OUR STORY

JULIAN HYZLER - Founder, Artist, and Instructor

Julian has been teaching students of all ages and abilities for 30 years. He initially trained at art schools in Kingston and Norwich in England before specialising in Illustration in London, working for many terrific clients during time as a freelancer; Penguin, British Airways, Channel 4, Harper Collins, Chatto and Windus, and got his first real taste of Italy on the back of winning a travel scholarship to Venice. Since then he has led many week-long trips to Italy, developing over the years an understanding of the Cities and the History of Art in Florence, Rome, Siena, Naples and Venice.

The atmosphere generated in the studio is always relaxed and friendly, whilst also being productive and lively, and you can expect positive encouragement to try new ideas as and when you feel confident to do so. Teaching art requires energy, patience and an ability to get as much out of each student as possible, and Julian always strives to do this, whether teaching life-drawing, photography, design, illustration, or painting and drawing. 

See what he has been up to in his personal artwork. VIEW HIS CURRENT PAINTINGS: julianhyzler.com

ERIN LEWIS - Collaborator, FORM & FOCUS ITINERARIES

Erin is the founder of EAT.PRAY.MOVE and has been leading yoga holidays at our location in Italy since 2011. In 2014 she and Julian began a closer collaboration with the FORM & FOCUS art and yoga retreats at various locations around the world including Venice, Goa, Iceland, Morocco, France, and other locations around the globe. Erin has studied various yoga practices since 1998, and as she experienced her personal practice deepen and passion for the entire discipline grow stronger, she was led to pursue to her certification as a yoga instructor and daily renewal of the ongoing practice. Now she shares her love of yoga and travel with her guests in unique programs and providing a way to mindfully enjoy a new culture and experience.

KITT ATHAY - Collaborator, CONTEMPORARY MIXED MEDIA ITINERARIES

Kitt is our guest tutor for our CONTEMPORARY MIXED MEDIA ITINERARIES due to his specialist knowledge in the field. He has been an established contemporary mixed-media artist for over 20 years, exhibiting his work extensively in the UK, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore. He is also very successfully represented by various galleries in the UK.

Having had what he describes as a ‘Huckleberry Finn’ childhood in Somerset, UK, which set his lifelong passion for being outdoors. An innate love of experimenting with different textures and materials turned him into an artist at a young age, and he studied at Bath College and the University of South Wales. His style involves attaching materials such as sheet music, historic maps, poems, botanical diagrams and newspaper cuttings to canvases to create a background for his artwork, followed by drawing with ink, paint and various media to create the desired effect. The viewer might initially see a Tuscan hilltop town, but on closer inspection they discover a whole world of text and illustration lying beneath the paint layers, exciting the senses and taking them on a voyage of discovery and limitless adventure. Kitt has recently moved to this part of Italy with his wife and their lovely dog, and are creating an ‘off-grid’ lifestyle in an old farmhouse nearby. It will be a real pleasure for me to work alongside him and for you to create your own wonderful mixed-media piece during our week together.

MEGAN HUNTER - Collaborator, PRINTMAKERS-FOR-BEGINNERS ITINERARIES

Megan Hunter is a printmaker and artist with over 20 years experience in practising and teaching printmaking. She has a Fine Arts degree from Monash University and Master of Teaching from Deakin University, Australia and studied at Il Bisonte in Florence. She has been the Manager of the Firestation Print Studio in Melbourne and has been teaching printmaking techniques for over seventeen years. She has  exhibited both in Australia and Europe and her work. She is passionate about drawing and printmaking and loves sharing her passion with her students.

AMANDA NIGHTINGALE - Administrator and Co-Founder

Amanda works from England and is in charge of all the administration of the business. She was one of the original founders and is an integral part of its continuing success. Many guests have remarked that her professionalism and personal service is the reason they chose to come to EASEL & LENS. She deals with online enquires, travel details, and guest payments as well as answering any questions guests may have before arriving.