The itinerary may as always change slightly as special events such as recitals or exhibitions, for instance, are publicised only after we are on the ground. We discuss this with you on the first night and give you further options. We want your time in Turkey to be as personalised as possible so do not be reluctant to tell us your wishes when booking.

And remember, you can participate as little or as much as you wish. Over lunch and dinner, ideas will be discussed as to options for your free day (day 7) and we can assist in arranging this so that it is as relaxing or as active as you wish.

Breakfast is provided each day while healthy delicious lunches and dinners are provided as set out in the itinerary. We use organic ingredients as much as possible and all food is prepared with the freshest of seasonal ingredients.

We recognise you will wish to make some decisions about where to eat from time to time and of course Belinda is always ready with a word of advice on where to eat.

Day 1

Arrival will take place over the course of the day so check in any time after 10 am to settle into your luxurious double room with ensuite, unpack (the only time) and relax. A day of introductions and discussion of the programme for the rest of the retreat programme by Belinda and Sam.

Lunch will be served for those who arrive by 1pm so please let us know your estimated arrival times. We, of course, will not let you starve regardless of your arrival time!

In the evening you will enjoy a cocktail by the pool overlooking the Aegean followed by a typical Turkish dinner together in the Villa.

Days 2 and 3

After a traditional Turkish breakfast, you will spend these days in Tevfik's ceramic art studio in a picturesque village on the Bodrum Peninsula. This is not a touristy place it is very much a village of the people. You will enjoy the sound of the call to prayer from time to time while working on your art. Under the expert tuition of Tevfik and Sam, you will be introduced to and guided by a unique style and method of ceramic. You may wish to use the wheel or alternatively sculpt by hand. Tevfik is a calm and intuitive person who is well versed in teaching.

Each day you will stop for lazy long picnic lunches in the countryside, weather permitting, or at a long table together.

In the late afternoon, you will return to the Villa for pre-dinner drinks and time to relax before dining at the Villa together.

Over dinners, Sam will introduce you to materials and various mediums in readiness for the remainder of the retreat.

AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION for anyone not interested in creating art is to visit a local market and have morning coffee at a lovely little cafe/bookstore in Bodrum and chatting with a local about the history of the area and contemporary issues. The afternoons you may choose to participate in the preparation and cooking of some Turkish dishes for dinner on each afternoon or you can simply relax in one of the many nooks inside or outside the villa or wander around the town down to the sea.

Belinda recommends reading "Birds without Wings" prior to your arrival so that we can discuss this book over tea or coffee.

Day 4

Early morning trip to a fresh produce market to wander and take in the atmosphere filled with the gracious and good-humoured farmers from surrounding villages, dressed in typical colourful clothing and hawking their wares.

As always your sketch book and camera will be at the ready.

On returning to the villa you will create frottages of textures and patterns from your experiences and observations. These can be incorporated into your mixed media works.

Lunch at the villa for the art makers.

AN ALTERNATIVE AFTERNOON OPTION  for those not wanting to pursue the art programme we will take a drive to one of the myriads of villages on the peninsula and take tea and a bite to eat. Perhaps a walk through the pine forests or by the sea.

We will all meet up again in the early evening, rug up and drive to Bitez to dine in a wonderful restaurant amongst the mandarin trees. Turkish cuisine with a unique twist will be prepared by the chef proprietor.

This is a family run and owned business. Great care is taken to provide amazingly fresh seasonal ingredients and the olive oil is simply one of the best ever! The proprietor buys the entire harvest each season from a farmer in the Ayvalik area.

Day 5

Breakfast at the villa.

You will have free time for the morning before we all drive out to several vineyards to taste some local wines and local produce. You will learn of the methods and the variety of grapes in this rapidly developing viniculture of Turkey.

You will enjoy a late lunch at a vineyard and afterwards depending upon one's wishes visit an exhibition of some local artists or perhaps you may go to an artist's home for some lively conversation and a few more drinks.

Dinner is up to you tonight. That is if you still feel like eating.

Day 6

Day to do as you wish.

