Helen is an experienced tutor, originally qualifying as a Suzuki piano teacher in Canada before embarking on a degree in Fine Art. After completing the degree she taught painting and printmaking for local authorities and led community projects. Since 2004 she has concentrated on cruise teaching and residential courses - for 10 years she ran painting holidays in Dorset and other UK locations, she has taken painting groups to India and Paxos and recently has returned to Dorset for her Sketching and Painting holidays in Purbeck; new for 2025 she will be teaching on an art retreat in Portugal. Her enthusiasm for her subject, wide-ranging knowledge and ability to encourage and support each individual has ensured that her painting courses are popular and enjoyable, and her students leave with a new confidence and a desire to develop their painting skills.
Helen has been teaching watercolours on cruise ships for several years and enjoys the chance to introduce people to a new hobby and to give them the skills to develop it further when they return home - many people arrive in the classes as complete beginners then leave with some beautiful paintings and a desire to join a regular painting class.
NEW FOR 2025!
October 24-31 2025 sees the start of a new venture for Helen, she'll be teaching in Olhão, a busy fishing village in Portugal within the Ria Formosa Natural Park, which the Portuguese count as one of their seven wonders. It's close to Faro Airport and flights are included in the holiday price, which is from £1595 based on single occupancy. Full details can be found on the Friendship Holidays website www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-painting-week/
Also June 3-10 2026
Also June 3-10 2026
Sketching and Painting in Purbeck 2025
April 13-18 and September 28-October 3
This is a chance to sketch and paint in a beautiful area with like-minded people, with individual and group tuition by Helen Halliday. 2025 prices: There are 3 single rooms at £865, and a double room for single occupancy is £945 - it's £785pp for 2 sharing with discounts for non-painting partners. The price includes 5 nights half board (full breakfast and two course dinner) with a welcome cream tea on the first day. We will spend some time in the garden at Kingston Country Courtyard which has wonderful views, and we will walk to nearby places including Corfe Castle, Kingston and the cliffs. There's a good local bus service with nearby bus stop, there are buses to Wareham mainline station. Lunches are not included but there's a very good pub in Kingston with excellent views of Corfe and there are many cafes and pubs in Corfe Castle. There is a spacious studio in the historic 16th century barn, where we also meet in the evenings for videos, presentations and discussions. You can use any materials you like though when we're walking it's best to keep it simple - I'm happy to give some recommendations. If you need any more information please contact me - please see below for links to booking forms.
Dates for 2026: April 26-May 1 & October 11-16
Some comments by recent guests:
'I have discovered a whole new world out there’
'I shall now try to look at things in different ways – and try lots of experimentation - inspiring!’
'Grateful for the nice room, great food and Helen’s tuition, with her contemporary ideas on landscape painting and techniques. Also for her friendliness, knitting us together as a group.'
'I have learned a great deal from Helen about colours and been inspired to use them more boldly. Helen works so hard to help us all, no-one is left out.'
'Eye-opening – thank you. Really enjoyed the challenges with guidance. Encouraged to expand and not give up.'
'I go away full of enthusiasm to play with my paints and know I can produce something I will like. I am looking at shapes and colours with a new eye and am going to have fun experimenting with it all. ’
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If you would like more information about the painting holidays please contact me.
