Forest Garden Winter Drawing Retreat

Join us for our winter drawing weekend in the glorious forest garden setting of ‘High Dalby House‘, in the heart of Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire Moors National Park. https://www.highdalbyhouse.com/

The retreat explores drawing as a way of noticing, of slowing down and connecting with nature and the seasons. In this inspiring setting, you’ll develop a range of drawing skills and techniques using different drawing materials, exploring what inspires you as an artist. The residential option includes luxury accommodation, good food and a chance to relax and be inspired in the company of others.

The retreats are led by professional artists and sisters Rachel and Kathryn Welford. Both are skilled in drawing and explore nature as part of their artistic practice. https://www.rachelwelford.co.uk/about

Designed as a set of four seasonal retreats, each weekend can be 'stand-alone' or experienced together, building on skills and approaches explored in previous seasons and throughout the year. The Winter Retreat will focus on capturing tone and line, the subtleties of light and dark and the quiet detail of nature in slumber.

What you’ll love

• Time away in a beautiful forest garden setting.
• Luxury accommodation and high-quality food.
• Developing your drawing skills with structured teaching and time to follow your own path.
• We’re a small group with lots of opportunity for individual support
• A programme designed and led by two professional artists
• Suitable for all levels of drawing experience with flexibility around individual needs
• Learning, relaxing and being inspired by each other.

What’s included:

• A tutors’ introduction and welcome refreshments on Friday evening
• 12 hours of teaching and drawing across the weekend
• Art materials provided (feel free to bring your own if you wish)
• A sandwich/ light lunch and teas/coffees on both days

Resident participants will also get:

• Luxury accommodation in double rooms with en-suite
• A meal on arrival on the Friday evening
• Cooked or continental breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning
• An evening meal and glass of wine on Saturday evening*

Five en-suite double rooms are available within High Dalby House and a cottage with double room in the grounds. These are available as single or double occupancy. Participants sharing a room will be offered a discount. Do let us know if you are coming with a partner who isn’t attending the retreat, as there will be an additional charge. Small dogs are welcome in some rooms. Do chat with us about your plans or any requirements you might have at booking stage.

*non-resident participants are welcome to join us for the Friday or Saturday evening meal, charged separately.

What will I learn?

• Various techniques with different drawing media (pencil, charcoal, pastel and inks)
• How to adapt your technique for different scales, working in sketchbooks and large paper.
• Different approaches to drawing, i.e. observational drawing to experimental mark-making.
• How to work outdoors, directly in nature.
• How to look closely, notice and understand how your subject matter inspires you.

The Itinerary

Friday:

From 4pm: Arrival for residents

From 6pm: A hot meal available for residents

7.30– 8.30pm (For all): Welcome refreshments with an introduction to Rachel & Kathryn’s work and a chance to get to know each other.

Saturday:

9.30am – 1.00pm: Drawing activities in the studio and forest garden

1.00 – 2.00pm: Lunch

2.00 – 5.00pm: Drawing activities in the studio and forest garden

7.30pm: Evening meal for residents

Free to socialise and relax in the lounge before and after the evening meal.

Sunday:

9.30am – 1.00pm: Drawing activities in the studio and forest garden

1.00 - 2.00pm: Lunch

2.00 - 3.00pm: Plenary, celebration of work and next steps

Travel home

Cost

£635 per person for full residential weekend

£370 per person for non-residential weekend

£540 per person for full residential weekend, sharing a room

Discount for booking all four retreats

£2,460 for residents for a block of four (£80 discount)

£1,430 for non-residents for a block of four (£50 discount)

To make a discounted booking for all 4 weekends, please contact us : rachel@rachelwelford.co.uk / 07740309553 or kathryn.welford@gmail.com/ 07792506652

Guests of partcipants sharing accommodation. Please contact us to arrange and for price details.

For more details or if you have any questons at all, just get in touch:

kathryn.welford@gmail.com/ 07792506652

rachel@rachelwelford.co.uk / 07740309553

Full refunds are possible if cancellation is made 1 month or more before the date of the

residential.

50% refunds can be made if cancellation is between 2 and 4 weeks of the start date

Unfortunately we can’t make any refunds for cancellations within 2 weeks of the start date.