Cheshire Villages, UK

Our trip starts at the delightful Doubletree Hilton, Chester on the evening of Sunday, August 2nd, where you’ll meet up with Ian and some of the Urban Sketch team for a relaxed welcome reception and drinks with your fellow sketchers. The Doubletree is located just outside of Chester in the beautiful village of Hoole, and just a short stroll away from all our sketching locations.

Your workshops begin on Monday, August 3rd, where we’ll take a pleasant walk each day to a new sketching location. Following 5 days of sketching, we will finish on Friday, August 7th, for our farewell dinner experience.

Despite an action-packed week of sketching and learning, there will be ample opportunity to enjoy some leisure time, including sightseeing, explorations, shopping, views, catch-up sketching, local museums, or simply relax and enjoy facilities provided by the hotel.

Click the next tab to view the locations we’ll be sketching »

Includes:

The Cheshire Villages Sketching Retreat includes:

• Hotel (6 nights)
• Full English/Continental buffet breakfast (daily)
• Welcome reception (August 2nd)
• All workshops & demonstrations with Ian Fennelly (Mon – Fri)
• Farewell evening meal (August 7th)

Excludes:

The Cheshire Villages Sketching Retreat excludes:

• Flights to/from the destination
• Airport transfer to/from the hotel
• Lunch and evening meals (except the Farewell Dinner)
• Painting supplies
• Tips and gratuities
• Luggage handling
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Items not explicitly specified in the above inclusion list

Click the next tab to find out more about the hotel we’ll be staying at »

For your 7-day stay we have selected the Doubletree Hilton, Chester based in Hoole. The hotel is a about half an hour away from all of our sketching destinations.

The hotel is included within the price of this trip (double or twin rooms are available).

Room amenities include:

• Full English/Continental buffet breakfast
• Free WiFi internet
• Over 100 digital TV channels
• 24-hour front desk
• Onsite car parking
• Tea/coffee making facilities
• Heated pool
• Gym
• Hairdryer
• Iron and ironing board available on request

How to get there?

By Car:
From Chester City Centre: The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from the city center. Head east on the A56 towards Warrington, and you’ll find the hotel off Warrington Road.

From the M56: If you’re coming from the M56 motorway, take Junction 15 to merge onto the M53, then exit at Junction 12 for the A56 (towards Chester). Follow signs for Chester and you’ll find the hotel on your left.

Parking: The hotel offers free on-site parking for guests.

By Train:
Chester Railway Station: The hotel is approximately 2 miles from Chester Station. You can take a taxi or bus from the station to the hotel.

Taxi: A taxi from the station to the hotel typically takes around 10 minutes.

Bus: You can take a local bus from Chester Bus Interchange (opposite the train station) towards Hoole, with stops near the hotel. Look for services on the Arriva North West routes.

By Air:
From Manchester Airport: The DoubleTree by Hilton Chester is about 25 miles from Manchester Airport. You can reach the hotel by:

Car: A direct drive via the M56 will take around 35-40 minutes.

Train: Regular train services run from Manchester Airport to Chester, and the journey takes about an hour. From Chester station, follow the above directions.
From Liverpool John Lennon Airport: The hotel is about 25 miles from Liverpool Airport.

Car: A drive via the M56 will take around 35 minutes.
Train: Take a train from Liverpool South Parkway to Chester station, followed by a taxi or bus.

I’m a beginner, is this trip for me?

Yes. Ian will assume no prior experience and will take you carefully through each of the steps in his process as he is doing it – from blank pages to the shapes and colours he uses, through to finished artwork.

What do I need to bring with me?

We recommend that you bring with you an A3 Sketchbook, your watercolour paints and brushes, a small pot for water, brush pens and fine liners, a small chair to sit on, drinking water, sunscreen, and a raincoat (it is the UK after all!) and your best sketching attitude!

For a full materials list, take a look here.

Will we be drawing and painting on location?

Yes. This is authentic urban sketching and Ian will be taking you through all of the steps while we’re there on-location; from blank page to sketching everything out, to applying the paint and fine liner detail work, there and then. There will also be lots of opportunities and a special area back at the hotel to finish and refine your work should you wish to.

What’s the difference between this Sketching Retreat and just doing an online course?

Firstly, while our online courses are a wonderful way to learn urban sketching, truthfully, nothing can replicate the experience, knowledge, and sheer pleasure you will gain from sketching live on location with Ian Fennelly.

Secondly, there is a vast difference between watching and learning from Ian through online tutorials, and actually being there on location, learning and sketching alongside him.

You see, urban sketching is not only about the lines you put on your paper, but about developing and refining the skill of thinking, working, and responding to your environment in real time. And that can’t be developed through sketching from photos. But this is where Ian excels and it’s this level of detail and expertise that you are getting through being there on-location with Ian Fennelly.

Finally, Ian is not only one of the most respected urban sketchers in the world, but he’s also a trained and highly experienced teacher who will be there each day to personally help you to improve on those areas you might be struggling with. The value of having him there to personally guide and coach you are far beyond what you can gain through any online course.

And of course, along with this, you are getting a highly enjoyable week’s experience with a group of fellow sketching enthusiasts! Not only will you make wonderful art together, but you’ll make some special friendships too.

Anything else I should consider?

We strongly recommend that you have a good travel and medical insurance policy in place to cover you in the event you must cancel your trip and any emergency medical services you might need while travelling in a foreign country. Fennelly Art Ltd and V-Learn Ltd t/a Urban Sketch Course cannot be held responsible for any accident/loss or injury incurred during the course of the trip.

Will I have to share a room?

No. Each participant will have their own private room at The Hotel. You will only share a room if you choose to bring a travel companion with you, such as a friend, partner, etc.

Can I extend my stay or upgrade my room?

Yes. If you wish to make any adjustments or upgrades to your room, please contact us at: [email protected]

Can I bring a partner or friend?

Yes. Non-sketching companions are welcome if they are sharing with a sketcher as there is plenty to see and explore on this trip.

What is your cancellation policy?

The cost of the trip is non-refundable once booked and paid for. In the unlikely event this trip is cancelled you will be issued with a 100% refund. If you are unable to join the event after booking, we will attempt to resell your place on your behalf. A refund will only be issued if we manage to successfully resell your place, minus a cancellation admin fee. Please read our full workshop terms and conditions here.

Who do I contact with any questions about the trip?

Contact our support team at any time on support@urbansketchcourse.com. We will be delighted to help you.