2026
April 26-May 1 and October 11-16 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
June 3-10 Painting retreat in Olhão, Portugal https://www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-painting-week/
2025
April 13-18 and September 28-October 3 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
October 24-31 Painting retreat in Olhão, Portugal https://www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-painting-week/
2024
April 28-May 3 and October 6-11 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
December 3-10 Teaching watercolours on eastbound transatlantic voyage with Queen Mary 2 www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/M438/M438
2023
April 23-28 and October 1-6 2023 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
22-29 June Cruise - Saga Spirit of Discovery Fjord Explorer
12 November Cruise - Ambassador Land of the Northern Lights
2022
November 18-December 2 Fred Olsen Balmoral to Morocco - watercolour classes
October 9-14 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
August 31-September 7 "Beautiful Norway" Cruise on Saga Spirit of Discovery
June 21-July 12 Ambassador Cruise to Greenland
May 22-27 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
2021
Cruise teaching: September 21, Saga Spirit of Discovery, Celtic Escape
Nov-Dec 21 Saga Spirit of Adventure, Charming Canary Islands
June 27-July 2 and October 17-22 2021 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck.2020
28 June -3 July Kingston, Dorset Postponed to 27.6.2021
22-29 August Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight Rambles with a Sketchbook
24/11-10/12 2020 Teaching watercolours on Fred Olsen M2031 - Voyage to the Islands of the Caribbean. Cancelled
2019
26 April–3 May Brecon Rambles with a sketchbook
13 – 17 May Selworthy Landscape painting
1 – 8 June Selworthy Sketching & painting in gardens
21-28 June Alnmouth Sketching & painting in gardens
20-24 August St Ives Rambles with a sketchbook
2018
February 14-March 1 Art instructor on Saga Pearl ll: Bright lights in Norway
June 23-30 Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
July 14-22 Sketching and Painting in Gardens, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
2017
February 2-16 Art instructor on the Braemar, Barbados to the Amazon
April 23-May 11 - Art Instructor on the Oriana, Mediterranean
July 22-29 Rambles with a sketchbook, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
August 11-18 Rambles with a sketchbook, Beddgelert, Snowdonia www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
September 1-8 Rambles with a sketchbook, Brecon www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
December 8-21 Art instructor on the Saga Sapphire, Canary Islands
2016
27 July - 14 August Art instructor on the Saga Pearl ll: Flavours of the Mediterranean -details here
Sept 17-24th Rambles with a Sketchbook, St Ives - details here
Oct 17-21 Lino Printing at Abingworth - details here
2015
30 May - 6 June: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
8 - 15 August: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Sedbergh, Yorkshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
28 September - 5 October: Autumn Painting week on Paxos www.paxoslife.co.uk Tel: 01444 258048
26 - 30 October: Portrait Painting, Church Stretton, Shropshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
April 26-May 1 and October 11-16 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
June 3-10 Painting retreat in Olhão, Portugal https://www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-painting-week/
2025
April 13-18 and September 28-October 3 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
October 24-31 Painting retreat in Olhão, Portugal https://www.friendshiptravel.com/holiday/casa-rosa-painting-week/
2024
April 28-May 3 and October 6-11 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
December 3-10 Teaching watercolours on eastbound transatlantic voyage with Queen Mary 2 www.cunard.com/en-gb/find-a-cruise/M438/M438
2023
April 23-28 and October 1-6 2023 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
22-29 June Cruise - Saga Spirit of Discovery Fjord Explorer
12 November Cruise - Ambassador Land of the Northern Lights
2022
November 18-December 2 Fred Olsen Balmoral to Morocco - watercolour classes
October 9-14 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
August 31-September 7 "Beautiful Norway" Cruise on Saga Spirit of Discovery
June 21-July 12 Ambassador Cruise to Greenland
May 22-27 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck
2021
Cruise teaching: September 21, Saga Spirit of Discovery, Celtic Escape
Nov-Dec 21 Saga Spirit of Adventure, Charming Canary Islands
June 27-July 2 and October 17-22 2021 Sketching and Painting in Purbeck.2020
28 June -3 July Kingston, Dorset Postponed to 27.6.2021
22-29 August Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight Rambles with a Sketchbook
24/11-10/12 2020 Teaching watercolours on Fred Olsen M2031 - Voyage to the Islands of the Caribbean. Cancelled
2019
26 April–3 May Brecon Rambles with a sketchbook
13 – 17 May Selworthy Landscape painting
1 – 8 June Selworthy Sketching & painting in gardens
21-28 June Alnmouth Sketching & painting in gardens
20-24 August St Ives Rambles with a sketchbook
2018
February 14-March 1 Art instructor on Saga Pearl ll: Bright lights in Norway
June 23-30 Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
July 14-22 Sketching and Painting in Gardens, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
2017
February 2-16 Art instructor on the Braemar, Barbados to the Amazon
April 23-May 11 - Art Instructor on the Oriana, Mediterranean
July 22-29 Rambles with a sketchbook, Selworthy, Somerset www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
August 11-18 Rambles with a sketchbook, Beddgelert, Snowdonia www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
September 1-8 Rambles with a sketchbook, Brecon www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
December 8-21 Art instructor on the Saga Sapphire, Canary Islands
2016
27 July - 14 August Art instructor on the Saga Pearl ll: Flavours of the Mediterranean -details here
Sept 17-24th Rambles with a Sketchbook, St Ives - details here
Oct 17-21 Lino Printing at Abingworth - details here
2015
30 May - 6 June: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
8 - 15 August: Rambles with a Sketchbook, Sedbergh, Yorkshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558
28 September - 5 October: Autumn Painting week on Paxos www.paxoslife.co.uk Tel: 01444 258048
26 - 30 October: Portrait Painting, Church Stretton, Shropshire www.hfholidays.co.uk Tel: 0845 470 8558