Paint the Whitsundays 2026: Cultivate Your Passion Aboard the Historic Solway Lass

Imagine standing at your easel on the deck of a 123-year-old tall ship, palette in hand, as the morning light dances across turquoise waters. Before you, 74 tropical islands rise from the sea, each one a masterpiece waiting to be captured. The only sounds are the gentle lap of waves against the hull, the call of seabirds overhead, and the soft guidance of your artist-mentor encouraging you to “trust what you see.”

This isn’t a dream—it’s Paint the Whitsundays, and we’re excited to announce our exclusive 2026 departure is now open for bookings.

Where Art Meets Adventure

If you’ve ever felt the pull to slow down, disconnect from the noise of daily life, and immerse yourself in creativity surrounded by natural beauty, this is your invitation. Paint the Whitsundays isn’t just another sailing tour—it’s a transformative art experience that seamlessly blends creative expression with one of Australia’s most spectacular destinations into a single, unforgettable journey aboard the magnificent Solway Lass.

What Makes This Experience Unlike Any Other?

While countless artists have attempted to capture the Whitsundays’ beauty, few have had the privilege of painting these islands from the water itself, guided by accomplished local artists who know every cove, every play of light, every hidden perspective that makes these islands so visually captivating. This is that rare opportunity.

Your 2026 Creative Escape

Paint the Whitsundays runs exclusively during winter when the Whitsundays reveals its most paintable qualities—crystal-clear light, comfortable temperatures, calm seas, and that magical winter luminosity that makes colors sing. For 2026, we’re offering one precious departure:

🎨 July 22–26, 2026
Availability: All Cabin Types

This intimate creative retreat accommodates a carefully limited number of guests to ensure everyone receives personal attention from our artist guides and has plenty of space to work comfortably.

Book early—this unique experience will sell out quickly!

Your Journey Begins Before You Board

Cedar Gallery: Where Inspiration Meets Expertise

Your artistic adventure starts at Cedar Gallery, nestled in the picturesque Mackay Highlands. This isn’t just a gallery visit—it’s your introduction to the artists who will guide your creative journey and the unique beauty of the region you’re about to paint.

Here, you’ll meet Lyn Laver-Ahmat, an acclaimed local artist and experienced teacher who has spent years capturing the essence of the Mackay and Whitsundays region on canvas. Alongside her is Kerry McNeill, gallery owner and artist, whose deep understanding of the islands’ visual poetry will open your eyes to details you might otherwise miss.

As you explore the gallery’s stunning collection—from exquisite timber craftsmanship featuring rare Red Cedar to diverse paintings and sculptures reflecting the vibrant local landscape—you’ll begin to understand why these islands have captivated artists for generations. The timber pieces alone tell stories of the region’s natural heritage, while paintings demonstrate how different artists interpret the same spectacular vistas.

This gallery visit isn’t just about inspiration—it’s about connection. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss techniques, and get to know the two artists who will be your guides and mentors for the next five days.

From Cedar Gallery, we’ll transfer you to Airlie Beach and Coral Sea Marina, where the historic Solway Lass awaits.

A Day in Your Creative Life at Sea

Morning: Golden Hour Magic

The morning light in the Whitsundays is an artist’s dream. You wake in your cozy cabin as the ship gently rocks at anchor, perhaps in the peaceful embrace of Border Island or the sheltered waters of Langford Island. By the time you make your way to the deck with a hot coffee, the sun is painting the sky in shades that change by the minute.

This is when Lyn and Kerry shine. They’ll help you capture that fleeting magic—teaching you to work quickly with mark-making techniques that catch the essence of the moment rather than getting lost in details. Your personal art journal becomes a living record of these precious dawn hours.

Breakfast follows—continental style with fresh fruit, croissants, yogurt—but your mind is already on the day ahead. Where will you paint today? What will the light be like at Hill Inlet? How do you capture the impossible blue of these waters?

Midday: Exploring Your Subject

This is where Paint the Whitsundays reveals its true genius. You’re not just looking at the Whitsundays—you’re living inside them, experiencing them from angles and perspectives that day-trippers never see.

Hill Inlet and the Swirling Sands – After a leisurely 15-minute walk through bushland, you arrive at one of the world’s most photographed views. But you’re not here to snap a quick photo. You’re here to really see it—to understand how the tides create those mesmerising swirl patterns, how the light shifts the colors from moment to moment, how the scale and composition work together to create such visual impact.

With Lyn’s guidance, you’ll learn en plein air painting techniques specifically suited to capturing this iconic scene. The focus isn’t on creating a masterpiece (though you might surprise yourself)—it’s on the meditative process of observation, interpretation, and creation.

After working at the lookout, you might descend to Betsy’s Beach, where the pure silica sand squeaks beneath your feet and the shallow waters reveal a completely different palette to explore.

Langford Island – This tiny island with its long sand spit that emerges at low tide offers 360-degree compositions. The lookout provides views to Hayman Island, while the lagoon below hosts lemon sharks and rays—adding movement and life to your aquatic studies. Some guests prefer to sketch here, capturing quick impressions of the sharks gliding through the shallows, while others focus on the interplay of sand, sea, and sky.

