Plein Air Painting Retreat w/ Vanessa Merry
from €3,990.00/pers.
Plein Air Painting Retreat
with artist Vanessa Merry in Spain
📅 May 5-12, 2027 🌏 Sitges, Spain 🎨 Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor
Paint Happy: A Joyful Escape to Barcelona & the Costa Brava
Some trips are meant for sightseeing. This one's meant for showing up with wet brushes, sunscreen, and zero expectations of getting it "right." Painter Vanessa Merry has built a career on the idea that art should feel good — and this week along the Spanish coast is her invitation to bring that same easy, joyful spirit to your own canvas.
You'll spend your days chasing light across Barcelona and the Costa Brava, from the swirling Art Nouveau details of Hospital de Sant Pau to the sun-bleached boats of Calella de Palafrugell. Vanessa's approach is playful and forgiving — she'll have you loosening up your brushwork before you've even noticed you were holding back. Wander the medieval streets of Besalú, learn to build a proper paella just steps from La Boqueria market, and let your evenings unfold at the 4-star Hotel Estela, where sea views and original artwork make the whole place feel like a gallery you happen to be sleeping in.
Twelve painters, one instructor who genuinely delights in watching people surprise themselves, and a week where the only real goal is having a very good time with a paintbrush in your hand. Partners and photography lovers come along too, with their own guided outings running right alongside the painting sessions.
What's included
✅ Instructed painting workshops: painting classes in plein-air at different locations each day, demonstrations with artist Vanessa Merry & individual tuition
✅7 nights of accommodation at 4 star Hotel Estela Barcelona in Sitges with access to swimming pool, bar & restaurant
✅ Expert Tour Guides all week leading the Painting Group and guiding the non-painting partners during workshop times
✅Outdoor Painting workshop equipment provided with small tables, foldable chairs, lightweight premium easels, paper towels and disposable bags
✅All group meals including 7 buffet breakfasts with daily-made pastries, cured meat, cheeses and fresh fruits ; 5 lunches at local restaurants with a special selection of Spanish dishes ; 2 celebration dinners with a 3-course welcome dinner & a farewell dinner party
✅Local wine served with group meals
✅Daily trips to various painting locations with guided visits, walking tours, time for shopping
✅Special program for non-painting partners during painting sessions led by a local tour guide
✅Private tour bus with AC for all planned activities
✅ Round-trip group transfers from/to Barcelona airport (BCN)
✅ All local tourist taxes and fees
Not included
❌ Airfare - Recommended Group Flight information to Barcelona (BCN) & booking details with our partners will be communicated upon booking
❌ Travel insurance - available with our partners
❌ Art materials - a list of art supplies recommended by artist Vanessa Merry will be provided three months before the tour.
❌ Tips for staff
❌ Other expenses guests might incur on their own
Art Workshop Program
*Program & itinerary subject to change due to scheduling considerations & weather conditions.
Your painting holiday in Barcelona and the Costa Brava begins with a warm welcome. Upon arriving at Barcelona Airport, meet your fellow travelers and board a comfortable private bus transfer to your seaside retreat venue, set against the easy beauty of the Catalan coastline.
Once you arrive, settle into your comfortable room and take time to unwind after your journey. When you're ready, begin exploring the hotel's inviting amenities: a swimming pool with a sun-drenched solarium overlooking La Marina Beach, a relaxed bar, and the Iris Gallery restaurant, where Mediterranean cuisine is served in elegant surroundings—an ideal spot to sketch or simply linger over a glass of local wine.
At 7:00 PM, gather with your art instructor Vanessa Merry, your tour guides, and your fellow artists for an Orientation Meeting. You'll be introduced to your week ahead and to the plein air painting spots handpicked to spark your creativity—a program designed to fill the days with immersive sessions, cultural discovery, and memorable moments.
Cap off your arrival day with a chef-prepared three-course welcome dinner, paired with locally sourced wines from the region. It's the perfect beginning to your art retreat in Catalonia, where painting, culture, and connection come together.
Begin your day with a generous buffet breakfast overlooking the Marina de Aiguadolç, then let the morning unfold at your own pace. Relax beside the pool, or take a gentle stroll along the quiet, beautiful beach just steps from your hotel—a slow, restorative start before the afternoon's discoveries.
