Writing & Photography Retreat

On Assignment

Photojournalist Colin McPherson and national newspaper journalist Jean West – whose work has been featured in esteemed publications at home and abroad – are teaming up with Ness Walk for their On Assignment Burns Night Photography and Writing Retreat, a three-night, 5-star luxury break to help you to get confident with words and pictures. 

Their dynamic On Assignment Burns Night Photography and Writing course at Ness Walk next January will put a flame beneath burgeoning ambition and help blow the cobwebs from tired dreams to express shiny latent skills. Colin and Jean, who have worked together on dozens of commissions, will give you the tools, know-how and confidence to translate your ideas into a solid body of work that might look like a travel feature, a blog or simply a short personal diary memoir of your trip. 

Take a look at this extraordinary image by professional photographer Colin Mcpherson. He has spent the last three decades turning what was once a hobby into a career documenting many important news stories and features for national and international newspapers and magazines. A wild dream of working for the media became a solid reality when a local newspaper placement fine-tuned his keen eye for taking pictures and tooled him up with the tricks of his trade.

Burns Celebration

We have deliberately chosen Burns weekend for this exploration of how to create written and visual stories with confidence. Robert Burns is the Scottish Bard, and is so celebrated 250 years after his death, that the country has its own national day to honour him. The legendary poet, known locally as “Rabbie”, was born in Ayrshire, but is known to have visited and written about the Highlands. Whilst we will discuss the writer’s legacy during the weekend and celebrate with a colourful Burns Supper at Ness Walk, our broader teachings will be about capturing and representing this magnificent Scottish Highland capital city as you find it today.

From the elegantly placed hotel on the banks of the majestic River Ness we are presented with a rich opportunity for source material. Still steeped in history and myth, sculpted by geology and bloody battles, at the gateway to the country’s whisky producing region, and the birthplace of tartan, Inverness and the surrounding area, remain an irresistible magnet for tourists thanks to their overwhelming charm and natural beauty. The city boasts an ancient cathedral and castle, vibrant art galleries and museums, and a thriving music scene. And its colourful past and present draw thousands of international visitors each year.  

Colin and Jean will help you distil the stories harvested during your trip into exciting copy animated by stunning visuals.  

You will leave with a practical toolbox of tricks that will serve long after you depart. 

It’s time to get creative…

• Arrive on Friday 24th January from 3pm
• Depart on Monday 27th January at 1pm

So what are you waiting for?

Gallery of Colin McPherson’s work

Follow Colin @germanocean on Instagram

Learn from the best

Joining us and hosting your three-night writing retreat are national news, features and travel writer, Jean West, and photojournalist, Colin McPherson.  

Jean West is a freelance journalist, trained in news and features, who has worked for most of the British national newspapers and in documentary filmmaking. Travel writing is a passion, and she contributes regularly to The Times, specialising in off-the-beaten track stories. In the more serious field of reportage, she has covered amongst other things an earthquake recovery programme in the former Soviet republic of Armenia, interviewed an exiled Tibetan Buddhist lama in India under armed guard, and chronicled the fall out of war in Bosnia. Magazine work includes Marie Claire, Geographical and The Sunday Times magazine. You are in great company as Jean helped judge this year’s Scottish Press Awards and runs travel writing workshops online. 

Colin McPherson is a seasoned photojournalist whose work has been exhibited and published extensively over the last thirty years. He also works with the medium of film. He worked on a freelance basis for the Independent newspaper for two decades and his photography has been exhibited at leading galleries including the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, the Martin Parr Foundation and the Museum of European Culture in Berlin. His documentary work features long-term projects such as Catching the Tide, a landmark collection of images chronicling salmon net fishing in Scotland, images from which form part of a number of important and prestigious archives and collections. 

Our 3-night break includes:

• Complimentary glass of champagne on arrival
• 3 night stay in a Laurel King Room
• 3 course dinner, each evening in Torrish Restaurant
• Exclusive daily workshops with Colin & Jean
• Lunch & refreshments
• Local excursion to gather content
• Evening refreshments by the fire pits
• À la carte breakfast each morning
• £955 per person, based on 2 adults sharing
• £1105 per person, based on single occupancy

Workshops

Arrive to Ness Walk in the afternoon on Friday 24th January 2025. Your writing and photography retreat has begun! Your hosts will meet you in the evening with a short introductory and connection session with retreat participants.  

The Saturday morning begins with an à la carte breakfast experience. Sessions will last from 9am-5pm and will include tips on how to find and present research material and structure articles, and how to develop photography skills, including composition, lighting and choosing subjects. You will also have the opportunity to venture outdoors into the inspirational Highland capital, Inverness. Take in the charismatic city centre and the River Ness, gathering content and material. The day draws to a close with the finest hospitality at Ness Walk’s Torrish restaurant. Furthermore, you can soak up the twinkling views that envelop the Ness Walk courtyard which our restaurant overlooks. 

On Sunday you will engage in a more interactive process with the opportunity of one-to-one support. Jean and Colin will help you to distil your ideas and work further on presentation. Whether you are looking to produce an article fit for publication, writing an illustrated blog piece, thinking of displaying your images, or sharing photographs online, they will assist. Another hearty dinner awaits followed by warming drinks by the fire pits. 

Before departure on Monday morning, you will enjoy a show-and-tell session, where you will have the opportunity to share with your fellow participants and tutors the work or stories composed during the course. 

Opulent accommodation

And in the evenings you will be able to retreat to your luxurious accommodation. With our rooms reflecting seasonal landscapes, laced with soft colours and textiles, you can sink into oblivion. Floor-to-ceiling windows or direct access to private gardens link you to the sleepy outdoors.  

Book your On Assignment Burns Night Photography and Writing Retreat today

If you want to experience this luxury winter offer, then book your space in Inverness today. No payment required at time of reservation. If you would like to pay by instalments, please let our team know when booking. 

£50 deposit per person requested at time of reservation. If you would like to make instalments, please let our team know when booking.

*T&Cs: Three night stay and workshops for two costs £955 per person or £1910 in total, based on two people sharing a Laurel King Room and subject to availability. Single occupancy £1105 total. £50 per person deposit taken on confirmation of booking. Full balance is due 20th December 2024 and from this date booking is non-refundable. This offer cannot be combined with any other deal. This offer is available exclusively on 24-27th January 2025. Dinner is included on 3 nights, lunch is included on 2 days and breakfast on each morning

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