successful artist and educator with over 25 years’ experience teaching adults of all ability. Renowned for her use of colour and painterly printmaking , Tessa has visited Morocco many times and finds inspiration everywhere from the wonderful gardens to the colour, textures and pattern in the souks. www.tessapearson.com
Lara Harwood
"Using a sketch book is a wonderful way of being alive to a place and return with a book of treasures" Lara Harwood has over 25 years of experience as a successful artist and illustrator, known for her uplifting artworks, bold use of colour and love of travel. Lara has considerable teaching and workshops experience.