See the Cape through a painter's eyes.

There are few places where the landscape changes as dramatically in such a short distance as South Africa's Cape.

Vineyards framed by mountains. The wide skies and ochre tones of the Klein Karoo. Rolling coastal landscapes. And finally, the cliffs and ocean light of Hermanus.

For eleven days, Marc Dalessio will lead a small group of painters through these landscapes, painting directly from life and sharing the approach that has made him one of today's most respected plein-air painters.

This is not simply a workshop in one location.

It is a painting journey through the Cape.

The journey begins in Stellenbosch, surrounded by some of the Cape’s most beautiful wine country. Historic Cape Dutch architecture sits beneath dramatic mountain ranges, with vineyards stretching across the valley and soft spring light changing throughout the day.

Staying at Lanzerac gives the group an elegant base in the heart of the Winelands, with gardens, vineyards and mountain scenery immediately surrounding the estate.

The scenery:
Vineyards · Cape Dutch architecture · Stellenbosch streets · Mountain landscapes · Oak-lined avenues · Soft morning and evening light

Painting character: refined, architectural, green and mountainous.

From the Winelands, the landscape changes dramatically as we travel into the Klein Karoo.

Here, the lush vineyards give way to wide open plains, rugged mountains and the beautiful muted colours of the semi-desert. Buffelsdrift introduces the first true wilderness chapter of the journey, where African wildlife becomes part of the landscape.

This is where the palette begins to change—ochres, dusty greens, warm earth and enormous skies.

The scenery:
Open Karoo plains · Mountain ranges · Acacia and indigenous vegetation · African wildlife · Big skies · Golden evening light

Painting character: expansive, earthy, wild and atmospheric.

The journey then continues towards the Garden Route and Botlierskop, where rolling hills and indigenous vegetation meet a private game reserve.

This is one of the most exciting contrasts of the workshop: painting landscapes where wildlife may quite literally become part of the scene.

The surroundings offer everything from distant mountain silhouettes and sweeping grasslands to intimate studies of trees, animals and changing light.

The scenery:
Rolling hills · African bushveld · Mountain backdrops · Wildlife · Grasslands · Waterholes · Sunrise and sunset safari scenes

Painting character: dynamic, layered and unmistakably African.

The scenery:
Open Karoo plains · Mountain ranges · Acacia and indigenous vegetation · African wildlife · Big skies · Golden evening light

Painting character: expansive, earthy, wild and atmospheric.

The final chapter brings us to the coast.

Perched above Walker Bay, The Marine places the group beside one of South Africa's most dramatic stretches of coastline. After the earthy tones of the Karoo and bushveld, the palette changes again—Atlantic blues, rocky cliffs, sea mist and sweeping coastal horizons.

It creates a completely different plein-air environment and a beautiful way to finish the workshop.

The scenery:
Walker Bay · Rocky coastline · Ocean cliffs · Coastal fynbos · Beaches · Mountains meeting the sea · Expansive Atlantic views

Painting character: coastal, luminous, windswept and dramatic.