ISCHIA, ITALY
Pastels, Paint + Mark Making with Camilla Perkins
September 23 - 30, 2025
Travel to the volcanic outcrop of Ischia in the beautiful Bay of Naples, Italy for an unforgettable artistic journey with Illustrator Camilla Perkins. Ischia is an intriguing concoction of buried necropolises, botanical gardens and spectacular scenery, with forests, vineyards, and picturesque seaside towns. This enchanting island, with its vibrant colors and breathtaking landscapes has been inspiring artist for centuries.
Join Camilla as we immerse ourself in the stunning Italian seaside and explore and experiment with oil pastel + acrylic paint illustration and mark making. Under Camilla’s guidance, we’ll delve into various texture techniques, focus on creating color palettes and creating small and larger scale artwork studies. The workshop days will feature a mix of in-class and on-the-go sketchbook learning sessions allowing us to experience and capture the charm of Italy as it unfolds around us. Through artistic exploration and discovery, we’ll play with patterns, negative space, movement, color, texture and scale.
We’ll take advantage of our captivating setting by visiting multiple gardens, traveling to neighboring islands like Procida, the quaint fishing village of Sant’ Anglo, and even touring the dramatic castle, Aragonese. As we visit these sweeping landscapes and picturesque locales, our drawings will be inspired by the beauty of static florals, ocean views, and vibrant village street scenes.
This Ace Camps Travel trip is open to all creative skill levels. Trip Itinerary, Details + Important Trip Notes below.
DATES
September 23 - 30, 2025 ∙ 8 Days, 7 Nights
PRICE
Twin Shared Room $4,595 USD
Private Room $5,395 USD
Full Rooming + Pricing Details Below
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Multi-day workshops with Camilla Perkins, working with oil pastels and acrylic paints to learn techniques, such as layering texture, limiting color palettes, composition, and mark making
In-class and on-the-go sketching sessions
Boutique accommodation in an ancient, oceanside former monastery
Sunset tour of the Aragonese castle
Day trip to the island of Procida for sketching and exploring
Visit to the pedestrian only, fishing village of S’ant Angelo
Guided tour of the Botanical Gardens
Garden sketching sessions
Transport during included meals + activities
Return Ferry from Naples to Ischia
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Travel + Learn with Camilla Perkins
b. Hastings, 1990.
Camilla Perkins is an artist and illustrator born and raised in East Sussex, UK.
Her fine art practice explores how color can affect memory, imagining her pieces as windows that transport the viewer back to their favourite summer holiday, feeling the salt on their skin, or into an emerald green garden bursting with life just after the rain.
Using vibrant oil pastels and paint combined with gestural mark-making, Camilla creates a dream-like word using a surreal color palette and filled with texture. She has recently branched into homeware, creating hand-made and painted furniture pieces in collaboration with her husband, Jack.
Since graduating from the University of Westminster in 2012, Camilla has worked as an illustrator on commercial projects for clients including Coca Cola, Apple, Google, Samsung, and many more. Lending her signature energetic color combinations and lively characters to advertising, editorial, branding, and publishing projects worldwide. Perkins has also taught workshops for Charleston Trust, Jo Malone, and The V&A.
Day by Day Itinerary
Nota Bene: this is a prospective itinerary. It is subject to modest modifications, dependent on local weather, new opportunities, and the desires of the group. Please note that should the weather prove challenging, some activities may be altered from the posted itinerary.
Day 1
Tuesday, September 23
Welcome to Italy! Arrive in Naples, Italy. Make your own way to our hotel. Have a rest, walk the city, head for a beverage, or explore the neighborhood. Please plan to arrive at our Naples hotel no later that 5pm so you have time to settle in before dinner.
This evening we have a casual meet + greet welcome dinner with Camilla and your group.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Wednesday, September 24
This morning we travel by ferry from Naples to Ischia. We will arrive on the island and transfer to our hotel in Ischia Ponte.
After lunch you’ll have your first workshop with Camilla. In this session you will explore using oil pastel for mark-making and creating different textures. Camilla will also show you techniques for incorporating pattern and utilizing the negative space within your drawings.
Camilla will talk you through how she selects a limited color palette for each piece, showing you some examples of her own drawings and the atmosphere you can create by using different colored backgrounds. Then, we’ll move on to creating a small, floral still life in order to practice before our next full day of drawing.
Early evening we’ll have a sunset tour of the the fascinating and incredibly photogenic Aragonese castle that sits high above town on a volcanic outcrop. Learn about it’s secrets and history.
Dinner this evening at the hotel terrace restaurant
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Thursday, September 25
Begin the day by walking around the beautiful hotel grounds and gardens where Camilla will talk you through how to choose the best compositions to work from, she will do a drawing to demonstrate how she works for anyone who would like to watch, then we will spend the rest of the morning drawing in the garden.
