Mary King

Time stands still

Our skin is brown, our sketchbooks full as another ‘Mists of Time’ itinerary on beautiful La Gomera has come to a close. Our first return since March 2023, when we arrived back into the UK with flights being cancelled and borders closing behind us, I was delighted and somewhat relieved to find the island unchanged, … Read more

No negativity here!

Every time I receive an enquiry from someone in a warmer climate asking about a sketching holiday, in Scotland, ‘this year’ – ie, during deepest, darkest winter – it always makes me smile. Perhaps they have not quite realised that Vistas holidays take place outside, in the landscape, and if the landscape is unavailable (behind … Read more

Through tears…

Last Saturday morning I was woken by the ping of my phone as a message came though. It was from my friend Jane, so I rubbed my eyes and opened it, wondering if she was heading into the village and wanted to meet for coffee. I would have slept a little longer if I could … Read more

Why now? Why not?

I’m often asked why I run the Scottish itineraries just once a year, and never in the middle of ‘summer’. There are several answers, but the simplest ones are: 1. I have a lot of itineraries, and others which I would like to introduce in time. If they all ran more than once a year, … Read more

Thanks for the thanks!

Still warmed from the two Morocco adventures in March, I have since had some lovely feedback from guests who enjoyed their time enough to write about it. I’m grateful for Helen from Australia who wrote this lovely review: ‘Painted Desert – What an amazing sketching journey! My Moroccan adventure began in a beautiful mosaic filled … Read more

Out with the Old…

Firstly, I would like to wish all Vistas sketching holiday clients – past, present and future – a very happy and healthy 2023, wherever it may find you. Instead of clogging your inboxes with a newsletter I have decided to post a trips update here, since I have had a huge influx of enquiries and … Read more