Sarah Miller the editor writes 'the East was also the birthplace of an exotic species of travel expert known as the dragoman. As Barnaby Rogerson explains in his piece on the subject, these were Christians who acted as local advisers for ambassadors to the Ottoman Empire. The modern dragomans are the guides you need to know if you want an authentic experience away from the tourist trails. Their services are usually not advertised so I hope you'll find our address book useful.'

Barnaby writes 'the term dragoman was later extended to the scholar rectors who guided young aristocrats through the drawing rooms,classical ruins and courtesans of the 18th century Grand Tour. More recently it has been applied to the experts who pioneered educational holidays who pioneered educational holidays for example John Julius Norwich in Palermo and Venice  Serena Fass in India, Mortimer Wheeler in the Aegean. Todays dragomen follow their lead, they tend not advertise their services preferring word of mouth recommendations you are more likely to see their phone numbers or email addresses scribbled on the title page of their books rather than on business cards...Ann Buchanan who moved to Florence as an 18year old has taught Art and Art history in Edinburgh for almost 30 years.  she also plans and leads four art history tours a year for three or four family groups lasting up to five days, they are designed to entertain and enthral both parents and children.  To create the informal atmosphere of a house party abroad, the trips are always based at intimate family run hotels and are animated by Ann's charismatic energy..'

The 13th March issue of ‘Country Life’s ‘Schools supplement' includes an illustrated article by Ann Buchanan, Director of Edinburgh Art Studies, in which she stresses Drawing as the main criteria art teachers are looking for when selecting art scholars.

Read the article here > download.pdf