An Art Adventure Through the Historic Gardens & Villages

of Tasmania Explore quaint historic villages and beautiful gardens, while creating your own visual diary

of the journey - under the guidance of renowned artist, David Keeling. A 9-DAY ART & GARDEN JOURNEY THROUGH HISTORIC TASMANIA (NOVEMBER 18 - 26, 2018) Spend nine days painting, sketching and exploring the beautiful gardens and quaint historic villages of

Tasmania, a land that has turned remoteness into an asset. Tasmania is the second oldest European

settlement in Australia after Sydney, and many historic buildings and gardens survive from the early 19th

century. From the arrival of the first European settlers early in the nineteenth century, incredible gardens

have been developed in one of the world’s most productive climates. As a result, you can experience a

wide variety of gardens from historic recreations of English and European landscape designs, to wild and

contemporary native gardens. Part of the adventure includes a three day painting and sketching workshop

in beautiful gardens with renowned artist and educator artist David Keeling.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

David Keeling is one of Tasmania's most renowned artists, known for his innovative portrayal and unique

usage of figuration and narrative in the Tasmanian landscape. As an artist, he made history by winning

Australia’s most lucrative award for landscape painting, The Glover Prize, for the second time in 2016.

Keeling, who lives and works in Hobart, said his winning painting is about slowing down and appreciating

the beauty of place. “What has particularly fascinated me is looking deeper into the way the foliage and

everything is put together. I want to go right in and understand the way the whole thing is put together.”

He uses the artistic language of painting to describe the beautiful and surreal poetry of its unique

environment.

PAINTING & SKETCHING WORKSHOP

For three days, under the guidance of artist David Keeling, you will be painting and sketching directly from

nature, in gardens renowned for their colour and beauty. During the workshop, David will show you how

to capture the beauty of nature, while exposing you to a variety of ideas and approaches, with a mix of

teaching, demonstrations and informal discussions on art over meals in the evening. Learn a new skill or

develop new ones while relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of a garden. No painting experience

necessary.

YOUR HOST SANDY PRATTEN

Sandy Pratten trained at Ryde College of Horticulture and has been director of her own Landscape Design business for more than 30 years. She is a guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney and has lectured in horticulture for over 15 years. Passionate about travelling and exploring new landscapes, and a professional artist, she is interested in the sense of place in a country and the culture as a whole, which contributes to the land use. Sandy is one of our most popular escorts and has led trips to India, Sri Lanka, China, Mexico, Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco and Sicily for the Foundation & Friends. BRICKENDON

A rich tapestry of early Tasmanian history is encapsulated at Brickendon. one of Tasmania's oldest farming properties. Settled in 1824 by William Archer, the farm has been continuously operated and lived on by his direct descendants, now in their seventh generation. Brickendon Estate, along with its neighbouring property Woolmers Estate, were listed jointly as a World Heritage site. being part of the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property. The two Estates are regarded as the most significant rural estates in Australia. THE HERITAGE HIGHWAY You’ll love travelling the countryside between villages and towns, taking in the rolling hills, vast paddocks and stunning views of distant mountains. The Heritage Highway traces much of the original route between Launceston and Hobart, built by convict road gangs in the early 1800s. Drive through rolling farmlands, explore charming Georgian villages, beautiful gardens and savour the rich and colourful history of the place and its people.

ITINERARY DAY 1 - SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18 - LAUNCESTON (1 NIGHT) Arrive in Launceston and check into Clarion Hotel City Park Grand (or similar) from 2pm. Later that afternoon, guests will meet up with Sandy, our host, for a briefing, followed by a welcome dinner (included). DAY 2 - MONDAY NOVEMBER 19 - BRICKENDON (4 NIGHTS) After breakfast our private coach will take us to Woolmers Estate, one of the most historically significant heritage properties in Australia, for a guided tour. The estate includes a spectacular Rose Garden which represents one of the finest collections of historic roses in the southern hemisphere, ranging from the earliest European and China roses through to the roses of the twenty first century. The tour will be followed by lunch after which we will transfer to Brickendon, a nearby heritage estate, where we will be staying for the next four days. In the evening, we meet the artist David Keeling and dine in the village of Longford (included). DAY 3 - TUESDAY NOV 20 - FULL DAY PAINTING (BRICKENDON) Today after breakfast we will spend the day painting and sketching in the gardens of Brickendon under the guidance of our teacher. Lunch will be served in the heritage barn, after which we will continue to paint in the gardens and later dine with the artist in the village of Longford. DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY NOV 21 - MOLE CREEK GARDENS & SKETCHING/PAINTING Today we will be driving to Mole Creek with artist David Keeling and visiting three spectacular gardens, where we will have guided tours and continue sketching and painting. Our first stop, Wychwood, described as the most beautiful garden in Tasmania, mixes sweeping borders of rare perennials and old roses. A medieval grass labyrinth is framed by the idyllic Mole Creek, where abundant bird life and mountain views add to its beauty. We will be lunching in another beautiful garden, Marakoopa. The gardens are a delightful place to enjoy your lunch, or if the weather is inclement, you can sit around the log fire in the café, as you view the snow capped peak of the Western Bluff. In the afternoon we will visit Old Wesley Dale, set in the Meander Valley. It is surrounded by mountains clothed in old-growth forests of native beech, stringybark, celerytop pine, satinwood and blackwood. It is a peaceful English garden abounding in hedges, a walled garden, a potager of fruit and vegetables, a Ha ha and lovely vistas.

