SCOTLAND

SOLD OUT. DROP BONIE A NOTE TO BE WAIT LISTED.

Posted here is a trip overview so you can gain an understanding of what will be included in the trip and the optional add on mosaic workshop.  All reservations are on a first com first serve basis.  The trip is limited to 20 participants and the workshop is limited to 8 students. The workship with Joanna Kessel is sold out and wait listing.

Tour begins in Edinburgh on June 11 and concludes in Edinburgh on June 19, 2024.

We have designed an immersive, authentic, one-of-a-kind adventure to Scotland. We begin in Edinburgh, where you delve into the history and architecture of this fascinating city. We walk the Royal Mile and visit Edinburgh Castle; both are must-see landmarks. An exclusive visit to the National Scottish Museum and Archives deepens our appreciation of this fascinating country, from its sweeping landscapes to the traditions of textiles, the Highland Games, whiskey distilling, and, of course, bagpipes and kilts.

From Edinburgh, we travel by private coach to the Scottish Highlands, where we settle into our base hotel in Aberdeen. Aberdeen is located on the northeast coast and is famous for its sparkling granite buildings and monuments. From our comfortable accommodations, we take daily excursions. You will spend a day exploring Inverness and Loch Ness, and another wandering the grounds of the Royal Residence Balmoral Castle. You can expect street-level engagement and exclusive and unique visits to galleries, family-owned businesses, castles, and medieval villages. We experience the breathtaking landscapes to ancient sites screaming to be explored.  

We return to Edinburgh for a free day for you to shop, relax, or take in another historic landmark. The trip is capped with a group dinner at one of Edinburgh’s fantastic restaurants. 

For a detailed itinerary and sign up click purchase button, you will be taken to the WeTravel website where you can find all details. Daily breakfast included, a few special group meals, all hotel and ground transportation within the trip dates, full time escort, and tips.

Airfare not included in trip price, we meet at the Edinburgh hotel on June 12. Pricing based on double occupancy. Single supplement available.

OPTIONAL MOSAIC WORKSHOP with Joanna Kessel.  June 19 – June 21, 9:30 am – 5:30 daily

Immediately following our trip, we arranged for a private workshop at the Edinburgh Mosaic Studio.  Joanna Kessel has designed a 3-day, tailor-made mosaic and concrete workshop for 8 lucky tour participants. If you have ever been curious about the intersection of textiles and mosaics, this workshop is for you! 

The mosaic workshop will be informed by color palettes found within the woven textiles of Serbian-born Scottish textile designer Bernat Klein combined with Joanna’s personal interest in the similarities and correlation between tapestry weaving and mosaic – the bead or stitch and the individual tessera.  Klein was deeply moved and inspired by the Scottish landscape. We will create small-scale mosaic artworks using smalti, concrete and colored pigments, and the workshop fee includes all materials and tool loans.

For additional perspectives, Joanna has invited two nationally respected tapestry artists who will welcome workshop students to their private studios. Space is limited as this will be hosted by Joanna in her personal studio space. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided daily, and we will take a lunch break, there are many restaurants in the area.  

Joanna combines her own studio practice with teaching, historical research, and commission work. Her works are widely collected, and she exhibits internationally.  

Participants can opt to stay on in the tour group Edinburgh hotel, or move to other accommodations. This is an optional offering, and additional fees apply.  This workshop offering will produce the most fantastic trip mementos imaginable!

To learn more about Joanna visit https://joannakessel.co.uk/about/ 

Images of Scotland by Conor Mollison. Image of mosaics are from Joanna Kessel and will give you an idea of the artworks we will be creating. TO VIEW IMAGES KEEP SCROLLING , THE PHOTO GALLERY HAS 10 IMAGES.