Our friend Jamie Martin, who stayed with us for a few days last week, captured these amusing moments at the fresh fish stall in the weekly market in our nearby town of Fivizzano. A charming cat (above) waited patiently in line, gazing up at the fishy heaven. No prizes for guessing what was going on in her feline brain. Then it was her turn to order! Come and enjoy the weekly market yourself on one of our world-famous creative courses at the Watermill. Our 2019 courses are now fully booked up (though there may be cancellations) and we are now taking bookings for 2020. Our total c ..read more

One of our Watermill painting guests, Tamara Zakon, has just shared this rather flattering portrait of me as I told the group our plans for their painting week with Sandra Strohschein. It’s weird seeing yourself, as Rabbie Burns would have it ‘as others see us’, but I’m honoured that Tamara should take the time and trouble to try to get my looks down on paper. Tamara says, in an email to the group who were on Sandra’s course: “Surely you remember the evening of June 1st at the Watermill. Only Bill could keep us riveted to our seats as he divulged next day’s programme and menu with the same in ..read more

This vibrant pastel, of the River Rosaro that runs beside the Watermill, is by Anne-Marie Furze, a guest on Sue Ford’s painting course here this week. She painted the river last year, when attending Rebecca de Mendonca and Nel Whatmore’s pastel week. She tells me: “It hangs on the wall of my sitting room and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of the great time we had at the Watermill.” Anne-Marie obviously enjoyed herself so much that she has just returned (with two of her friends) for another painting week here. A photograph of the mill and the riverside gardens. Why don’t you join us too ..read more

Watermill creative courses: availability at 11 July 2019 Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about? Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put ..read more

Trevor Sanderson, who joined his wife Maggie as a ‘non-participating partner’ on Jo Parfitt’s recent Writing Your Life Stories week at the Watermill has just sent me a terrific photographic record of a walk he took through the bamboo forest next to the mill, and along the millstream. We are working on ways of better showing this to you, perhaps as a slideshow (watch this space) but as we do so, we thought you might like to have a sneak preview of a couple of the photographs of some of the wildlife that abounds in the National Park that surrounds the mill. At the very top of the millstream, whe ..read more

Here’s an animated picture of our Friday informal exhibition in the Watermill studio at the end of Mike Willdridge’s painting week at the Watermill. From left to right, Jonathan Sanders, Anastasia Roberts and Lesley Dench enjoy looking at some of the artwork. Our thanks to Janet Grech-Cini for the picture. We had a wonderful week with Mike and we are very pleased that he will be back with us next year. Why not join him, and us, and put yourself and your pictures in the picture? We would love to welcome you here. Here is another of Janet’s lovely pictures, this time of some flowery steps in the ..read more

This is an atmospheric photo of Vicki Norman, our lovely Watermill painting tutor. Our thanks to painting guest Lynne Roche for sending it to us. We had a wonderful course with her a few weeks ago and we are now taking bookings for her 2020 week. (Lynn and her husband Michael enjoyed themselves so much they have already booked for next year.) Why don’t you come and find a shady spot and paint the glorious Tuscan countryside bathed in sunlight. Vicki will be with us from Saturday 23 June to Saurday 23 June 2020, for a week-long course in oils (and watercolours and other mediums). Our inspiring ..read more

The Watermill June 2019’s letter is just out with stories on how we are becoming even greener, a glimpse of Gentileschi, enjoying music under the vine Verandah and why you should stop writing when you’re doing well. Intrigued? Click here for more. Picture: Francesco Lastrucci ..read more

Watermill creative courses: availability at 6 July 2019 Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about? Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put y ..read more

Here’s a picture of Mike Willdridge’s painting group, taken at the gourmet Al Vecchio Tino restaurant in the hilltop village of Monte dei Bianchi, with wonderful views over the Apuan Alps. The stunning view from the Al Vecchio Tino restaurant A ‘silly photograph’ is on the last day is a hallmark of Mike’s weeks here – and, as you can see, they all seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. We would like to thank everyone for making the week so special for us, too. Why don’t you join us for inspiration, fun (and a silly photograph) when Mike returns next year? His week-long course in watercolo ..read more