Portrait Drawing Masterclass
Monday 9th - Friday 13th November 2026 Cober Hill Residential with Gareth Reid
Join Gareth Reid, Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2017 and Portrait Artist of the Decade winner, for an immersive 4-night residential course at Cober Hill, focusing on portrait drawing using a range of materials. Day 1: Observation and Loosening Up Kick off with exercises to sharpen your observational skills and free up your drawing style. Engage in a mix of short and long poses, with Gareth providing personalised guidance throughout the day. Days 2 & 3: Portrait Drawing We will provide a number of portrait models with a focus on longer poses to refine your technique and observation. Gareth will support you in developing your skills with charcoal and pastels, helping you capture depth and character. Day 4: Life Drawing Conclude with a half day dynamic life drawing session, featuring a blend of quick and longer poses to consolidate your learning. This course offers a unique opportunity to learn from a renowned artist in a supportive, creative environment, suitable for all skill levels. This residential includes full board accommodation, refreshments and all materials are provided. About Gareth Reid Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2017 and Sky Portrait Artist of The Decade, 2023. Born 1974, Belfast. Lives in Glasgow. Graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and the Florence Academy of Art. 2023: Winner of Sky Portrait Artist of the Decade for his drawing of Dame Judi Dench. 2019: Portrait of King Charles III commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces for Hillsborough Castle. 2017: Winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, painting Graham Norton for the National Gallery of Ireland. Gareth has shown on five occasions at the BP Portrait Award in the National Portrait Gallery in London, and in 2007 won the BP Travel Award. Having travelled to Finland, he gave talks on his work in the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh and the National Portrait Gallery, London. His work has been published by the NPG. His work is held in the collections of the National Trust, Royal Bank of Scotland, Ralph Lauren, The Old Bailey, Dublin City Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Historic Royal Palaces, The Royal Collection and the National Gallery of Ireland. About Your Stay Check-in from 3pm Monday 9th November 2026 Check-out by 10.30am Friday 13th November 2026 Workshops take place Tuesday - Thursday 10am - 4pm and Friday 10am-12.30pm.
Cancellation Policy
Right to Cancel and Receive Reimbursement The statutory 14-day cooling-off period does not apply to accommodation and leisure services provided on specific dates. We offer the following goodwill policy: Cancellation & Refund Policy: More than 12 weeks before arrival: Full refund minus £30 administration fee per person. 6–12 weeks before arrival: 75% refund. 4–6 weeks before arrival: 50% refund. Less than 4 weeks before arrival: No refund. Cancellations must be made in writing to info@bookaclass.com. Refunds (where due) will be processed within 10 business days. Travel / Holiday Insurance Recommendation We strongly recommend that all participants purchase comprehensive travel or holiday insurance at the time of booking. This should cover cancellation or curtailment, medical expenses, personal belongings, and any other relevant risks. We cannot be held responsible for any losses, damages, or additional costs you may incur due to cancellation, illness, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances if you do not have adequate insurance in place. Rescheduling: Possible up to 8 weeks before arrival (subject to availability). A £30 administration fee applies for changes made later. Our Right to Cancel: We may cancel a residential stay due to insufficient numbers or force majeure. In such cases we will first offer an alternative date before offering a full refund.