DAY 5 - THURSDAY NOV 22 - BRICKENDON, EVANDALE & CLARENDON Today we will spend the morning at Brickendon sketching and painting with David. Lunch will be at the charming colonial village of Evandale perched on the banks of the South Esk River. Evandale has an old-world air and is a great place to wander round.

After lunch we will transfer to Clarendon House for a guided tour of the house and garden, followed by afternoon tea. Clarendon is Australia’s greatest colonial country estate, established in 1838 and features 7 hectares of parkland, heritage walled gardens, a rare avenue of Elms and farm buildings on the banks of the South Esk River. DAY 6 - FRIDAY NOV 23 - TRANSFER TO HOBART ALONG THE HERITAGE HWY (3 NIGHTS) Today we leave beautiful Brickendon and set off on a journey along Tasmania’s famous Heritage Highway to explore a series of quaint colonial villages on the road to Hobart, our final destination. Our first stop is Campbell Town, the historic heart of Tasmania, followed by lunch at Ross, one of the most attractive nineteenth century villages in Australia with cobbled paths, avenues of elm trees and the gorgeous Ross Bridge, the third oldest in the country. The Ross Bakery, which still has its original wood-fired brick oven, churning out crusty loaves each day - makes a perfect lunch stop! Our next stop is Oatlands to view a unique landmark, the Callington Mill, which is Australia’s third oldest windmill. Then on to the quaint Georgian village of Richmond before arriving in Hobart, where we will be staying in the Lenna Hotel for the next three nights. DAY 7 - SATURDAY NOV 24 - SALAMANCA MARKETS & MONA Saturday morning is free to explore Hobart. We suggest wandering around the famous Salamanca markets before meeting up for the luxury ferry trip to MONA, which is quite an experience! When we arrive we’ll have lunch before a leisurely stroll around one of the most controversial private collections of modern art and antiquities in the world, a collection that includes everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to some of the world’s most infamous and thought-provoking contemporary art. Back to Hobart by 4.30pm, your afternoon and evening is at your leisure.

DAY 8 - SUNDAY NOV 25 - INVERAWE, WOODBANK & RUNNYMEDE Today we will be visiting three gardens, an historic home and the studio of artist David Keeling. In the morning we’ll travel to Inverawe Native Gardens in Margate, where we will have an introduction and guided tour through 22 acres of colourful landscaped native gardens with stunning views of North West Bay. Then on to Woodbank Botanical Gardens which specialises in rhododendrons, Japanese azaleas and exotic perennials. You will be given a guided tour of this idyllic setting of lakes, waterlilies, sweeping lawns and majestic Gondwanaland plants. A leisurely lunch at Blackmans Bay, followed by an afternoon stroll through the gardens and beautifully preserved 1840s whaling captain’s house at the National Trust property Runnymede. After our guided tour we will have Devonshire Tea before heading to our final destination, the studio of artist David Keeling who was our tutor for three days at Brickendon. Tonight will be our farewell dinner, where we can celebrate a wonderful adventure together and new friendships. DAY 9 - MONDAY NOV 26

We bid you farewell and hope to see you again on another ART Travel Adventure.

TWIN SHARE PRICE $3,590

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $750

INCLUSIONS:

• TUITION BY RENOWNED LANDSCAPE ARTIST & TUTOR, DAVID KEELING FOR 3 DAYS

• 8 NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION

• BREAKFAST DAILY

• 1 LUNCH & 2 DINNERS

• 2 AFTERNOON TEAS AT RUNNYMEDE & CLARENDON

• PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION (INCLUDING FERRIES)

• ENTRANCE FEES & GUIDED TOURS TO 8 GARDENS

• ENTRANCE FEE TO MONA

• ARTIST STUDIO VISIT

• EXPERIENCED HOST (LANDSCAPE DESIGNER & ARTIST)

• A PERSONALISED SKETCH BOOK EXCLUSIONS:

• AIRFARES

• TRAVEL INSURANCE

• TRANSFERS FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL

• ALCOHOLIC & SOFT DRINKS

• ART MATERIALS

• SERVICES NOT MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY

• MEALS & DRINKS NOT SPECIFIED IN THE ITINERARY

A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT OF $350 IS REQUIRED TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING