An Artists Retreat

Course date is Tuesday 18^th - Friday 21^st July 2023

Walking, Drawing, Writing in the Southdowns National Park

This retreat is at Gayles Retreat Centre in the South Downs National Park overlooking Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters. The secluded property and grounds are nestled in the landscape between Friston Forest and the sea. During the 4 days you will be immersed in this spectacular, expansive landscape, using walking, drawing and writing to travel through it, absorb it, and engage creatively with it. You will be gently guided and supported in the space throughout by Katie and Emily. NB. All of your materials, vegetarian food and shared accommodation* are included in the price.

This is an unmissable opportunity to escape, breathe, walk, draw and write freely to see where your thoughts and observations take you. Writing is an integral part of the experience and will inspire the drawing s directly over the 4 days. Writing, like walking, like drawing, is a continual thread, a movement in thought, forming how we interpret the world.

This is more than a 9 to 5 workshop, the day begins and ends when you want it to, with optional early morning and evening walks, taking advantage of the long summer days. How wonderful to be able to stay for 3 nights in this inspirational location, with nothing else to interrupt your creative flow! Whilst we will be sharing meals together, with the option of working into the evening, the house, garden and accommodation are large enough to find a space to retreat by yourself whenever the need arises. There is space to work indoors and outside, depending on the weather, with space to make larger work for those who wish.

Be aware that being physically able enough to walk confidently for a few hours each day will be important. Armed with a pocketful of tools and a clipboard of paper or sketchbook we will set off each day to respond, notice and connect with our surroundings. We will find out as we go, celebrate the beauty, the physicality, the surprises; taking time to rest and reflect along the way.

At the end of this retreat:

• you will come away with a satisfying bundle of research, drawings and writing to potential ly develop or integrate into a bigger project
• you will have new thoughts and processes that will feed your creative practice
• you will feel refreshed by being away, in the landscape with no other commitments to get in the way of the flow of thought
• you will have enjoyed the space and time to recharge, and may have no expectations of outcomes

*Please note that accommodation is based on sharing. There are 2 spaces for single occupancy in the house, for those willing to pay a premium of £100, on a first come first served basis. You can select this at the checkout.If the option to select a single room is not available upon checkout, this means that those rooms have been allocated and a shared room would be the only option.

For further information and photos of GaylesRetreat Centre, and surrounding landscape follow this link. https://www.retreattogayles.co.uk

See Course Details for further information