Creative Workshop Morocco : Essaouira & The High Atlas Mountains  

Pack your sketchbook and join artists Tessa Pearson and Lara Harwood for a wonderful inspiring creative adventure!

September 14th - 22nd 2027

DRAW, PAINT, explore MIXED MEDIA & PRINTMAKING in Morocco

Fill your sketchbook, experiment with mixed media and printmaking — set against the ancient & colourful seaside town of Essaouira and the spectacular landscape of the High Atlas Mountains. Lara and Tessa will share their favourite places and techniques, with one-to-one tuition throughout. All welcome — beginners to advanced. Maximum 14 participants.

The trip begins inside the walled Medina of Marrakesh at the beautiful Riad Les Yeux Bleus with a welcome gathering before leaving early next morning for Essaoira staying at Riad Dar L'Ouissa for 3 nights .. exploring with our sketchbooks taking in the bustling life as it unfolds in this well preserved fishing port, with its many wooden boats, delightful souks, cafes, spicy aromas and sunsets over the Atlantic.

On day 5 we’ll head up into the High Atlas Mountains .. for a change of pace, staying four nights at the legendary Kasbah du Toubkal. Here we’ll connect to a different landscape and have our own studio space to develop work whilst also exploring on foot, sketch book in hand, the mountain paths and cool river valley under shady walnut trees.

8 nights / 9 days  ·  Twin share £2120  /  Single £3120

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)

IMPORTANT :  You will need to book your own flights to arrive for the first day of the workshops. 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 mid afternoon or evening flights to avoid a very early start to 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

Itinerary

Day 1 – Tuesday 14th September — Welcome to Marrakesh

You'll be met at the airport and brought to the beautiful Riad Les Yeux Bleus in the heart of the Marrakesh medina. If you arrive earlier in the day there'll be time to settle in, rest on the rooftop terrace, find some lunch and perhaps wander a little. Early evening , we'll gather on the roof tops for drinks around 6pm — a chance to meet each other properly and for Tessa and Lara to share a little of what lies ahead. Dinner that night is at the Riad.

Day 2 - Wednesday 15th  September - Marrakesh to Essaouira & Settling in

After an early breakfast we set off to Essaouira, approximately 3 hour drive in an air conditioned minibus. Once we've checked into the Riad Dar L'Ouissa we'll find somewhere lovely for lunch before heading out together on a gentle tour of the colourful alleyways of the old town to get our bearings. The medina is small and easy to navigate — and the shopping is very tempting! Tessa and Lara will share some sketchbook techniques, and then the afternoon is yours to wander, sketch and photograph the souk at your own pace. Dinner is out in the medina.

Day 3 Day in Essaouira

The morning begins on the rooftop at Dar L'Ouissa, where Tessa will share her approach to mixed media — a gentle start to a day of making and looking. The rest of the morning is yours to lose yourself in the souks; collecting imagery, sketching ancient doorways, colourful carpets and the cafes where you can people-watch and soak up the atmosphere. Tessa and Lara will be around to advise and inspire ( if we can find you!). Lunch is your choice in the medina where there are many lovely places to choose from...

In the afternoons you may wish to relax on the hotel terrance, continue drawing or take a dip in the sea.

Later we'll round the day off with a show and tell over drinks before dinner together at a restaurant in the medina.

Day 4 – Friday 17th September — Essaouira (Full day ) People Drawing

After breakfast Lara will share her drawing techniques starting with life in the square and perhaps venture out to the port to draw the classic blue fishing boats with their nets and colourful floats, then the day opens out into more time in the medina — sketching the characters in the cafes, the architecture from the rooftop and again lunch is your choice out in the medina.

This evening we’ll supper at the very special Salut Maroc  www.salutmaroc.com and after stroll along the port wall to watch the famous sunset over the rocks.  

Day 5- Saturday 18th  September - Essaouira to Imlil 

After breakfast and packing up, there will be time for a last wander and an early lunch before we depart for the Atlas Mountains and the wonderful Kasbah du Toubkal. 

We will arrive in Imlil late afternoon, and your luggage will be transported by mule following our short walk up the valley path to the Kasbah. After welcome tea we will settle in our rooms and explore our new surroundings . Dinner is served looking out over the mountains.

Day 6 - Sunday 19th September Walking & sketching in the High Atlas Mountains 

After breakfast there will be an opportunity to do a guided walk along ancient paths and mule tracks, to explore the spectacular mountain landscapes and drop down through the river valley, pausing for drawing as we go. . Lunch will be at the Kasbah and in the afternoon Tessa will give a demonstrations of watercolour techniques and there will be time to develop sketchbook drawings in the studio or relax in the hamman. In the late afternoon we will hold a show and tell before dinner at the Kasbah.

Day 7 - Monday 20 September Drawing and painting in the valley by the river 

This morning we will walk down to the 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 and in the afternoon you are free to explore the village shops and cafes or draw in the Kasbah gardens or out on the terraces. In the evening we will share our ideas and discuss the following days printmaking. Lunch and dinner at the Kasbah.

Day 8 - Tuesday 21 September Printmaking day at the Kasbah

Our last full day will be based at the Kasbah, where Lara and Tessa will hold demonstration and small group taster workshops in screen printing 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 9 – Wednesday 22nd September — Farewell Breakfast & Departure

After breakfast we travel by private transfer back to Marrakesh for onward flights. We'd STRONGLY encourage you to book mid-afternoon or evening return flights — it's an hour and a half drive to Marrakesh and you'll need to be at the airport three hours before departure, so an early flight makes for a very early start to the final morning. Those with later flights may be able to linger at the Kasbah a little longer depending on transfer numbers.

The Tutors

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. lara-harwood.co.uk