Creative Workshop : Morocco Marrakech, Essaouira & The High Atlas Mountains
Pack your sketchbook and join artists Tessa Pearson and Lara Harwood for a wonderful inspiring creative adventure!
October 26th - 5th Novemeber 2025
““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 a day in the gardens and souks of the exotic city of Marrakesh. Explore the vitality and colour of the seaside town of Essaouira and experience the spectacular landscape and Berber traditions in the High Atlas Mountains, making time for sketchbook drawing, experimenting with mixed media & printmaking.
Staying two nights in the beautiful Boutique Riad Les Yeux Bleus in Marrakech’s old Medina, 3 nights at Riad Dar L’Ouissa in Essaouira and 5 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
10 nights / 11 days Twin share price per person £2327 and limited single @ £3448 Price includes all transfers (within the trip dates), all meals except three lunches (see itinerary), guides and local gratuities, 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.
““ 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 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
See Full itinerary below....
Itinerary
Day 1 – Sunday October 26th Welcome to Marrakesh and introductions
You will be met at the airport and escorted to the Riad accommodation 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 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 – Monday October 27th Day in Marrakesh 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 will have the morning to wander and sketch in the gardens or sit and soak up the atmosphere. We will then return by our transport to the Riad for lunch. For those of you who like gardens there will also be the opportunity to visit the beautiful Jardin Secret (entry fee) in the Medina or visit one of the many interesting palaces or museums in Marrakech, Tessa and Lara will have some suggestions. In the evening we have dinner at the Riad.
Day 3 – Tuesday October 28th - Drive to Essaouira (3 hours)
This morning we will travel by private transport to Essaouira, where we are staying at Riad Dar L'Ouissa. After welcome tea and settling in you are then free to explore and choose from the many cafes around the square for lunch (not included). We will spend the afternoon sketching in the Place Moulay Hassan looking out to sea where Lara and Tessa will demonstrate drawings of people mingling in the Square with the ramparts and the famous fishing boats in the port.
Dinner will be at a restaurant in the Medina at Loft (Tbc).
Day 4 - Wednesday October 29th Day in Essaouira
We will spend the day in the medina of Essaouira, exploring the streets with their fabulous old doors, the souks and small courtyard squares where Lara and Tessa will discuss techniques for ‘visual note taking’ in sketchbooks capturing textures, colour and all that catches your eye. Lunch is not included today, you are free to choose from the many cafes and restaurants. You may then choose to venture to the beach for a swim, or work on the rooftop terraces at the Riad. In the late afternoon Tessa will demonstrate painting and mixed media techniques taking inspiration from the morning’s sketch book gatherings.
Dinnerout at the famous Salut Maroc with its with its gorgeous tiled interior (included) ( tbc)
Day 5 Thursday October 30th - More exploring and drawing in Essaouira
Today we will start with a share of sketchbooks and ideas before returning to favourite spots for drawing and sketching. The medina of Essaouira is small and easy to find your way around, and the shopping opportunities are very tempting! Lunch is your own choice again (not included) – Lara and Tessa will advise on good places to go where you can people watch and sketch from your table. In the early evening we will return to the port to watch the spectacular sunset over the rocks and maybe try to catch this in our sketchbooks or just enjoy a photo.
Dinner will be at Riad al Madina.(included)(tbc)
Day 6 Friday October 31st drive to Kasbah (4 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 Saturday November 1st 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 Sunday November 2nd Drawing and painting in the valley by the river
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 late afternoon we will hold a show and tell before dinner at the Kasbah.
Day 9 Monday November 3rd 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 and Lara will be with you to advise and inspire…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 share our ideas and discuss the following days printmaking. Lunch and dinner at the Kasbah.
Day 10 Tuesday November 4th 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 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 11 Wednesday November 5th 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
Tessa and Lara in a Petit Taxi Marrakesh
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.