Esté MacLeod is a professional artist and designer based in Berkshire, England. 

Born and raised in South Africa before relocating to the UK in 1999, Esté's art practice exists at the intersection of fine art, design, and education. 

Artistic Approach 

Making art is what makes Esté feel alive. Her creative practice stems from a deep need to create that has been with her since childhood—her parents recognised her artistic obsession when she was just two years old. Working intuitively, Esté allows her paintings to develop organically over time, with careful observation and drawing being integral parts of her creative process. 

Colour serves as the principle element in her work, applied in multiple layers with an intention to surprise, invigorate and inspire joy. Her art is characterised by an ethereal quality that emerges from semi-translucent layering of colors, creating harmony between objects and the space around them, with added detail that generates subtle rhythms. 

Inspiration & Style 

Esté's art is informed by both the real and the imaginary. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world, changing seasons, travel experiences, dreams, sentiments, and thoughts. Like a curious magpie, she is always looking for something to inspire a new artwork or design. 

Her background in textile and ceramic design is evident in the stylised, abundant and colorful forms used in her distinctive floral and bird designs. By experimenting with the layering of colours, patterns, textures, and mark-making, along with her stylised floral and simplified plant forms, Esté's iconic style always retains a freshness. 

Artistic Output 

Esté's artworks, created primarily with acrylic paint and water-based mixed media, fall into three main categories: 

● Still life paintings 

● Landscapes 

● Floral-themed art (which forms the foundation of her design and licensing practice) 

Education & Background 

Esté's educational background is extensive and multidisciplinary: 

● Higher National Diploma in Textile Design (1986-1990) 

● Post-degree diploma in Fine Art Printmaking (1990) 

● BA Honours Degree in Ceramic Design with Glass, First Class (2007-2009) 

● Masters Degree in Contemporary Jewellery Design (2010-2012) 

Before moving to the UK, Esté worked in South Africa as a studio ceramicist, fine artist, and freelance designer. Her early education in textile design and fine art printmaking continues to influence her creative approach. 

Professional Practice 

As a professional artist, Esté exhibits her work with galleries in the UK and internationally. She supplies paintings to these galleries while also licensing her designs for use on a diverse range of products including: 

● Homeware collections ● Wallpaper and textiles 

● Ceramics and dinnerware 

● Greeting cards and stationery 

● Puzzles 

● Wall art and paper products 

● Calendars 

● Editorial content and book illustrations 

Her past collaborations span companies across the UK, Australia, Europe, Africa and the USA. 

Teaching 

Since 2015, Esté has been teaching online, focusing on a wide variety of painting techniques and processes. She is passionate about helping other artists develop their creativity through her Creative Leap Method™. 

“Colour is my jam, creativity is my superpower. As a teacher, I love inspiring artists to form deeper connections to their own creativity, strengthen their sense of colour, and increase knowledge of materials and techniques in order to develop a strong and clear artist voice." 

Arrive to Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India

NOTE we will collect you from the airport whatever time you arrive - day or night. 

There is no programme on Arrivals Day - our guests come from all over the world.

Sightseeing Delhi and gently easing our way into India. 

Lakshmi Narayan Temple- you always visit the Gods before a new undertaking and this temple, built by the Industrialist Birla in the 1930’s has a lovely feel. To the left of the main temple is a small description of the significance of the sacred swastika, it is an important Hindu symbol which is good to grasp at the outset as you see it everywhere and it can be a shock for Westerners (and the true depth of perversion of the Nazi’s use of it can be understood).

Raj Ghat- to pay our respects at the cremation site of Gandhi, the beloved hero of India. xx  

And a chance for people watching.

National Craft Museum – fabulous collection and lunch together in their swanky museum cafe.

Return to our hotel to spend time with Esté and her preliminary session.

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We'll start early to head to Jaipur via the magnificent Amber Fort.

Located on a strategic hill near Jaipur, Amer Fort is a former palace and military installation of the Maharajas of Jaipur. Founded in the 10th Century, this opulent palace was a seat of regional power.

We'll take time to explore - perhaps watch a Bollywood movie like "Jodha Akbar" to fuel your imagination of the pomp and colour associated with such a magnificent Palace.

Upon arrival in Jaipur we will settle into our hotel and head out this evening for dinner at a favourite Tandori Restauant.

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Sanganer used to be a rural village 16 km from Jaipur now it has become a suburb of Jaipur!

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1728 set up a textile hub at Sanganer because of the quality of the water from its river. 

Floral block prints are also a specialty with the Sanganer block printers and artisans and were highly desirable as a trade item.

The handmade paper industry was initiated at the same time, upcycling textile offcuts into fine quality paper.

We will visit one such unit, see how it is made and perhaps purchase supplies, then poke around the area.

There are washing units to visit and block carvers to see.

