Paint & Sip in Cessnock & Wollombi

Everything to Know About Paint & Sip

Brushes, acrylics and your own bottle of wine: that is the formula for paint and sip in this corner of the Hunter. Hollybrook Hunter Valley runs Art N Sip classes on a farm at Sweetmans Creek, on Wollombi Road, and the format suits anyone in the region who has never picked up a brush. For a group weighing up where to paint, the question is less which studio and more which setting: the farm valley near Wollombi or the vineyard version over in Broke.

Comparing the ways to paint with Hollybrook:

Standard class: 10am to 12:30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Sweetmans Creek farm
Private session: requested by email, for a group that wants the morning to itself
In the vines: a private four-hour Friday outing at Greenway Wines in Broke, pairing a two-hour class with a vineyard tour, a tasting and charcuterie
High tea version: a private booking for eight or more with bubbles and tiered treats after the painting
Supplied: brushes, canvases, acrylic paints and aprons, so all you carry in is your drink

Classes start from $88 per person, and they are for adults only. Locals from Cessnock and Maitland can make it a morning out, while visiting groups can book the farm's accommodation for up to 14.

Step by step: host Heather McMullen opens with an overview while canvases are prepared, then guides each stage of the artwork.
Pace: music plays, and short breaks let the paint dry while people chat and top up their glasses.
Designs: choices include a Picasso-style portrait of your painting partner, a cactus study built on blending, and a baby llama, each with room for your own touches.
Finished work: every painter takes their canvas home at the end of the session.

Who it suits around the region

Hens and birthday groups: a private session or the high tea gives a group a session of its own, with BYO drinks.
Couples: the Picasso-style portrait of your partner makes a playful date for two on a public class day.
Wine-country weekends: the Broke vineyard session suits groups who want painting and a tasting in one outing.
Drink rules: wine, beer and cider are welcome, but spirits are not allowed at Hollybrook.

Before You Book: Paint & Sip FAQs

When are the public paint and sip classes held near Wollombi?

Hollybrook Hunter Valley's standard Art N Sip class runs from 10am to 12:30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and private sessions can be requested by email.

Do I need any painting experience?

No. The host walks the group through the artwork one step at a time, and nobody needs to have painted before.

What should we bring to an Art N Sip class?

Just your own wine, beer or cider – spirits aren't allowed. Brushes, canvases, acrylic paints and aprons are all supplied.

Is there a paint and sip option at a winery?

Yes. Art N Sip in the Vines is a private four-hour Friday session at Greenway Wines in Broke, adding a vineyard tour, a tasting and a charcuterie platter to the painting.

Paint & Sip in Cessnock & Wollombi

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