EASTWELL MANOR INVITES YOU TO WRITE AND PAINT
WITH THE EXPERTS
BBC scriptwriter and double prize-winning author, Christopher Lee and Royal portrait artist and sea and landscape painter, Fiona Graham-Mackay will be hosting a special three day Stay and Write and Stay and Paint event in September at Eastwell Manor Country House Hotel and Spa near Ashford, Kent, helping guests to perfect their painting or writing skills, whilst admiring the picturesque manor grounds.
One of the country’s most acclaimed and talented authors and script writers, Christopher Lee, will be tutoring the writing class, helping guests to develop their creative writing skills in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of Eastwell Manor. Lee’s prize winning writing stretches from his BBC Radio 4 History of Britain series; This Sceptred Isle, to what has been described as some of the best ever comedy drama in Our Brave Boys with Martin Jarvis and Fiona Shaw. Lee is the only script writer ever to write The Archers in a Cambridge college and he has also edited Winston Churchill’s ‘A History of the English-speaking Peoples’ for its one volume edition.
Having written nearly 30 books and more than 70 radio plays, Lee is now teaching others to write as well as planning three new stage plays and two new books. The topics Lee will cover on the course, include; finding time to write, thinking as a writer, fundamental rules of writing, stage, scripts (TV & Radio) and novels; choosing & creating characters & story lines, pitching your work, wild writing and performance writing.
Much acclaimed artist, Fiona Graham-Mackay, will be teaching guests how to paint and sketch or simply develop and improve the skills they may already have. Graham-Mackay studied with Quentin Balke at the Royal College of Art and her recent work, mostly with oils, comes from her time in Morocco. Her celebrated portrait of Lord Carrington was selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2008 Spring Show and following that success, Graham-Mackay has produced a collection of drawings and paintings that defy the news image of a war-torn and politically wounded state from her visit to Pakistan-Afghanistan borders and is currently working on a portrait of Prince Michael.
This special event taking place from the 13th to the 15th of September 2010 is part of a brand new programme of cultural events being run by the hotel and as part of your stay on either the Painting or Writing break, guests can enjoy two nights’ accommodation in a standard Manor or Mews Cottage bedroom with a full English breakfast each morning, dinner in the Manor Restaurant each evening with your tutor providing an opportunity to discuss your progress, as well as full use of the extensive spa facilities, gymnasium and use of the ‘Eastwell 9′ Golf Course, all from just £395 per person. Book now and receive 10% off the standard price, plus complimentary wine with your meals. For further information and availability, please telephone Reservations on 01233 213000 or e-mail: reservations@eastwellmanor.co.uk
