children’s book
creation

17th-24th SEPTEMBER 2024

 

DATE

17th-24th September 2024

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

  • Full-board accommodation in private ensuite twin bedroom

  • 5 days’ tuition (average 4 hours per day)

  • Excursions (Trips to either Granada or Alcala la Real. All taxis, food and drink included)

  • Transfers to and from Granada Airport

  • Illustration workshops

  • Book structuring and story-telling techniques

  • Practical advice on how to present your work when approaching agents and publishers

  • Visits to historical and mythical local sites of interest

  • How to promote your work

  • Step by step guides from sketchbook/notebook through to publishing and print

  • Visit to illustration exhibition and exploring Spain’s illustration history

  • Guest illustrators/writers TBC

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

  • Flights

  • Transfers from Malaga Airport (we can arrange a taxi direct from Malaga or take a bus and collect you from Granada)

  • Alcoholic drinks (there is a fully stocked Honesty Bar with the finest wines and beers from Granada at the venue!)

TUTORS

James Mayhew and Andrew Watson

COURSE DETAILS

This course aims to guide and inspire authors and illustrators who want to create a Children's Book. The course will cover topics such as how to get started, practicalities of picture book construction, workshop discussions about writing for children, trends and popular misconceptions about the publishing industry. We will be taking excursions around the local area, discovering myths and legends with the aim of inspiring your creativity and setting you on your way to creating your own children's book. The course will culminate in a small exhibition and presentation of the works.

ABOUT THE TUTORS

James Mayhew

From the best-selling Katie series, to Ella Bella Ballerina, James Mayhew has been enchanting children with books full of art, stories and music for 30 years. His other titles include, Once Upon a Tune (2021), Nen and the Lonely Fisherman (2021), Mouse and Mole (2021), Mrs Noah’s Pockets (2017),Gaspard the Fox (2018) and Koshka’s Tales (2019).

James also works with many ensembles and orchestras, presenting concerts that incorporate traditional storytelling, and art created live on stage. His collaborators include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and he has performed at venues ranging from Saffron Hall to the Royal Albert Hall.

James is in demand internationally as a speaker, performer and educator. He has tutored courses for the National Galleries of Scotland, House of Illustration in London and SCBWI, and for many years he was a lecturer on the MA in Children’s Book Illustration, at Cambridge School of Art. He lives in Suffolk with his Spanish partner, where the big skies and gentle light are perfect for artists.

10 QUESTIONS: JAMES MAYHEW

We're recording mini-podcasts with all our tutors during which we ask them 10 questions about their work and what they hope to cover in their course with us. Here's James…



Andrew Watson

Andrew has been designing award winning children's books for almost 20 years. His career started at Walker Books and he has subsequently worked for publishers such as Frances Lincoln Children's books, Wide Eyed Editions, Dorling Kindersley, Hachette Children’s Books, Carlton Books, Candlewick Press and Otter-Barry Books. He Art Directed 'The Bear and the Piano', written and illustrated by David Litchfield and that year's Winner of the Waterstones Illustrated Picture Book prize. Andrew continues to design David's picture books. Following his move to Spain, Andrew set up AW Designs showcasing his work in graphic design, print and surface pattern design, as well as his ongoing work as a book designer.

COST

Price per person €1,850 for the 7 nights to include 5 days’ tuition, full-board accommodation and materials. Participants can, of course, bring their own materials if they wish.

Flights and Alhambra tickets are not included.

A maximum of 5 participating places available on this course.

Partners, friends and family who wish to take part in the course are welcome, on the basis that they will share a twin room. Price is 1,450€ per additional person.

Non-participating partners, friends and family are more than welcome, and the price is 1,150€ per additional person sharing a double or twin ensuite room.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is on a full-board basis in a charming rural hotel located in the very historic village of Moclín, about 35 minutes’ drive from Granada city and airport. Guests will have private twin ensuite bedrooms (you will never be asked to share a room), all of which are spacious and very traditionally Andalucian in style. All classes will be held in the large studios in the hotel, and there will be plenty of opportunity to get out and explore the glorious surrounding countryside. The property, which is exclusively ours for the week, is arranged around a central open courtyard, has a roof terrace and is right on the edge of the village with panoramic views over the surrounding landscape.

FLIGHTS

The nearest airport is Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport (GRX). Vueling (part of IAG) fly direct routes from London Gatwick Airport to Granada.

British Airways, Jet2, EasyJet and Ryanair are just a few of the airlines that offer regular direct flights from the UK to Málaga.

A list of airlines operating at Málaga Airport (AGP) can be seen on the airport website.

For more information please contact us


The venue has the most stunning location looking out over the olive groves of Granada and on the last day went up to the Castillo in the town where we could see a panorama of the countryside and the snow topped Sierras in the distance.
— Jeanna, Course Guest 2019