After lunch, board your private tour bus into the heart of Barcelona to encounter the masterwork of Catalan architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner: the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site. Let yourself be inspired as you take in the splendid architecture of its pavilions and learn about the site's remarkable heritage and its place in the history of medicine. As you paint, you'll breathe in the fragrances of gardens planted with orange and lemon trees and medicinal herbs—lavender, sage, and rosemary—each one a quiet invitation to look more closely.
Meanwhile, the non-painting group will explore the magnificent interiors of the historic hospital alongside their tour guide, discovering its stories from within.
After a nourishing breakfast, hop aboard your bus for a short, scenic ride into the Penedès region for a day you'll long remember.
Surrounded by rolling vineyards, you'll be captivated by the serenity of an estate owned by the pioneers of organic viticulture in the region. Five generations have tended the vines that stretch out before you, framed by a garden with spectacular views. Let your creativity flow as you build a beautiful collection of paintings, working to capture the authentic charm of this historic winery.
Pause for an outdoor lunch and an enlightening wine tasting beneath the pine trees. Afterward, you'll have time to put the finishing touches on your paintings—or simply surrender to the meditative calm of the gardens.
Guided by their expert tour guide, the non-painting group will explore the beautiful Penedès region and its many celebrated wineries.
Start your day with an early breakfast, then set off for one of the most idyllic painting spots on the Costa Brava: the old fishing village of Calella de Palafrugell. This quaint harbor rests in a beautifully preserved cove, with narrow streets and views that hold you in place.
Elevate your craft in the shade of the pine trees and gather lasting memories of this exceptional vantage point over the Mediterranean. Stretch your legs along the Camí de Ronda, the coastal footpath, and discover the neighboring charm of the cove at Llafranc.
Enjoy a delicious lunch by the sea and let yourself sink into the natural beauty of this seaside town. After your painting session, take up your camera for a delightful wander through the hilly streets, past whitewashed fishermen's houses and the boats lined up along the beach.
In the meantime, the non-painting group will be enchanted by the botanical gardens of Cap Roig, home to an extensive collection of some 8,000 species drawn from every Mediterranean-climate region of the world.
After a fulfilling breakfast, ease into a relaxing day by the sea. Wander along this beautiful stretch of Spanish coast, paint the stunning views from your terrace balcony, or set off to discover the historic center of Sitges and its marvelous museums.
There will be no shortage of moments to take photographs, fill a sketchbook, and let yourself be inspired by the tranquil atmosphere of this seaside town—a day to follow your own rhythm.
In the evening, an unforgettable culinary experience awaits. Near the bustling La Boqueria Market, you'll push your creative boundaries with Spanish cooking techniques, mastering the flavors of an authentic paella you can recreate once back home—a masterclass you'll remember long after the trip ends.
Savor this wonderful dinner alongside your fellow artists, accompanied by delectable wines from the Catalan region.
After breakfast, your morning begins with a journey to Besalú, a magnificent example of the Catalan Middle Ages in the province of Girona.
Upon arrival, you'll be captivated by the 12th-century Romanesque bridge that spans the Fluvià river. Draw inspiration from this singular view over the water, or from the cobbled streets and timeworn façades of the town center. During the art workshop, the non-painting group will set off for the historic quarter with their guide, discovering its religious and civil monuments and the old Jewish quarter with its medieval public baths.
At lunchtime, everyone gathers to enjoy a generous selection of Spanish and Catalan dishes at a buffet restaurant with an incredible view over the iconic bridge.
The afternoon is given over to exploring the town: crossing the bridge with its eight pointed arches, wandering the narrow cobbled lanes, and making your way up to the viewpoints that open onto panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Begin the day with a refreshing breakfast, then regroup for a remarkable excursion to the most iconic of Barcelona's landmarks: the temple of the Sagrada Família by Antoni Gaudí.
Experience this World Heritage monument together with your group of fellow art lovers. Immerse yourself in the basilica's many secrets alongside your official tour guide, and discover how Gaudí drew such profound inspiration from the natural world. Take time to gather reference photographs for future sketches and paintings, and try to capture the details of this expressive, still-evolving architecture.
