Let’s escape to Scotland and England together…
Hello creative friends! I’m excited to invite you to join me for an enchanting creative retreat through Scotland and England! This 8 day all-inclusive creative journey kicks off in the picturesque city of Edinburgh (my favorite city). We’ll capture the charm of the storied streets and dynamic landscapes, mastering techniques with charcoal, graphite and PanPastels. This week promises a rich journey of artistic discovery and mythical inspiration!
DATES: April 26-May 3, 2025
Retreat Sold Out!
Your Time With Ivy:
Kick off your week by diving into the enchanting art of loose urban sketching, creating delightful pastel postcards and vignettes inspired by the picturesque city of Edinburgh. As you explore these storied streets, infuse your sketches with a touch of Arthurian legend, imagining the knights and mystical figures that might have roamed these landscapes in bygone eras. Did you know that the iconic Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh is steeped in legend, rumored to be none other than the original site of Camelot, complete with a slumbering dragon beneath its craggy slopes?
From there, I’ll guide you through the dynamic landscapes of the Lake District, capturing the serene beauty with soft pastels. Imagine these vistas as the backdrop for epic quests and noble jousts, bringing an element of legendary romance to your landscapes. Picture the fabled mists of Avalon shrouding ancient castles and the Lady of the Lake emerging from the depths with her gifts of magic and mystery.
Moving on, immerse yourself in the expressive world of portraiture. Using my cherished techniques with charcoal, graphite, and PanPastels, draw portraits that could belong to the noble lineage of Arthurian characters, from Guinevere’s gentle grace to the enchanting visage of the fairy enchantress, Morgan La Fay. Beyond this, delve into the captivating realms of art journaling and figurative collage. Fill your sketchbooks and your heart with creations that tell tales of chivalry and magic. This week promises a brimming palette of artistic discovery and mythical inspiration!
Retreat Sold Out!
DATES: April 26-May 3, 2025
Price: $4,495 USD
($500 Reservation Deposit)
Seven night's shared accommodations in historic and beautiful dwellings
Eight days activities including sightseeing, learning, and free time
Meals: seven breakfasts, two lunches, six aperitif hours with charcuterie board, and six dinners - you won’t go away hungry!
All classes with Ivy Newport
Airport drop-off
A special handmade, thoughtfully curated gift bag filled with many art supplies to use on your journey
{ Wandering Craft Retreats will handle all payments securely and assist with all booking details. }
Your Adventure Awaits!
Edinburgh, Scotland
April 26: Welcome to Edinburgh
April 27: Enchanted Edinburgh
English Lake District
April 28: Mystical Chapels & Hidden Valleys
April 29: Magic & Mystery - Castles & Lakes
April 30: Creative Immersion with Ivy
May 1: Flowers, Stone Circles & Magic
May 2: Home in the Happy Valley with Ivy
May 3: Romantic Landscapes & Farewells
Your Sightseeing Adventures
Edinburgh - the Capital of Scotland
Edinburgh shines in the awakening light of spring, as blossoms tumble over this amazing UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy wandering the jumbled cobblestones in this quirky, ancient city that has inspired artists and writers for generations. Explore, shop, and dine in the medieval Old Town and 1700’s era New Town areas. Enjoy a uniquely created class with me as we take inspiration from this magical city, while you channel your sense of place.
The Scottish Borders
We travel through Scotland’s version of The Shire on our way to the English Lake District. We'll see bucolic rolling hills - so green and fresh - carpeted with wild daffodils. Visit the mystical Rosslyn Chapel and then sit back and take in the gorgeous scenery, sheep, and quaint towns as we head over the border!
The English Lake District
The beauty of the Lake District inspired artists and writers of the Picturesque and Romantic movements and has generated ideas about landscape that have had global influence. We'll be embarking on a mystical quest to hills and lakes, castles and waterfalls for glimpses of King Arthur’s enchanted kingdom. Truly this region is picture postcard England, with green lanes, abundant wildlife, flower-filled woods, and gentle beauty.
Stately Gardens and Stone Circles
We'll immerse ourselves in the magic of one of the most atmospheric and dramatically situated of all British stone circles, with panoramic views and the mountains of Helvellyn and High Seat as a backdrop. It is also among the earliest British circles, raised in about 3,000 BC. Maybe you'll be whisked through another dimension into magical realms? Either way, we know you’ll be moved by the peace and tranquility of this ancient landscape.
We also visit a 17th century beautiful Walled Garden with a herbaceous plants, annuals and roses set against the backdrop of old pear and apple trees. You'll enjoy wildflower meadows, hundred year old topiaries, and woodland walks through the medieval forest of Inglewood - the habitat of all kinds of wildlife, including the now-rare red squirrel, roe deer and many species of birds.
What’s Included In Your Retreat
Workshops With Ivy
Kick off your week by delving into the art of expressive portraiture, embracing my cherished sketching techniques with charcoal, graphite, and pastels. I will guide you with a special emphasis on portraiture with PanPastels AND creating dreamy landscapes in soft pastel. Beyond this, prepare to journey through the captivating realms of art journaling, figurative collage, and loose urban sketching. Explore the dynamic art of blending mediums and much more, promising a week brimming with artistic discovery and inspiration!
Private Travel
Excursions with a thoughtful mix of experiences all conducted by our professional tour partner - Personal Tours of Scotland. We will jaunt along merrily in our own luxury private vehicle, overlooking all those quaint country lanes and lush green valleys. Break out the Tunnock's Tea Cakes and enjoy the effortless sightseeing of a lifetime!
Accommodations
Evenings become lighter as the world warms and awakens from winter’s slumber - but heads become sleepy from enjoying the pure air and pristine landscapes. Adventurers, walkers and hermits – this is your place. A hairpin track climbs through bracken-rich crags to the dry-stone beauty of a farmstead, where barn owls rear their young in the eaves. Stretch out on luxurious sofas in your spectacular glass-walled day room and feast your eyes on Lakeland hill views that out-wuther the Brontes. Sheep, valleys, sunsets - it’s all yours in cozy comfort!
Food & Drink
We blend the best of authentic British ingredients with cooking by our own Wandering Hostess for a comfortable, delicious and healthy range of seasonal flavors. You’ll also enjoy a private, authentic Scottish Grand Opening Dinner to celebrate your arrival with tales from Scotland’s bard.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Travel costs / Airfare
Passport fees, photos and processing where applicable
Additional nights lodging
Take A Tour of Edinburgh and The Lake District…
Retreat Sold Out!
DATES: April 26-May 3, 2025
Price: $4,495 USD
($500 Reservation Deposit)
Seven night's shared accommodations in historic and beautiful dwellings
Eight days activities including sightseeing, learning, and free time
Meals: seven breakfasts, two lunches, six aperitif hours with charcuterie board, and six dinners - you won’t go away hungry!
All classes with Ivy Newport
Airport drop-off
A special handmade, thoughtfully curated gift bag filled with many art supplies to use on your journey
{ Wandering Craft Retreats will handle all payments securely and assist with all booking details. }