2025 Retreat Update
I’ve just returned home from Hydra in Greece where I was teaching on my last two art retreats of 2024.
Teaching is part of my practice: I’ve offered online art and creativity courses since 2015 and in-person teaching was something I’d been considering before COVID put all plans on pause. Towards the end of 2021, I was invited by one of my online students, Anna Kwiecinska (the curator of Creative Living Retreats), to travel to Sri Lanka and teach on an art retreat there. This was the nudge I needed and since then I've had the privilege of teaching art programs in Sri Lanka, Bali, Morocco and Greece, four events in this year alone.
A great deal of planning and experimentation with materials and techniques takes place before each retreat in order to create new and fresh content. This also allows me to guide unique and successful experiences inspired by each location. On any retreat, the facilitator's role is to ensure that everything run smoothly, from transport to accommodation, teaching venues to excursions and catering. Trust and goodwill between facilitator and teacher are essential to make sure everyone on the retreat is looked after and goes home happy and enthused with fresh skills, great memories and new friendships. After three years collaborating with Creative Living Retreats I on nine events have now regrettably taken the decision to end our association due to professional differences.
After reflecting on the way I spend my time and creative energy, I’ve also decided to make more space to focus on my own art practice, design business as well as developing new online courses. Accordingly I’ve decided to limit the number of retreats I’ll be offering to one or two per year.
For 2025 I’m excited to announce a location that’s high on my bucket list: Caséval in Portugal. My summer art retreat is called Vibrant Horizons, dates are 14-21 July. The program will focus on semi-abstract landscapes in acrylics and mixed media.
Hosted by Uptrek, the venue is a beautiful quinta about an hour’s drive from Lisbon. Here’s what’s included:
All inclusive pricing
Exclusive use of the venue’s luxurious facilities, including a swimming pool
A private chef preparing gourmet vegetarian and vegan meals, including wine at dinner
A dedicated art studio at our disposal.
All excursions
I’d like to thank Creative Living Retreats for the opportunity to teach in some very special locations. I’d also like to thank each and every one of you who has attended one of my retreats. Teaching art and helping people to make stronger connections with their own unique creativity is important to me; there’s something truly special and wondrous about spending time with kindred spirits in such an immersive way. I hope to see you again in the future!
Finally my apologies to everyone who’s booked a place for either Fes or on Hydra for 2025 through Creative Living Retreats. These are now cancelled, at this time my only confirmed retreat is Portugal in July.