The Ireland Painting Experience

Immersive landscape painting workshops guided by artist Hugh O’Neill in some of Ireland’s most inspiring locations.

View the July 2026 Workshop
Workshops Special

What Makes These Workshops Special

Painting in Ireland is unlike anywhere else in the world. From rugged coastlines to quiet countryside villages, the landscape offers endless inspiration for artists.

Hugh O’Neill’s workshops are designed to combine artistic instruction, exploration, and the joy of painting outdoors in extraordinary locations.

Painting Workshop in Ireland

Ireland: A Landscape Made for Painting

  • Dramatic coastlines

  • Changing light and atmosphere

  • Historic villages and countryside

  • The long tradition of Irish landscape painting

Your Week of Artistic Discovery in Coastal Ireland

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DAY 1:

Welcome to Newcastle, County Down

Settle into your luxurious coastal hotel, meet fellow artists, and enjoy an orientation session. Evening group dinner with discussion on finding inspiration in the Irish landscape.

DAY 2:

Color Theory at Dundrum Castle & Village

Morning lesson on color mixing techniques specific to Ireland's unique palette. Afternoon plein air painting session capturing the medieval castle and charming village streets. Evening group critique and feedback.

DAY 3:

Composition & Perspective in Saint Patrick's Country

Explore Downpatrick and Strangford Village, learning the rule of thirds and creating depth in landscapes. Paint historic sites where Ireland's patron saint once walked.

DAY 4:

Texture & Light in the Mourne Mountains

Journey into the dramatic Mourne Mountains. Paint at Castlewellan and ancient dolmen sites, mastering techniques for water, trees, skies, and mountain textures. Guest artist talk on capturing light.

DAY 5:

Finding Your Style at Newcastle Harbour

Paint working fishing boats and harbor scenes while developing your personal artistic voice. Learn storytelling through landscape painting. Evening farewell exhibition of your week's work.

DAY 6:

Reflection & Final Masterpiece

Create a final painting incorporating your favorite techniques from the week. Closing circle to share insights and experiences. Optional evening social gathering.

DAY 7:

Morning Departures

Depart with new skills, lasting friendships, and a portfolio of Irish landscape paintings.

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Typical Day

What’s Included in the Experience

  • Full Irish breakfast daily (and we mean FULL!)

  • Daily ground transportation to all painting locations

  • Expert tuition from internationally celebrated Irish artist Hugh O'Neill

  • Live painting demonstrations and personalized instruction

  • Irish music and cultural evenings with your instructor

  • Free Dublin Airport pickup (return transport available through our taxi partners)

  • Art materials 

Workshop Ireland

"Typical Day" Visual Timeline

  • 8:00 AM - Breakfast at Avoca Hotel

  • 9:30 AM - Morning painting session at [coastal location 10 -20 min drive away] with demo 

  • 12:30 PM - Lunch (photo of group dining)

  • 2:00 PM - Afternoon session exploring new techniques

  • 5:00 PM - Critique & feedback time

  • 7:00 PM - Evening free/optional group dinner

  • Evening - Irish music session at local pub if available

Hugh O’Neill

Learn Directly from Hugh O’Neill

  • Plein air painting techniques for all weather conditions

  • Color theory and mixing for Ireland's unique light

  • Composition and perspective in landscape painting

  • Texture techniques for water, stone, vegetation, and skies

  • Light and shadow mastery in changing conditions

  • Personal style development and creative expression

  • All painting mediums – watercolor, oils, acrylics, pastels, graphite

Learn More About The Artist

A Relaxed, Small-Group Experience

  • Limited Group Size Icon

    Limited Group Size

  • Individual Attention icon

    Individual Attention

  • Supportive Learning Environment Icon

    Supportive Learning Environment

  • Relaxed Pace Icon

    Relaxed Pace

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Accommodations

HOTEL PRICE & INFO 

Exclusive Discounted Hotel Rate:

$1388 SHARING
$1295 SINGLE  

(The same discounted rate applies to all students and non-painters)

To keep your price low, participants book and pay the hotel directly

Participants from the UK, Ireland, and some EU countries receive a $300 tuition discount if they sign up for all days of the workshop. Also, we offer pro-rated prices for EU and UK participants. Contact us at info@irelandarttours.com for details.

(All pricing subject to change)

Accommodations

HOTEL CONTACT:

📧 info@avocahotel.com
📞 +44 28 4372 2253
📌 Ask for Code: “Hugh O’Neill.”

(Contact Siobhan or Nicola) International Pricing:

Who These Workshops Are For

  • Beginners looking to build confidence icon

    Beginners looking to build confidence

  • Experienced painters seeking inspiration icon

    Experienced painters seeking inspiration

  • Travelers who enjoy art and culture icon

    Travelers who enjoy art and culture

  • Artists interested in plein air painting icon

    Artists interested in plein air painting

A man with white hair, beard, and glasses stands next to a colorful landscape painting in an art gallery. The painting depicts a coastal scene with water, hills, trees, and rocks.
An oil painting of a small blue vase with a bouquet of multicolored flowers on a table with a yellow tablecloth. The background is a light greenish color.
Two middle-aged men smiling and sitting close together, one with white hair and the other with gray hair, a beard, glasses, and wearing a red beanie, at an outdoor bar or restaurant with several other people in the background.
Close-up of a smiling man and woman wearing glasses, taking a selfie in a restaurant or pub with a rustic interior, including a Guinness ad and a stage with a musician in the background.
An elderly man with white hair, glasses, and a beard, seated in an ornate armchair with a backdrop of patterned curtains.
An older man with white hair and glasses stands inside a restaurant holding a painting, talking to a seated man with grey hair and glasses. The background features a blue wall with sculptures of lions, framed artwork, and a woman with blonde hair wor
Seven people standing in front of a building with a sign that reads 'James English'. The group is smiling and posing for the photo. The building has a textured gray exterior and two windows with brown frames.
A middle-aged man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark blazer and pink shirt, smiling outdoors with green foliage in the background.
A man standing on a grassy dirt path near a white cottage with a thatched roof in a rural landscape. The sky is partly cloudy, and the scene features open fields and distant hills.
A man with glasses, a beard and a mustache taking a selfie outdoors beside a body of water with mountains in the background on a partly cloudy day.
Two men painting outdoors near a water body, with a landscape of rolling hills and cloudy sky in the background. One man is standing, smiling, holding a paintbrush; the other is sitting in a chair, smiling, wearing a wide hat and black jacket, with a
Two men sitting in a restaurant, one with glasses and white hair, the other with curly gray hair and a beard, smiling at the camera.
Four people standing together in an art gallery or museum, with landscape paintings on the wall behind them.
A man with glasses, white hair, and a beard taking a selfie in an art studio filled with painters and completed paintings.
A group of five people, three women and two men, standing outdoors in a scenic area with mountains and houses in the background. The women are holding landscape paintings, and one woman is wearing a sunhat and glasses. The men are smiling, with one w
An older man playing an acoustic guitar outdoors with two women nearby, surrounded by green trees and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
A group of eight people standing outdoors in front of trees, displaying their paintings of lakes and nature scenes on easels and canvases.
Group of men playing guitars and singing in a cozy pub with brick walls and wooden decor, some drinking beer.
An artist painting outdoors on a grassy hill overlooking the ocean, with a woman observing.
Three people at a social event conversing, two men and one woman, holding drinks, with other people in the background.

Join an Upcoming Ireland Painting Workshop

Spaces are limited to maintain a small, focused learning environment.

Register Today