After lunch we’ll continue to draw in the gardens, scaling up to larger paper in order to fit more detail within our drawings. This is also a good opportunity to introduce a figure within the piece. Camilla will be working with each guest individually to help with any questions and provide insightful feedback. We will end the day by showing each other what we’ve worked on and talking through techniques that can inform how we go forward over the coming days.
Dinner this evening is on your own to explore the local flavors of Ischia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Friday, September 26
Begin your day with a guided tour of La Mortella Gardens. After the tour, Camilla will challenge you to try to create some sketches using a very limited color palette in surreal colors, creating a dream-like effect. You can also explore different techniques in how to draw water using gestural mark making to give our pieces the feeling of movement.
Enjoy lunch at the garden cafe before you head back towards the hotel. This afternoon, back in our workshop space, we will choose our favorite sketches from the previous days to translate them into a painting using acrylic and flashe. Camilla will show you how to start with a ground layer of flashe in the color of your choice and then using hog hair brushes we will add our acrylic paint in expressionist strokes. She’ll show you her favorite techniques in how to apply the colors in layers, using the back of the paintbrush to create a scratching texture, and how to incorporate mark making into the image. Dinner this evening is on your own to explore the local flavors of Ischia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5
Saturday, September 27
Today we take the ferry to Procida island, a short distance away. Its narrow, sun-bleached streets are the domain of the locals. This is the Bay of Naples’ smallest island and considered its best-kept secret. The island is small and we will spend the day exploring on foot, searching for interesting angles and viewpoints to draw during an on-the-go sketchbook session.
After lunch, you will continue to incorporate the techniques you have learned from our on-the-go drawing session. We will discuss the power of color and how it affects mood, conjures forgotten memories, and the best way to translate this into your own work.
The group will meet in the late afternoon to take a boat back to Ischia. Dinner this evening is on your own to explore the local flavours of Ischia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
Sunday, September 28
This morning we will visit a picturesque fishing village on the other side of the island called Sant’Angelo. A pedestrian-only village good for wandering and exploring with fisherman activities by the small port. Camilla will provide you with some ideas to focus on in your on-the-go drawing session. You’ll have some free time to wander and sketch at your leisure. Sant’ Angelo is an excellent spot for people watching and sketching ‘movement’ studies and if the weather is warm, time to go swimming in the bay.
Dinner this evening is on your own to explore the local flavors of Ischia.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Monday, September 29
This morning you’ll have your final session with Camilla where you will go through all of the work you have created together and Camilla will answer any questions you might have to help you to continue your artistic journey.
The rest of the day is a free time to explore the island of Ischia on your own or with others from the group. You may want to return to the castle to do more drawings or visit the Negombo Thermal Gardens + Baths, a beautiful place to spend some time.
We’ll gather this evening at the hotel terrace for a final group dinner together to celebrate our week together.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8
Tuesday, September 30
This morning we pack our bags, say our farewells, and take the ferry back to Naples for your onward journey.
Thank you for joining us on this incredible and often unexpected journey to the island of Ischia, Italy!
Meals included: Breakfast
Where We’re Staying
Impressively imposing, Ischia's Castello Aragonese is as much part of the history of the island as its’ thermal waters and the surrounding sea. It is within the walls of this magnificent 15th century stronghold, in what was once a monastery, that Albergo Il Monastero is located. Like the former monastery, today's Hotel Il Monastero is a fascinating labyrinth of corridors, passageways and stairs, all of which sooner or later lead to the hotel's pretty internal courtyards, splendid public rooms and sweeping sea view terraces. The hotel offers breathtaking views across to the Italian mainland in one direction, Capri in another and Ischia itself in the other.
ROOMING OPTIONS
Please read the room options and notes below carefully and make your rooming selection on the booking page
Group Size: Minimum 8 guests, Maximum 12 guests. All Prices are in USD.
OPTION 1 - TWIN SHARED ROOM
The fee for this trip is $4595 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Initial Payment due immediately: $1995
Final Payment due March 27, 2025: $2600
Room Notes: You will share a room + bathroom with one other guest, each guest will have a twin bed. Rooms in Ischia are located in a historic property, and the room sizes may be smaller than typical North American rooms. The style and layout of every room is unique and may not be exactly as pictured.
OPTION 2 - PRIVATE ROOM
The fee for this trip is $5395 per person, paid in two separate installments.
Initial Payment due immediately: $1995
Final Payment due March 27, 2025: $3400
Room Notes: You will have a private room + bathroom for the duration of the trip. Rooms in Ischia are located in a historic property, and the room sizes may be smaller than typical North American rooms. The style and layout of every room is unique and may not be exactly as pictured.
Important Trip Notes + Details
Culinary Notes
As an Italian Island, Ischia has a very seafood + gluten focused culinary culture. We cannot accommodate vegan, gluten-free or dairy/egg-free requirements, and some specific allergies.
We cannot accommodate any specific dietary allergies if you do not advise us when you register. Please contact us in advance of registering if you have any dietary questions.
