International Urban Sketching Workshop Begins in Hvar | Sketchbook By The Sea
Lapin, Lyndon Hayes and Olivia Marcus lead the international urban sketching workshop Sketchbook By The Sea, which has brought participants from 13 countries to Hvar.
While most travellers experience destinations through photography, participants of the international Sketchbook By The Sea workshop are discovering Hvar in a slower, more attentive and personal way — through drawing.
The Town of Hvar is once again hosting a unique event that combines art, travel and authentic destination experiences. This year’s edition has gathered 38 participants from Canada, the United States, India, Australia, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Austria, France, Germany and Croatia. Over the course of several days, they will explore Hvar’s squares, stone streets, waterfront, historic landmarks and island landscapes, capturing them in their sketchbooks through the practice of urban sketching.
The project was founded by Neven Rinčić, illustrator, urban sketcher and one of the pioneers of urban sketching in Croatia. What began as an idea to connect art, travel and the Mediterranean has evolved into an internationally recognised event that brings participants and instructors from around the world to Hvar.
Through Sketchbook By The Sea, Hvar further strengthens its position as a destination for creative and cultural tourism, attracting travellers who seek to experience places in a more authentic and personal way.
This year’s edition is led by three distinguished international urban sketching instructors.
Among them is French artist Lapin (@lapinbarcelona), one of the pioneers of the global Urban Sketchers movement and one of the most recognised names in the international sketching community. The author of numerous illustrated books and more than 200 filled sketchbooks, Lapin has spent years documenting cities, people and everyday life around the world. His workshops and lectures regularly attract participants at major international urban sketching events.
Joining him in Hvar is British illustrator and educator Lyndon Hayes (@lyndonhayes), whose work has been published in renowned international media such as The Guardian, Financial Times, Le Monde and Condé Nast. He is known for his ability to capture the atmosphere of a place, architectural details and everyday scenes, transforming them into compelling visual stories.
The third instructor is French artist Olivia Marcus (@om_lapom), recognised for her vibrant colours, dynamic compositions and energetic approach to urban sketching. Her work is particularly notable for its depiction of people, movement and everyday life, making her one of the emerging names on the European sketching scene in recent years.
Participants therefore have the opportunity to learn from artists who regularly take part in major international Urban Sketchers events and whose work inspires thousands of sketchers worldwide.
Unlike traditional art workshops, urban sketching does not take place in a studio. Participants draw in streets, squares, cafés, harbours and parks — wherever life unfolds.
Urban sketchers do not simply create drawings; they document the atmosphere of a place, everyday scenes, architectural details and moments that most passers-by might overlook. This is precisely why programmes such as Sketchbook By The Sea represent an excellent example of contemporary creative tourism, one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry. Such experiences allow visitors to connect more deeply with destinations and local communities. Rather than simply visiting a place, participants engage with it through all their senses and become an active part of its story.
It is no coincidence that Hvar was chosen as the host destination. For centuries, the town’s identity has been shaped by encounters between art, culture and the Mediterranean way of life. Its historic centre, remarkable architecture, unique light, sea views and island lifestyle provide an endless source of inspiration for artists and creatives from around the world.
What a photograph captures in a fraction of a second, a sketcher may observe for hours, creating a deeper connection with the place they are experiencing.
By supporting the project, the Hvar Town Tourist Board continues to develop programmes that position Hvar as a destination of culture, creativity and authentic experiences throughout the year.
Events such as Sketchbook By The Sea demonstrate how modern travellers increasingly seek experiences that go beyond traditional sightseeing, choosing instead to discover destinations through their stories, people and local identity.
At the end of the workshop, participants will take home more than memories. Every page of their sketchbooks will become a personal postcard of Hvar, and every drawing a new ambassador of the destination, carrying the story of Hvar far beyond its shores.