Lunch at Anokhi Cafe - Anokhi is a company that helped restore interest and patronage in blockprint.

From their website 

"Founded by John and Faith Singh in 1970, ANOKHI began when Jaipur’s block printing industry was at a very low ebb. Modern manufacturing processes had already marginalized handmade practices, the local patronage system was effectively lost and customers were steadily diminishing.

To help revitalise these age-old skills, ANOKHI started working with craftspeople in and around Jaipur: block carvers and printers, dyers, embroiderers and bead workers. Listening to their concerns, the Singhs aimed to maintain an open & honest relationship with the artisans while committing to provide sustained work throughout the year."

The family has a large production unit, creche for worker's children and a large organic garden. The produce from garden supplies the cafe.

Delicious lunch and an Anokhi Boutique next door for further research into blockprint patterns - of yes and perhaps retail therapy?

Nila House is focused on celebrating and preserving craft traditions and the environment. A combination of Indian traditions and contemporary design. 

Always worth a visit to see what is being showcased this month.

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Pushkar is a relaxed village and Holy Town for Hindu people.

Our founder, Fiona Wright lived near here for 15 years and started The Stitching Project - a Social Enterprise to create training and work for women.

We are visiting The Stitching Project for lunch, our wooden blocks will be oiled and ready to use this afternoon in a block printing workshop.

WOODEN BLOCKS! you say?

Yes, prior to the tour you will be supplied with helpful suggestions to design your own block. 

Mr Satnaryan, who The Stitching Project has worked with for years will turn your designs into beautifully carved wooden blocks, the will be sent to the Project, there to be soaked in mustard oil three days to mature the wood. They will be ready for you to use, along with the hundreds of blocks in the workshop.

The evening is free, if you would like - we can walk up into Pushkar, together and find dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Lake.

The lively and friendly market of Pushkar is fun to explore, as well.

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Time to work with Esté this morning at our hotel.

Pushkar Market is sleepy, it starts to get going after 10.00am.

Have your bags ready for the bus at check out time 10.00am.

Let's walk up and explore, grab lunch and meet at our meeting point at 2.00pm to return to Jaipur.

Return to Jaipur - free evening

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Indigo today.

Off to Bagru today, the hub for indigo workshops.

We are visiting Mr Sudhir and his daughters - they use mud printed on cloth to form a resist and then dye cloth in indigo to create a rich blue colour.

Once washed and dried where the mud was printed will remain white.

As you can see there will be design choices to make - all part of your discussions with Esté in preparation for this morning.

Lunch at a favourite restaurant near Bagru.

Afternoon free or continue on your project at the hotel - you choose.

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Today we follow the Golden Triangle and head to Agra. We’re settling into a lovely hotel with a peaceful garden — the perfect place to spend the afternoon working with Esté.

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An early start to visit the Taj Mahal this morning, then on to the Little Taj - the Tomb of Iʿtimād-ud-Daulah. 

You’ll be transported by the exquisite designs and intricate pattern work. After that, we head to Delhi for the final leg of our journey.

Let’s share a celebratory dinner this evening to mark the end of our adventure.

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Departures from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, India

We'll drop you to your flight any time night or day.

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Materials List and Preparations

• Esté will send a small workshop out to help you design your blocks - so we can have them carved, oiled and waiting for you at the workshop.
• You will be supplied with 2 m of handspun, hand woven Khadi Fabric to use during the workshops.

Materials to Bring

• Graphite pencil and black pigment fineliner, 0,5mm or finer is good 
• Inktense pencil black and peacock blue.
• Caran D’ache Luminance pencil in white, sepia or dark brown and dark indigo
• Posca white acrylic paint  marker fine or ultra-fine nib
• A small container of acrylic matte medium. 
• Round pointed paintbrush size 10
• Optional 1/4” dagger brush
• Small A5 sketchbook with smooth paper. (Not too big or heavy) 
• Hot press Arches watercolour pad with 12 sheets 23x31cm (9”x12”)
• Small pointed scissors like embroidery scissors
• Watercolour: optional Paynes gray tube (I will also bring watercolour with me) 
• Versafine Clair pigment ink pad in Nocturne/twilight or other blue  cheerful (yellow) and  Charming pink 
• Optional a metre of fine woven white cotton or linen 
• Optional: embroidery yarn similar to Coates no 8 in a few favourite colours 
• Optional: small embroidery hoop

Physical Fitness for Sightseeing 

This adventure is crafted for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.

To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3–4 hours a day — sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and climbing a few flights of stairs.

You may also find yourself getting in and out of local transport and navigating the occasional over-the-bath shower.

If you enjoy a bit of daily movement and love discovering new places on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour.

Just a friendly heads-up: we need to walk at an average pace - it will not be suitable for those who prefer a slow pace or need frequent rest stops.