Pause from the wonder of the morning for lunch in the Gothic Quarter, where you'll spend the afternoon exploring its many boutiques and artisan shops, the Cathedral of Barcelona, and the famous La Rambla.
The retreat draws to a close with a special farewell dinner and wine, marking the end of this artistic journey through Barcelona and the lands around it.
Enjoy a tasty breakfast before boarding your bus transfer to Barcelona Airport. As the trip comes to a close, take a moment to say farewell to the friends you've made along the way—with the hope of painting alongside them again on your next tour destination.
Art Retreat Information
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Meet Your Instructor: Vanessa Merry
Vanessa Merry is a Minnesota-based artist, educator, and founder of MerryTime Arts, known for her expressive style and passion for teaching. Her work captures the beauty of landscapes, still life, and the human figure through fluid brushwork, luminous color, and a balance of structure and spontaneity.
At the age of eighteen, Vanessa moved to Florence, Italy, to study classical painting, drawing, and printmaking at Palazzo Spinelli. She continued her studies at Atelier de Chimère in France, where she developed a love for plein air painting in the French countryside. Returning to the United States, she earned her degree in Visual Arts and Art History from the University of Minnesota.
Vanessa has been deeply involved in the Twin Cities art scene, exhibiting in local galleries, winning multiple awards for her paintings, and collaborating with arts organizations. Her work has been recognized for both technical skill and emotional depth.
While she continues to create in a variety of styles, Vanessa finds her greatest joy in teaching watercolor & oil workshops, international art retreats, and community classes. Her mission is to inspire confidence, creativity, and connection through art—helping others discover their unique artistic voice.
Discover more of Vanessa's work and upcoming retreats at MerryTime Arts.
The main accommodation for the painting tour with Vanessa Merry is located in Sitges a coastal town in the region of Catalunya.
Located just 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Barcelona, Sitges has a laid-back atmosphere with a real village feel to it. The historical center located at a 20 min. walk away is reachable by a lovely path along the charming Marina of the Aiguadolç with its boulevard of bars and restaurants. Strolling along its cobbled alleyways lined with palaces and ancient castles, you will discover historic buildings from the Modernisme and Noucentisme movements.
The city is filled with restaurants and small boutique shops where you can indulge in souvenir shopping.
Barcelona airport (BCN) is reachable within a 25 min drive (your group pick-up/drop-off location).
How to get from Barcelona Airport to Hotel Estela in Sitges?
Group transfers at prearranged times to and from Barcelona airport (BCN) are included. The transfer journey to the hotel takes approximately 25 minutes.
- Arrival transfer: May 5, 2027 — 1:00 PM (leaving from Barcelona airport, arriving at the hotel around 1:30 PM)
- Departure transfer: May 12, 2027 — 10:00 AM (leaving from the hotel, arriving at Barcelona airport around 10:30 AM). Group transfer times will be confirmed by email.
🔎Please hold off on booking flights until the retreat becomes confirmed. (A notification email will be sent to you)
If your travel arrangements don't work with our group transfer times, we can reserve a taxi to the Hotel Estela Sitges (address: Av. del Port d'Aiguadolç, 8, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona - SPAIN) approximately 70 EUR per way from Barcelona Airport. Please note that taxi fares may change.
Art Retreat Packages
- €3,990.00 - Shared Room (Twin/Double Room)
- €4,650.00 - Single Room
- €3,790.00 - Non-Painting Partner (Twin/Double Room)
Booking Information
- A €1,000 deposit per person is required upon booking to secure your spot. The remaining balance is due 90 days before the tour.
- 100% Refund if cancelled before February 5, 2027 (minus admin. fee). Terms & conditions
- Please hold off on booking flights until the retreat becomes confirmed. A notification email will be sent to you.
- Participants are strongly advised to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might entail cancellation or change of travel arrangements.
- The painting tour will also include Artist Katherine Downey Miller and her students.
- Please note that the tour includes some daily walking (couple of hours/day) and carrying your own painting supplies. Participant must be able to walk comfortably.
- Any questions? Please contact us for any pre-booking questions.
👆To book this retreat, click on Register (in the top right corner)