Breakfast is provided at the Villa and you will make your own decisions as to your lunch and dinner.

Some suggestions:

Work on your art at your own pace. Read, talk and relax around the villa, explore the peninsula or a nearby village.

Belinda can arrange a driver and car for the day for those who wish to venture further afield.

If you wish Belinda will organise a boat trip for the whole day. This really is a great day out on the turquoise waters, watching the light change throughout the day, venturing from one beautiful cove to another and eating a wholesome lunch washed down with a Raki or two!

If you decide upon a boat trip lunch is provided.

Lunch and dinner will be of your own choosing tonight in Yalikavak village or locally. Transport will be arranged if you wish.

Day 7 & 8

We will rise early today and travel off the Peninsula for about 4 hours to Kayakoy near Fethiye. We will stop for tea along the way before spending hours walking through the deserted village upon which the book Birds without Wings was based. We will then travel to Dalyan to see the Lycian tombs of Kaunos.

There are several types of Lycian tombs, the most common of which is the rock-cut tomb which is carved directly into the rock face, usually into a cliff, which makes them an amazing sight to behold. It is said that the Lycians believed that a mythical winged creature would carry them off into the afterlife, which is the reason for the position of their tombs on cliffs.

We will spend the night in a quaint pension and gaze at the amazing tombs. We will take a boat ride on the river between the lake and the sea.

We will return to Bodrum the next day at a leisurely pace stopping at the site of Stratoniceia ancient ruins from the era of Syrian King Seleucus (3rd century BC) can be found. Even though some of the city’s remnants were used to build the city of Eskihisar if we are lucky we can see the archaeologists are still excavating at this site.

Day 9

After breakfast there will be a demonstration and instruction on mark making using hand-made brushes. Make your own hand made brushes with goat's hair, olive branches and other locally sourced fibres. Use your brushes to create spontaneous marks on paper as these will be made into personalised postcards.

You will be instructed on how to incorporate in your postcards your drawings over the days and also shown how to make sculptures using recycled paper.

Lunch at the villa for the artists.

AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION for those not wanting to pursue the art programme. Take a drive and walk through some Roman ruins and dine by the sea at lunch-time. You may go to the lovely museum in Milas and also wander around the narrow winding streets. You can visit carpet shops and buy halva by the kilo!

In the late afternoon/early evening we travel to the pretty village of Gümüşlük where we provide dinner at a lovely restaurant where you can dine on local seafood and other Turkish specialties. This is a special place particularly in April before the hoards of tourists arrive, to watch the sunset over the Aegean.

For some dinner at the villa may be preferred after a day of venturing out so this can also be arranged.

Day 10

A slow start today after the Big Day Out. Individual assistance with your art from Sam if you wish or working alone.

You will resolve your postcards and collages, incorporate test to add your impressions and memories of your time in one of the most interesting places in the world.

We will enjoy a lunch together - possibly a picnic in the countryside or a walled mandarin garden.

Closing session with Sam and finishing touches as well as ideas on how to develop and build upon your art once you return home.

Your day to do as you choose. We will have discussed over the course of the retreat various options on this day and you will have professed a desire to do or see something in particular. Today we endeavour to make this happen for you.

Departure Day 11

After a long breakfast together you will have the morning to do as you wish until noon including finalising your departure and exchanging contact details and hopefully making arrangements for your next Art Escapade.

You will be staying in an architecturally designed Villa in Göltürkbükü on the Bodrum Peninsula. It is very quiet in this part of the peninsula however being in the village there is sufficient to do if you feel like wandering off on your own.

Each bedroom is a double with ensuite. Nearly all the bedrooms have direct access to either the pool area or one of the balconies.

Quality linen and toiletries are provided for your comfort. We try to source locally and organically as we are keen to reduce our carbon footprint.

There are several areas for dining and also for sitting quietly or if you prefer for conversing.

Your room is stocked with fresh still and sparkling water and chocolates, Turkish delight or halva and refreshed daily.

Tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

The Villa is decorated in part by one of Bodrum's leading designers and long term resident Canadian Anne Cumming.