Etiquette

• Be mindful when taking photos, especially in temples, on the ghats, or in private spaces. Always consider how you’d feel with a camera in your face. 

• That said, many Indian people love a good selfie—say hello, ask politely, show them the photo, and then ask if you can take one of them. Works a charm.

• Learning a few local courtesies in the language of the region is always appreciated.

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Food

Food is a huge part of culture, and we’re there to try it all. For group meals, we usually order a range of dishes to share, exploring local specialties as we go.

Indian food is cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients, so it’s usually easy to keep track of what’s in your meal. Manufactured products (soy milk, faux meats, etc.) aren’t common.

• Vegetarian – very easy

• Vegan – possible, but a little more challenging

• Chilli-free – not really possible, but we can order mild

• Onion/garlic-free – tricky

• Wheat-free – generally easy

Remember, for Indian cooks “no chilli” feels like “please don’t breathe”—but they’ll do their best!

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Health

Drink only filtered or bottled water—never from the tap, even for brushing your teeth.

Stay hydrated: aim for at least 2 litres of water a day. You’ll feel better and be less likely to get a wobbly tummy.

• See your doctor or a travel medicine specialist before you leave.

• Bring enough medications for the whole trip plus copies of your prescriptions.

• Menstrual products: tampons can be hard to find; pads are readily available.

And don’t forget bug spray.

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Money

• KNOW YOUR CARD PIN—ATMs will not accept tap.

• There are ATMs everywhere, and it’s easy to withdraw cash once you have your PIN.

Tell your bank you’re travelling so they don’t block your card for “unusual activity.”

• Travel cards can be handy, but check they work before you leave. Many guests have had good luck with Wise cards.

Have a backup card tucked away in your suitcase.

• Cash is good as a backup but can be tricky to exchange at a fair rate—ask at the hotel desk.

• Credit cards: less widely accepted, and sometimes incur extra fees.

Currency: Indian Rupee.

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Shopping

There will be treasures! Shopping supports the local economy.

If you know you’re interested in something (carpets, spices, textiles), do a little research—knowing prices back home helps.

Bargaining is the norm in markets. If you’re not experienced, Google a few tips and go in with a smile.

NGOs and social enterprises are usually fixed-price.

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Suitcase

A medium normal-sized suitcase plus a fold-up soft bag for extras works best. Big cases are hard to manoeuvre on the bus.

Recommended size for a medium suitcase:

60–70 cm (H) × 40–50 cm (W) × 25–30 cm (D)

or 24–28" × 16–20" × 10–12"

It’s not easy to buy decent luggage at the last minute on the road.

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Weather

Days are warm; mornings and evenings can be cool. Layers are your friend. A cardigan and socks are often appreciated.

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Power

Power is 240V. European two-pin adaptors are most useful.

The older Indian three-prong plugs are now rarely seen.

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Clothing

Lightweight, loose layers are ideal. Three or four outfits are usually enough, and you’ll find plenty to buy along the way.

A scarf is always useful—for cool air-con, temple visits, modesty, sun protection.

For temples, mosques, and other religious sites, wear long trousers or a mid-calf skirt and bring a scarf to cover your head if needed. Otherwise they’ll lend you a cover-up… and it’s usually a polyester sack!

Aim for modest tops: no cleavage. Midriff is surprisingly fine—just look at the aunties in saris!

Leave expensive jewellery at home.

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Shoes

Comfortable walking shoes—sneakers or well-strapped sandals—are essential. Footpaths can be uneven and you’ll be too busy looking around to watch every step.

A pair of rubber thongs/flip-flops is great for bathrooms.

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Laundry

Any two-night stay is a perfect time to send laundry out. Indian laundry is a joy—washed and ironed, and I’ve never lost a thing.

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Fitness

We get on and off the minibus every day. Markets, monuments, and towns all beg to be explored.

You should be comfortable walking for an hour or two, and expect some steps.

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• Begging

In general, please don’t encourage begging. Avoid giving lollies, pens, or treats to children—it creates a begging mentality. If you’d like to donate items, we can pass them to a school.

• There’s no pension system: giving a few coins to an elderly or disabled person is a kind and appreciated gesture.

• If you love interacting with kids, a friendly chat, joke, or shared moment is far better than a gift.

• OR bring a bubble blower - bubbles floating through the air are a universal language of joy.

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Tipping

Tipping is customary. Keep small notes handy:

• 20–50 INR for small services (bags, room service, laundry delivery)

• Around 100 INR for guides, performers, or street photo models

Please also set something aside for our driver - they keep us safe on the roads.

As a guide, think US$2–3 per person per day. Often a group volunteer organises a thank-you at the end of the trip.

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Environment

Tread lightly: conserve water and electricity, and carry your rubbish out where possible.

Say NO to plastic.

Please bring a cloth shopping bag.