Border Island at Sunrise – If you’re an early riser (and after a few days, the light will pull you from your cabin), the sunrise at Border Island is transformative. The serenity of these early hours provides the perfect backdrop for contemplative work. Lyn and Kerry will conduct guided sessions on deck, but you’re also free to find your own spot and lose yourself in the creative process.

The Hook Island Passage – As Solway Lass sails north, watch for migrating whales. The movement of the ship adds an interesting challenge—how do you paint from a moving vessel? Your guides will teach you techniques for capturing the essence of a scene even when nothing stays still. These quick studies often become guests’ favourite pieces.

Afternoon: Underwater Inspiration & Creative Freedom

After a hearty lunch—freshly prepared by the crew and served buffet-style on deck—you have choices. Some afternoons are dedicated to snorkelling, and the underwater world here offers entirely different creative inspiration.

Mantaray Bay – Named for the graceful rays often spotted here, this bay also hosts the giant Maori Wrasse—massive, colourful fish that seem curious about snorkelers. Many artists bring underwater cameras or make detailed sketches afterward, fascinated by the patterns, colours, and movement beneath the surface.

Black Island – One of the crew’s favourite snorkelling spots, the fringing reefs here teem with tropical fish. The coral formations themselves—their textures, their organic architecture—often inspire abstract pieces in the art journals.

After snorkelling, you might grab a stand-up paddleboard and explore from the surface, or simply relax on deck with your journal, sketching the day’s memories while they’re fresh.

Late Afternoon: The Golden Hour Redux

As the day winds toward evening, the light changes again. This is the golden hour that photographers and painters live for—that magical time when everything seems to glow from within. Lyn and Kerry will remind you to capture these moments, to notice how the entire color palette shifts, how shadows lengthen and soften.

You might be anchored near Nara Inlet, having just returned from viewing the ancient Ngaro Rock Paintings—2,700-year-old art created by the Indigenous peoples who lived on these islands. Standing before these ancient marks, made by artists millennia ago in this exact spot, connects you to a creative lineage that predates European contact. It’s a profound moment that often finds its way into journal entries and reflections.

Evening: Community, Sharing, and Stars

As sunset paints the sky, guests gather on deck with welcome platters and drinks from the licensed bar. This is when the day’s work gets shared—not in a formal, judgmental way, but in the spirit of creative community. Someone might show a quick watercolour study of a sea turtle spotted while snorkelling. Another might share a series of mark-making experiments exploring the texture of silica sand.

Lyn and Kerry move among the group, offering gentle guidance, celebrating successes, and helping solve creative challenges. “Look at how you captured the light here,” Lyn might say, pointing to a corner of someone’s journal. “That’s exactly the feeling of early morning at Border Island.”

Dinner follows—BBQ in true Aussie fashion—and as the stars emerge, conversations flow. You’re among like-minded souls, people who value slowing down, who find joy in the creative process, who understand that the journey matters more than the destination.

With just 24 guests maximum, these evening gatherings feel intimate and special. By the end of five days, you’ll have made genuine connections—fellow artists who might become lifelong friends.

The Solway Lass: Your Floating Studio

Let’s talk about your home and studio for five days. At 123 years old, Solway Lass is more than a vessel—she’s a legend. One of the world’s few century-old commercial ships still actively sailing, she represents an era when travel was about the journey itself, not just the destination.

The ship has been thoughtfully updated for comfort while maintaining her historic character. Air-conditioned cabins range from shared accommodations (perfect for solo travellers or friends) to private twin cabins and ensuite options for those wanting maximum comfort. There’s ample deck space—crucial for a painting-focused journey—and the crew has become expert at helping artists find the perfect spot to work.

The galley produces fresh, hearty meals throughout the day. You’ll never go hungry, and there’s always hot coffee, tea, and filtered water available. The licensed bar stocks reasonably priced drinks for those sunset sessions.

Your Artistic Growth Journey

What You’ll Receive

Every guest receives:

• Personal art journal – A beautiful blank canvas for your five-day creative journey
• Curated mixed media materials – Carefully selected supplies for experimentation
• Expert instruction in:
  • En plein air painting techniques
  • Mark-making methods for quick studies
  • Capturing changing light and atmospheric conditions
  • Composition and perspective from a moving vessel
  • Working with watercolours, pencils, and mixed media
• Individual guidance – Both Lyn and Kerry provide personalised feedback and encouragement

All Skill Levels Welcome

Here’s something important: You don’t need to be an accomplished artist to join this journey. Lyn and Kerry have taught everyone from complete beginners to experienced painters. Their approach is encouraging, never critical, focused on helping you develop your own creative voice rather than forcing a particular style.

Some guests arrive saying, “I haven’t picked up a paintbrush since school.” Others come with decades of experience. By day three, you can’t tell the difference—everyone is immersed in the creative process, supporting each other, celebrating small victories.

The atmosphere is relaxed and pressure-free. There are no requirements, no assignments, no grades. If you want to spend an entire morning working on a single watercolour of Hill Inlet, perfect. If you prefer to fill your journal with quick sketches and impressions, equally wonderful. This is your journey.

