Join award-winning artist and seasoned educator Christopher Webb for an immersive 5-day painting workshop in the stunning hilltop town of Tarquinia, Italy. This intensive course is designed for artists who wish to deepen their understanding of light, composition, and place through the timeless medium of oil painting.

Initially working from life and on location, participants will explore Tarquinia’s rich architectural forms, terracotta rooftops, and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. With painting as the foundation, this course also emphasizes the observational process — how to see, frame, and interpret a subject before the brush ever meets the canvas.

We meet bright and early at the Monastery of San Francesco. This beautiful 13th-century building will serve as the home of our workshop for the week. Using custom viewfinders, participants venture into the morning light to observe Tarquinia’s architecture, landscape, and atmosphere. In town, we learn how to properly record visual information using both sketchbooks and digital media. Later that day, back in the studio, we discuss composition, light, and how to transform our observations into compelling subject matter for painting.

After the workshop, we explore the area with a guided walking tour of Tarquinia’s historic centre. In the evening, before dinner, we gather together to meet one another, share a glass of prosecco, and talk about the creative and cultural adventures that await us throughout the week.

This morning we set out for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Etruscan Necropolises. Building on the previous day’s fieldwork, participants create quick, expressive monochromatic paintings in sepia tones to explore value, structure, and spatial relationships. The focus is on developing confidence through a painting process that is both controlled and spontaneous. Throughout the day, Christopher provides demonstrations, practical instruction, and plenty of one-on-one guidance.

At the conclusion of the workshop, it’s time to meet some of the local artists helping shape Italy’s contemporary art landscape. A series of studio visits will offer participants a unique opportunity to see artists at work, learn about their practices, and engage in informal conversations with plenty of time for questions and discussion.

We shift into a limited colour palette, training the eye to harmonize value and hue. Emphasis is placed on strengthening colour theory skills and understanding the emotional impact of restrained colour relationships. We explore how artists can move fluidly between expressive, painterly mark-making and heightened realism, discovering how both approaches are achieved through careful observation, brush control, and a strong understanding of light and shadow.

We wrap up the afternoon a little earlier as we set off along the scenic roads of the Viterbo countryside to visit one of the region’s most remarkable sites: the Sacro Bosco. Also known as the Park of the Monsters, this extraordinary sixteenth-century garden is filled with fantastical and grotesque stone sculptures scattered throughout a dreamlike landscape. Considered the oldest sculpture park in the modern world, it offers a fascinating intersection of art, mythology, nature, and imagination.

Today participants begin a new painting developed from the sketches, studies, and observations gathered throughout the week. We focus on establishing strong value relationships early, creating a solid foundation before confidently moving into full colour. Building upon lessons in composition, drawing, colour theory, and brushwork, participants will begin to see how individual studies can evolve into more resolved and personal works. Throughout the day, Christopher provides demonstrations, critiques, and one-on-one guidance tailored to each painter's goals, experience level, and artistic voice.

After a rewarding day in the studio, we head into the countryside to visit the nearby organic winery, Vitivinicola Biologica. Here, participants will enjoy a guided tour of the vineyard and learn about the region's long-standing relationship with agriculture, landscape, and craftsmanship. The estate cultivates its grapes without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, producing wines that reflect both the character of the land and a commitment to sustainable practices. The visit concludes with a tasting of several wines paired with local specialties, offering an opportunity to relax, connect with fellow participants, and experience another important aspect of Italian culture and daily life.

This morning we return to the locations we first explored on Day One, now armed with a deeper understanding of composition, light, colour, and atmosphere. Participants spend the day refining their paintings, resolving compositional challenges, and adding the final touches that bring their work to completion. Christopher provides individual feedback throughout the session, helping each artist strengthen both the technical and conceptual aspects of their paintings while encouraging them to trust their own creative instincts.

As the afternoon draws to a close, the studio transforms into a small exhibition space curated by Christopher. Each participant will display a selection of sketches, studies, and finished paintings created throughout the week, offering a visual record of their artistic journey in Tarquinia. This exhibition is not about sales or competition; rather, it is a celebration of growth, exploration, and the shared experience of learning alongside fellow artists in one of Italy's most inspiring cultural landscapes.

Following the exhibition, we gather together for a final dinner at a nearby restaurant to enjoy great food, raise a glass (or two), and celebrate an unforgettable week of painting, friendship, discovery, and creativity. By the end of the evening, participants leave not only with new skills and completed artwork, but also with lasting memories, meaningful connections, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty, history, and culture of Italy.

• Airfare to and from Italy (or any transportation to Italy)

• Any meals not specified in the information provided above

• You are responsible for all Insurance coverage.