Member Article

Northumberland Artist Expands Painting Holiday Business to Meet Demand

An award winning Northumberland artist is offering budding artists the opportunity to develop their skills whilst enjoying an Italian holiday.

To celebrate 30 years as a professional artist Alan began his painting holidays in 2014. He is now expanding the holidays in Umbria as they are proving so popular.

British artist, Alan Reed fell in love with watercolours at the age of 15, and over the last 35 years has developed a distinctive painting style that captures the atmosphere of different settings from the drama of city life to the serenity and beauty of a rural landscape.

The holidays attract people of all standards, all with a common love of watercolour painting. This year the luxury the Painting holiday in Italy was selected by The Times as one of “The 50 Best Holidays for 2015.

“I have spent many of 30 years as an artist teaching Art & Design and these holidays are a perfect way of passing on my skills whilst relaxing in one of my favourite places in the world to paint,” said Alan Reed.

“This year 6 holiday guests from last year returned to Italy with us, and already 9 have booked again for next year. To meet demand we are doubling the places next year and also running a course in September 2015.”

The owners of the villa, a restored church in which the artists stayed offered a 250 Euro prize to the best painting of the week that captured the venue. The prize was won by an amateur artist, John Chapman, from Rowlands Gill and the painting will now go on display in Chiesa del Carmine. The church was in ruins when Alan first painted it on location in 2004.

Every guest on the holiday gave it 10 out of 10. Arthur from London said: “Superb, Diana learned far more than she could have imagined would be possible in a week. We could not have enjoyed ourselves more”.

This year Alan was a Fine Art Trade Guild finalist for the Best Selling Artist with one of his limited edition prints of Grey Street in Newcastle upon Tyne; and was shortlisted for Artist of the Year 2014 by the Artists and Illustrators Magazine.

Alan trained as an illustrator / graphic designer at Newcastle College and spent the early part of his career doing artist impressions of new building projects for architects. He specialises in landscapes, cityscapes and portraits both in watercolours and oils, and has had many successful exhibitions both in the UK and abroad.

As well as painting holidays Alan also takes private and corporate commissions, provides lessons in painting and offers demonstrations. His paintings can be viewed online or in his gallery in Ponteland, Northumberland. For more information go to: www.alanreed.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Deb Sharratt Communications .