MANY painting holidays are on offer throughout the country, but Bob Kilvert does far more with his Watercolour Weeks in Weobley than simply sit a holidaymaker behind an easel and say 'get on with it'.

Bob has been welcoming artists of all standards, from beginners to professionals, to Weobley for 14 years. His long experience as painter, illustrator and designer stretches back to the late 1940s, but his teaching career began three decades later when he developed his specialist watercolour course as a partner in the St Ives School of Painting in Cornwall.

For each one of 32 weeks in the year, from March through to October, up to 18 enthusiasts are

given in depth instruction in the technicalities of painting, as well as getting the opportunity to paint some of the county's most delightful scenery.

Among the visitors from this country are to be found others from Europe and Scandinavia, Canada,

the United States and South Africa. ''We aim to give people a full understanding of the medium

they are using,'' says Bob, ''proceeding through to a complete analysis of the subject. Many of our visitors have attended evening classes elsewhere but not advanced. They are amazed at what they can achieve after a week here.''

The worth of the course has as its proof the number of repeat visitors. As a member of the Adult

Residential Colleges Association, they are also monitored on a regular basis throughout the year,

and the amount of 'very goods' and 'goods' achieved indicate an outstanding success.

As well as watercolour work, courses are available on a variety of other topics, including collage

and flower painting.