What’s Included in Your Creative Adventure

We believe art retreats should be about creativity, not logistics. Here’s what’s included in your investment:

Before & After:

• Complimentary transfers from Mackay Airport to Cedar Gallery
• Transportation from Cedar Gallery to Coral Sea Marina
• Return transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport

During Your Voyage:

• 5 days, 4 nights aboard Solway Lass
• All accommodation in air-conditioned cabins
• Expert instruction from two accomplished artists
• Personal art journal and all art supplies
• Experienced skipper and crew
• All meals and snacks—breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea
• Unlimited filtered water, tea, and coffee
• Complete snorkelling equipment and instruction
• Stinger suits (seasonal protection)
• Stand-up paddleboards
• All national park, marine park, and marina fees
• Linen and bath towels

The only extras are alcoholic beverages and soft drinks from the licensed bar, payable at trip’s end.

The Destinations That Will Inspire You

Hill Inlet Lookout

Perhaps the most iconic view in the Whitsundays—the swirling patterns of white silica sand and turquoise water create an ever-changing canvas. Every tide reveals a different composition. You’ll understand why this view has launched a thousand paintings.

Whitehaven Beach

Seven kilometres of the purest silica sand on earth—98% pure, so fine it squeaks when you walk. The sand stays cool even in direct sun, and its brilliant white provides stark, dramatic contrast to the blues and greens of the water. Artists love the minimalist compositions possible here—just sand, sea, and sky.

Nara Inlet and Ancient Rock Paintings

The Ngaro people left their mark here 2,700 years ago—ochre paintings on rock walls deep in this sheltered inlet. Visiting this site connects you to Australia’s ancient artistic traditions and often inspires reflection on what art means, why humans create, and how we communicate across time through visual language.

South Molle Island

Your final morning’s painting session often takes place here, with Solway Lass anchored offshore providing a striking focal point. The composition practically paints itself—the historic vessel in the foreground, the island’s peaks rising behind, the morning light making everything glow. It’s a fitting finale to your creative journey.

Who Joins These Creative Adventures?

Our typical guest is drawn to creative expression, natural beauty, and authentic experiences. You’ll find yourself among artists at all levels—some professional, most enthusiastic amateurs. Teachers on summer break. Retirees fulfilling a longtime dream. Young creatives seeking inspiration. Friends sharing an adventure.

What unites everyone is curiosity, openness to learning, and appreciation for the creative process. These are people who value slowing down, who find joy in observation, who understand that creating art is as much about mindfulness and presence as it is about technical skill.

You don’t need to be physically fit for extreme activities—this isn’t a hiking tour. Walks are gentle and optional. The focus is on creative work, which happens mostly while stationary on deck or ashore.

Flexible Payment Options

We understand that creative adventures require planning. We offer:

• 14-day reservation period to finalise your arrangements
• Payment plan options to spread the cost
• Full refund for cancellations up to 60 days before departure

Why This Creative Journey Matters

In our hyperconnected, always-on world, opportunities to truly disconnect and focus on creative practice are rare. Paint the Whitsundays offers something increasingly precious: uninterrupted time to explore your creativity in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.

But it’s more than just a painting holiday. It’s about:

Mindfulness – The practice of observation required for painting naturally cultivates presence and awareness.

Connection – To nature, to fellow creatives, to your own artistic impulses you might have neglected.

Confidence – Many guests discover creative abilities they didn’t know they had, or reconnect with artistic practices they’d abandoned years ago.

Perspective – Literally (you’ll learn to see light, colour, and composition differently) and figuratively (five days away from routine often provides clarity about what matters).

Joy – The simple pleasure of creating something with your own hands, guided by expert mentors, in a supportive community.

The art journal you’ll create becomes a treasured keepsake—not just a record of what you saw, but of how you felt, what you noticed, what moved you. Years later, flipping through those pages will transport you back to these five days more vividly than any photograph could.

Ready to Begin Your Creative Journey?

There’s only one Paint the Whitsundays departure in 2026. With a carefully limited number of guests to ensure quality instruction and comfortable working space, this exclusive creative retreat will sell out.

To Book or Learn More:

• Phone: 07 4967 7555 (8am – 3pm QLD time)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Book Online

Your Artistic Adventure Awaits

Winter in the Whitsundays offers the perfect conditions for creative work—comfortable temperatures, clear light, calm seas, and that special luminosity that makes colours vibrate on the page. Aboard Solway Lass, guided by two accomplished artists who know these islands intimately, you’ll experience the Whitsundays in a way few others ever do—not just seeing the beauty, but interpreting it, capturing it, making it your own.

This isn’t about becoming the next great marine painter (though who knows?). It’s about giving yourself permission to slow down, to observe deeply, to create without judgment, to connect with like-minded souls who value beauty and creativity. It’s about coming home with more than photos—coming home with a journal full of art you created with your own hands, tangible evidence of five days spent fully present in paradise.

The canvas is blank. Your artistic guides are ready.

For more information about Paint the Whitsundays or to explore our other unique charter experiences, visit Explore Whitsundays or contact our team today.