Paint the Coast: Art Classes with Resident Artist Carla Raads
There is something about The Grand that invites you to slow down. The way morning light moves through the building. The unhurried rhythm of the space. A sense that this is somewhere worth pausing.
Now, that atmosphere becomes something you can take home.
We are delighted to introduce exclusive art classes at The Grand with resident artist Carla Raads. These intimate sessions offer a rare opportunity to learn directly from the artist whose expressive seascapes have become part of the hotel’s identity.
The Artist Behind the Collection
Carla’s work is not simply displayed at The Grand. It belongs here.
Her paintings respond to the coastal light, the shifting moods of the Irish Sea, and the quiet grandeur of the building itself. Bold brushwork. Layers of movement. Colour that feels like weather rather than paint.
Collected by private buyers and exhibited in galleries, Carla’s work hangs throughout our corridors, lounges, and public spaces, part of everyday life at The Grand rather than something kept behind glass.
Carla works from her studio at the rear of the hotel and is often seen around the building between sessions. Now, for the first time, she is opening her practice to guests and visitors who want to do more than admire the work. Who want to understand it. Who want to try it themselves.
Explore the full collection currently on display throughout the hotel: The Grand Hotel Collection
Seascape Taster Session
A relaxed two hour introduction to Carla’s expressive approach to painting.
Designed for complete beginners and those returning to painting after time away, this session focuses on movement, colour, and atmosphere rather than technical perfection. There is no pressure to produce a masterpiece, just space to experiment, learn, and enjoy the process.
You will leave with your own finished piece, a new way of seeing the coast, and perhaps the beginning of something you want to explore further.
Price: £85 per person Duration: 2 hours Includes: All materials, refreshments, and your finished piece to take home Maximum group size: 6 participants
Signature Seascape Masterclass
For those ready to go deeper, the Signature Masterclass is a half day immersion into Carla's distinctive style.
Working on a larger canvas, you will explore layering techniques, intuitive mark making, and the balance between control and letting go that defines Carla's approach. This is not a painting by numbers exercise. It is a genuine creative experience, guided by an artist whose work sells to collectors and hangs in homes across the country.
You will leave with a substantial finished piece, a deeper understanding of expressive painting, and the quiet confidence that comes from having tried something outside your usual routine.
Price: £165 per person Duration: 4 hours Includes: Premium materials, lunch in the hotel, and your finished artwork Maximum group size: 4 participants
Make It Part of Your Stay
These sessions work beautifully as a standalone experience, but they are even better woven into a longer visit. Book an overnight stay and add an art class to your itinerary. Arrive the evening before, settle into the building, wake up slowly, then spend the morning painting the coast you watched from your window.
We can arrange everything: the class, the room, dinner reservations, perhaps a bottle of something waiting when you return to your room, paint still drying on your new piece.
Speak to our team about combining an art experience with your next stay: View Our Rooms
For Locals and Day Visitors
You do not need to be staying at the hotel to join a class. These sessions are open to anyone who wants to experience Carla's teaching in the setting that inspires her work. Book as an individual, bring a friend, or enquire about private group sessions for birthdays, hen parties, or team experiences.
Afterwards, stay for lunch in the restaurant, wander the collection, or simply sit with a coffee and watch the light change over the sea.
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