Accessibility
Please note this tour includes several walking tours where the ground may be uneven such as cobblestones, trails and hills, stairs, getting on and off boats and ramps, you may be on your feet for several of hours at a time and should be comfortable walking 2 - 5kms.
Our hotel and workshop space have several sets of stairs to get to rooms (no elevator).
Who is this Trip for?
This trip is for the open minded and patient traveler. You should be eager to learn and work hands-on during your workshop session and be curious about regional culture and cuisine.
This is an immersive adventure and best suited for those who enjoy traveling as a part of a small group.
Travel Health
We recommend consulting a doctor, nurse, health care provider, or travel health clinic once we confirm your booking on this Ace Camps Travel trip so you know what may be required based on your individual circumstances and based on the locations you’ll be traveling to. If you have any health concerns, contact your health care provider for advice prior to booking this Ace Camps Travel trip.
Trip Start + End Locations
This trip starts and finishes in Naples, Italy.
Naples International Airport, is located 7 km northeast from the city centre of Naples. The airport is the main international gateway to Southern Italy and an excellent starting point for journeys to Pompei, Sorrento + Capri.
Weather
September is a nice time of year to visit Ischia. Days are usually warm with balmy evenings. Daytimes temperatures usually range from 67°F to 77°F, which means you should pack layered clothes for your stay and a light jacket + umbrella to prepare for the chance of showers.
* Please note that should the weather prove challenging, some activities may be altered from the posted itinerary.
Included in this Trip
Multi-day workshops with Camilla Perkins, working with both oil pastels and acrylic paints to learn techniques, such as layering texture, limiting color palettes, composition, and mark making
In-class and on-the-go sketching sessions
Boutique Accommodation in an ancient, oceanside, former monastery
Sunset tour of the Aragonese castle
Day trip to the island of Procida for sketching and exploring
Visit to the pedestrian only, fishing village of S’ant Angelo
Guided tour of the Botanical Gardens
Garden sketching sessions
Transport during included meals + activities
Return Ferry from Naples to Ischia
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Dedicated Ace Camps Travel Host, with you throughout your trip
Trip Prep call to meet your fellow travelers and talk through schedules, recommendations, and questions
Ace Camps Travel Host
An Ace Camps Travel Host will be with you through your trip, dedicated to ensuring you have the best possible experience. Your Host is there for any questions or concerns, to look out for the health and safety of the group and to help resolve any issues that might arise. This Host is not a local guide but will work with our local partners to insure the right combination of pace, information, and duration. Our local partners are deeply knowledgable in the culture and customs of the area and will be there to share their knowledge and passion with the group.
Not Included in this Trip
International roundtrip airfare; required Travel Insurance; alcoholic drinks; activities and food and beverages not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including but not limited to room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; and all expenses during free time.
Travel Arrangements
Ace Camps Travel will send you detailed Trip Planning information when it’s time to make your travel arrangements. We usually send this information once we’ve reached the minimum number of guests required to run the trip. We’ll also send you an Ace Camps Travel “Preparing for your Journey” document prior to your trip, which will include arrival and departure information, a suggested packing list, useful country information, and more.
Supplies
Most supplies for your workshop will be provided but you will need to bring a couple of things of your own. A small workshop supply list will be sent to you prior to your departure. All items will be easy to travel with.
Questions + FAQ’s
If you have any questions about this Ace Camps travel Trip, please feel free to contact us.
You can also read our FAQ’s here.
Travel Insurance
As stated in our Terms and Conditions, we require all guests to have Travel Insurance that at minimum covers both medical emergencies and trip cancellations. Cancellations 180 days or fewer prior to the trip start date will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy which is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance.
For full details on our Travel Insurance requirements, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Health + Safety
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we put the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Individual guests are responsible for ensuring they meet all destination and layover country requirements and laws, including any Covid-19 related requirements, providing proof of vaccination, testing before or after entry, masking, etc.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and/or viral nature of your illness the Ace Camps Travel Host may determine you need to mask, distance, self isolate, or depart the trip early. You are responsible for any expenses incurred from an illness, injury, or early departure including testing, treatment, isolation, accommodation, transportation, etc. and you will not be issued a refund for any unused portion of the trip. This is one of the many reasons we require all guests to have Travel Insurance, as outlined in our Terms and Conditions.
For full details on our Health and Safety Policies, visit our FAQ’s and review our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
If you choose to cancel your trip for any reason, you must do so via email to hello@acecampstravel.com. If we receive written notice 181 or more days prior to the Trip start date, we will refund your initial payment, less a $1,000 cancellation fee. If we receive written notice 180 days or fewer prior to the Trip start date you will incur a cancellation fee equal to 100% of the price for the Trip. There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy, including for reasons related to weather, terrorism, civil strife, pandemics, illness, personal, family or medical emergencies, or any other circumstances beyond our control. For this and other reasons, we require you to purchase Travel Insurance.
Be sure to read our Terms and Conditions for full details on Booking and Payment, Cancellation by You and Trip Changes and Cancellations.