Two of the world’s most impressive painters would certainly be wowed by virtual technology.
Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh were the much sought after artists in the 1800s, with water lilies and sunflowers their favourite subjects.
Fast forward to 2025 and a special immersive experience featuring a montage of their best works is being staged at the Royal Highland Centre until 2nd January 2026.
The 360 degree visual and audio beauty is screened across a 10,000 sq. ft main space. Produced by Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group, Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience celebrates the groundbreaking work of the ‘Father of Impressionism’ in mesmerising and colourful fashion. Edinburgh is hosting the Scottish premiere of the tribute to the French visionary.
In the extravaganza, cutting-edge technology breathes new life into more than 400 of the legendary French painter’s canvases, taking visitors on a spectacular and unforgettable audio-visual journey through his captivating and colourful world.
It brings together some of the artist’s most famous paintings – including Poppies, Impression: Sunrise and his exquisite Water Lilies series – with lesser-known works which all swirl around the space, offering a fresh and exciting new look at much-loved masterpieces and a deeper connection with Monet, his subjects and his innovative technique.
Taking inspiration from Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, the designated home of Monet’s works, visitors can freely roam the Infinity Room where they are transported inside the paintings themselves to the accompaniment of a moving original score.
Meanwhile, Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, brings together more than 300 of the post-Impressionist icon’s paintings blended with cutting-edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack to tell the story of one of history’s most influential artists, with people able to wander through iconic works – including The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Terrace of a Café at Night – as they come alive around them.
The visit is also enhanced by the addition of a new ‘reflection’ room. All art lovers will be able to enjoy walking through Waterlily Alley, an enchanting recreation of Monet’s gardens at Giverny and a bloom-flanked Sunflower Alley paying tribute to Vincent Van Gogh.
The residency at the Royal Highland Centre also includes two special relaxed sessions, designed with support from Scotland’s We Too! Inclusive events charity, to enable neurodivergent visitors to enjoy both experiences to the full. The Beyond Monet Relaxed Session will be between 11:00am and 2:00pm on Tuesday 16th December and the Beyond Van Gogh Relaxed Session on Wednesday 17th December from 2:30 to 4:30pm.
Transport and parking to the venue is relatively easy and on Saturday and Sundays the Lothian Service 98 shuttle bus from the centre of Edinburgh will run every 30 minutes from 9:15am to 4:45pm.
Anna Parry, UK Business Development at Annerin Productions, said:
“I’m really excited to present both these very special immersive experiences in Edinburgh this Christmas and I can’t wait to see the response from art lovers of all ages when they step into the worlds of Monet and Van Gogh.
“Both experiences give visitors the opportunity to engage with these two iconic artists’ wonderful work in a completely different way, as well as learning more about the men who left us this incomparable legacy of visionary masterpieces.”
And Phionna McInnes, chief executive of We Too! which empowers families of children with disabilities in North East Scotland, added:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Relaxed Van Gogh and Monet in Edinburgh as they demonstrate a clear commitment to making immersive arts experiences more accessible.
“It’s genuinely encouraging to see producers prioritising relaxed formats, particularly for neurodivergent audiences, and recognising the value of creating sensory-considerate environments. For us at We Too it’s validating to see this approach become part of national event planning, and we’re thrilled to play a part in helping more people enjoy these iconic exhibitions in ways that feel comfortable and inclusive.”
For more information and ticket availability, please visit: www.beyondvangogh.co.uk.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs courtesy of Annerin Production
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