Watercolours: painting what you really see with Karen Gillespie: June 14 – 21, 2025
per person
Watercolours
Dive into your creativity, make beautiful art, and enjoy the company of fellow artists.
All skills levels: beginners welcome.
Price includes:
- Daily workshops with Karen Gillespie with personal attention
- Accommodation – choose from our bures at the front (Ocean View bures), or at the back (standard rooms) – or ask us about our two bedroom villas.
- Meals : breakfast, lunch and dinner – a mix of local Fijian and Indian food and international recipes
- Excursions: snorkel on the fabulous coral reefs, bathe in glorious waterfall, revel in the abundant nature of the landscape and experience the rich Fijian culture.
You just need to buy your air ticket and art materials, and leave the rest to us.
PS Bring along your non-painting partner too – there’s plenty for them to do whilst you’re painting, and they can join all the organised excursions on your programme too.
Early morning at the Urata Lookout Cafe
Overview of the week's course
This week offers watercolour painting and adventures around the beautiful town and surroundings of Savusavu. We’ll be painting the very best sights to be found on the island of Vanua Levu, and you’ll experience authentic village atmospheres with all their colour and beauty, while exploring various techniques and applications of watercolour. We will endeavour to create the mood and light of our chosen subjects.
Painting en plein air will keep us ‘seeing’ your subject as shapes and tones in simple format . We’ll be working quickly and learning to paint what we actually see, not what we think a subject may be.
We will paint and sketch , go sightseeing, relax and explore.With helpful and friendly advice to improve your painting to make sure you come home with paintings and sketch books full of memories .
We’ll be painting in the mornings, and in the afternoons and evenings you will have the options of either time to yourself or joining in on cultural excursions.
Suitable for those new to watercolour or anyone wanting to improve their skills . Every skill level welcome.
Beginners and partners welcome.
Karen enjoying the fun of a final showing at Daku.
Meet Karen Gillespie.
Karen’s passion for art was ignited during school days, inspired by an art teacher who recognised her potential. She went on to take a TAFE course and become a member of the Tumut Art society where she attended lectures and demonstrations from a range of visiting artist . Most notable was the legendary Robert Wade, whose work over a 93 year life was internationally recognised and admired. His introduction to watercolour sparked a love for the medium that stayed with her throughout all her future artistic life. After a 25 year gap during which she raised three sons, she returned to artistic pursuits 12 years ago , picking up her watercolour journey with renewed hunger and vigour.
Karen regards herself as a student as well as a teacher, endlessly learning through practice and discussion. It gives her a deep rapport with her class, as she understands where they need guidance and confidence to turn the corner into better work.
Any questions? Drop us a line.
OR BOOK NOW! Prices per person
Payment of $400 deposit : this is non-refundable BUT if the course does not go ahead and we cancel for any reason, we will refund it in full.
Summary & Pricing
Dates: 14 – 21 June, 2025
Style: Watercolours
Programme: Daily morning workshops; afternoon excursions and free time.
Excursions and extras: All meals, and excursions as listed in the programme.
Food: Mixed menu.
Itinerary: Arrive Savusavu Saturday. Course starts Sunday, end evening Friday. Depart Savusavu Saturday.
What To Bring
Materials list will be supplied shortly.
Accommodation
You’ll stay with us at Daku Resort, Fiji.
Accommodation is packaged with your course: we are offering a choice of standard rooms in our rear bures, or ocean view bures at the front .We have a number of two and three bedroom houses and villas so if there are a small group, we can quote you on those.
Additional Adventures
What to do in your free time.
We’ve arranged a number of excursions as part of the course (see Programme tab on the menu bar above). We also offer a range of other activities inside and outside of Daku Resort (please note that unless they are part of the programme, some activities, such as massages and those requiring equipment hire, may have additional costs).
Our location : Savusavu, Fiji
During this week, you’ll enjoy the rich culture and unspoilt nature of Fiji, the place where happiness comes naturally. We’re in Savusavu in Fiji’s North – known as the Hidden Paradise because it really is! We’ll take you out to snorkel on the beautiful coral reefs, to plunge into fresh waterfalls, to visit traditional Fijian villages where you’ll see a deeply hospitable corner of Fiji.
We’ve got a full programme planned – with some spare time to just relax.
Our accommodation: Daku Resort
We’re located at Daku Resort near Savusavu in Fiji. It’s a small and comfortable resort: you can choose from Ocean View bures, or standard room rear bures.
Ocean View bure
Standard room – rear bure