There is a increasing interest is speciality classes such as Art, Cookery, Bird-watching etc. they give an extra dimension to a holiday providing guests with new skills and a real sense of fulfilment.
Art at Easter
One that particularly caught my eye this week is an art class with a difference being held at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives; from the 18th April until the 9th of May the artist Gregory Burns will be at the resort delivering an art classes in the jungle and under the ocean!
Gregory Burns
A man of many talents, athlete, artist, author and public speaker, Gregory Burns has achieved greatness in his life despite being stricken with polio in his childhood which left him dependent on leg braces and crutches for mobility. He has climbed many of the world’s impressive mountains during the 80’s and 90’s including Jade Mountain in Taiwan, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah and numerous others in the USA, India and Europe, he has also twice hiked down and out of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. His serious swimming career started in 1977 after moving to California; he set four world records and competed in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics collecting 6 medals in the process.
As an artist he has been inspired by his travels and studies of different civilisations around the world, he sought peace in sacred sites where he found sanctuary and understanding guiding him into his expressive art. Being immersed in the beauty of forests and oceans he developed his skills and allowed his creativity to evolve in a way which is personal to him, this is the message he now looks to convey to his classes which he delivers around the world.
His love of the ocean led him to become a fully qualified PADI diver enabling him to bring the undersea world onto his canvas
Personal Creativity
For those who would like to explore their creativity through drawing and painting Gregory has designed stimulating workshops like this one at Villingili over Easter; combining the art of painting with life experiences and love of travel.
Splash
Guests subscribing to this program will need to put on their fins and masks and follow Gregory onto the reef below the ocean armed with a waterproof tablet and pencil, he will point out the quirkiest sea creatures and unveil the secrets of underwater sketching. Your class continues on land in his open-air studio where you will learn how to translate our sketch on paper providing the perfect memento to take back home. Your classes will also take you onto the beach and into the beautiful jungle interior where creative juices will be unleashed!
Classes
If you have been inspired to put brush to canvas on this stunning Maldivian island then please check out Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and let our experienced consultants make your dream a reality; costs for the classes begin at approximately £65 per 90-minute art class