painting holiday in andalucia

Beginners and accomplished painters

Watercolour and mixed media

Friendly tuition by Jayne Raine

Idyllic painting locations

Converted Stables studio

Farmhouse accommodation

Small friendly groups of people

Rural & cultural activities

The painting holiday is centred on Cortijo Fuente Arriba, an Andalucian Cortijo (Farmhouse) on a 2 acre finca within 5 minute walk of the village of Lubrin in the province of Almeria some 2000ft up in the Sierra de los Filabres range of mountains and just 45 minutes inland from Mojacar and Garrucha on the Costa del Almeria.

The accommodation consists of self catering, one and two bedroom apartments in an Andalucian Cortijo (Farmhouse) and also a detached cottage reformed from an agricultural outbuilding, all very private and centred around mature gardens and swimming pool. The accommodations are spacious and full of character with private terraces and views over the surrounding mountains and valleys. There are fully equipped kitchens and the central heating and log burning stoves provide for comfortable and cosy evenings. The location is magical, providing peace and tranquillity yet within walking distance of the village centre. There is Freeview Television and also a laptop with Wireless Broadband.

Lubrin pueblo is a typical Andalucian village tucked away high in the Sierra de Los Filabres. It’s charm lies in its narrow streets, its white village houses adorned with bright geraniums and bougainvillea, and its endless sunshine. Not forgetting the charming villagers of Lubrín that provide for all the basic holiday necessities and includes 2 Supermarkets, 2 Bakers, 2 Butchers, Bank with ATM machine, Post Office, 4 Restaurants and numerous Tapas Bars.

Non Painting Partners
Although the courses are designed for artists, your non painting partner or friend is welcome to join you on your holiday. Non painting partners can also accompany you on organised field trips. If your partner just wants to enjoy the sun, a glass of wine and a good book, they can just stay back at the Farmhouse with their feet up or stroll into the village main plaza and people watch and listen. There are also self guided walks straight of the entrance and into the hills and valleys and ending up in the village for beer or wine and tapas. You can also go on a walk, during your free time and record the wonderful views and interesting objects along the way.

John & Mair Vincent discovered Lubrin more than 12 years ago and were fortunate to buy an abandoned Cortijo (farmhouse) on 2 acres of land on the outskirts of the village. Over the next 5 years the Cortijo was sympathetically renovated, along with an outbuilding, to provide very comfortable residential accommodation and also 3 rental units. The old water deposit was converted to a swimming pool and the existing centuries old terraces were landscaped around the existing Olive, Almond and Pomegranate trees.

Cortijo Fuente Arriba is now an established summer destination for travellers that are looking for a rural setting with rest and relaxation mixed with a cultural experience of real Spain and availability of local sightseeing ( i.e. if they can manage to put down their glass of Rioja and get up off the lounger!. Self guided walking was introduced in 2008 and is proving to be a popular destination for ramblers.

In summer of 2009 we took a sabbatical to do some travelling and were fortunate to have Jayne & Peter Raine house sit Cortijo Fuente Arriba and manage the rentals. Jayne is an experienced artist and when we returned, at the end of the summer, Jayne had produced an amazing collection of paintings around the 2 acre finca. To cut a long story short, Jayne & Peter were so taken with Lubrin that they returned the following year and bought a stunning house in the next village.

Jayne has now joined forces with Cortijo Fuente Arriba to offer a memorable art holiday in an around the finca, the surrounding mountains and valleys and Lubrin village. We hope that you will visit us on one of your painting holidays and we promise to work hard to ensure that you will enjoy your stay at Cortijo Fuente Arriba and also return home with fond memories of the delightful and charming villagers of Lubrin.