photo credit Alban RoinardCourse details
Start the new year with clarity, momentum, and creative fire with our January Residential Retreat – your space to reset and reignite. Includes 7 nights luxury accommodation.
Set against the inspirational backdrop of St Ives, this unique experience is not about mastering technical skills — it’s about making space for your artistic spirit to breathe. It is an invitation to begin the year not with pressure, but with purpose — to return to your practice with clarity, confidence and creative energy.
Over the course of a week, you’ll be invited to step away from the noise, tune into your inner world, and rekindle your creative spark. Whether you’re feeling stuck, in need of fresh energy, or simply craving time to explore ideas, this retreat offers the support, space and stimulus to help you thrive. Working with four professional artists, you’ll benefit from a range of approaches and insights into your practice to kickstart the year along with the opportunity to relax and recharge in luxury residential accommodation just above Porthmeor beach, a 5 minute walk from the studios.
The tutored workshops will introduce fresh techniques, inspiration, and perspectives to enhance your personal practice. Feel free to bring any current sketchbooks or works in progress to reference during the course or discuss during your individual tutorial.
Let the time, space, and supportive environment help you develop new work, revisit old ideas, or simply explore and play with what’s emerging.
- Spend 5 days working with four different artists to explore mindful art-making and intuitive painting techniques. Break through creative blocks and re-discover the joy of self-expression through art.
- Enjoy a full day of independent practice supported by a studio technician, in our peaceful, light-filled studios, allowing space for flow, experimentation and play.
- Benefit from 1-1 advice and mentoring with a professional artist, offering personal insight and guidance.
- Connect with like-minded artists in a supportive and inspiring environment.
- Restore balance with 2 optional yoga sessions, supporting your physical and mental wellbeing.*
- 7 nights of luxury accommodation included, see below for more details.
This is a time to relax, recharge, and let new ideas come to life. Join us, and ignite your artistic year in the most nourishing way possible. *optional yoga sessions will be £15 each per session.
Limited places available
Day to day plan
This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course.
However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and weather.
Saturday 17th
Opening circle with Iona Sanders & Workshop ‘Sparking Joy’
See how to be more responsive and intuitive to the things around you that spark joy. Iona will show you how she starts and develops her own paintings but will encourage you to find your own voice.
Sunday 18th
Workshop ‘Mindful Ways to Paint’ with Kitty Hillier.
Look at your everyday surroundings afresh and create experimental and abstract compositions from a process of close observation, slow-drawing and playful mark-making.
Monday 19th
Workshop ‘The Art of Letting Go’ with Kate Southworth.
Loosen your approach, embrace chance and happy accidents, and tap into a more unconscious and intuitive way of working.
Tuesday 20th (non-tutored studio day/1-1s)
Non-tutored studio day to include 1-1s with Kate Southworth
(Optional wind-down yoga session at the end of the day 5pm-6pm)
Wednesday 21st
Workshop ‘Finding Colour’ with Camilla Dixon
Camilla will encourage you to focus on your personal response to colour, putting aside the science of colour theory for a few hours, and helping you find the courage to listen to one’s own instinctive response to colour by ‘simply looking’.
Thursday 22nd
(Optional early morning yoga session 8.30am-9.30am)
Workshop ‘Painting From Your Soul’ with Iona Sanders.
Reflective group closing session, setting intentions for 2026 followed by group drinks in the studio.
What will I learn?
- New approaches to art-making using a wide range of materials such as acrylics, collage, pastels, charcoal
- Ideas to overcome blocks and rediscover what inspires you
- Develop a greater self-awareness of your artistic intentions and direction for the year ahead
- Build supportive relationships with other artists
- Leave with renewed creative energy, feeling recharged, inspired and ready to continue your practice with confidence.
Who would this course suit?
Whether you are returning to your practice after a break, seeking fresh direction, or wanting to deepen your creative self-awareness, this retreat offers the inspiration, tools, and community to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
Accommodation in partnership with Sail Lofts-St Ives
Recharge and relax in style whilst enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow students. We’ve taken the away the hassle of finding somewhere to stay and partnered with The Sail Lofts luxury accommodation.
Available between Friday 16th to Friday 23rd January these stunning three bedroom self-catering apartments are just above Porthmeor beach, a short five minute level walk from our studios. You will share the apartment with two or three fellow students and have a private double or kingsize bedroom with a private bathroom. All with free parking nearby.
Browse the available apartments below.
For more information on our available accommodation or to discuss our course only option, please call us on 01736 797180 or send us an email: [email protected]
Apartment One: Beach
- Luxury apartment
- Three bedroom, three bathrooms
Beach offers a palatial open-plan living area, making it the perfect apartment for students share. The light filled kitchen and living area provides a superb entertaining space with access to the mezzanine walkway, which overlooks the central courtyard.
There are two en-suite bedrooms and one bedroom with access to a separate private bathroom.
Apartment Two: Slipway
- 5-star luxury apartment
- 3 en-suite kingsize bedrooms
Slipway is the most luxurious self-catering apartment. The private balcony has incredible sea views overlooking Porthmeor Beach and the gabled roofed sitting room provides the perfect area to relax after a days painting.
Slipway offers three luxurious en-suite king size bedrooms with sea-views or overlooking the tranquil courtyard garden.
Taught by
What to Bring
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Timings and Breaks
Each day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, with the exception of Tuesday, when you will have the opportunity to work in the studio independently should you wish to do so, from 9.30am as our 1-1s will begin earlier in the morning. Please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
There will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
FAQs
Studio Courses
How can I get help in choosing a course?
Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and the school has plastic folders available in our shop for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home.
What do I need to bring?
Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.
What do I do for lunch?
Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.
What times do courses run?
Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.
Weekend Courses run 10am – 4pm on the first day but the final day starts at 9.30 and ends at 3.30 with a short lunch break to enable people to get home that evening.
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
The School is a very friendly and welcoming place for all ages and experience. Our drop-in life classes and August half-day workshops are ideal for those wanting to have a go for the first time. Most of our longer courses are also fine for novices.
If any of the courses do need a bit of experience we flag this up in the brochure and on the website.
Booking a Course
How can I reserve a place?
We will hold a provisional reservation for 24 hours if you give us a call whilst you find accommodation. Otherwise please book online or by telephone 01736 797180.
You can reserve a place with a £100 deposit; balance is due 12 weeks before course start date.
About St Ives
Where do I park?
The nearest long stay public car parks are the Island and Barnoon Long Stay Car Park, both a 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at Trenwith Car Park by the leisure centre and walk down into town. If you don’t fancy the walk up the hill at the end of the day there is a shuttle bus which runs from outside the cinema.
How do I get there?
Public Transport: If you are coming from further afield the main train line runs into St Erth which is a 15 min taxi ride away or you can take the St Ives Bay Line which runs approx. every 30 minutes. The School is a 10 minute walk from St Ives station.
Driving: M5 will take you to Exeter where we recommend that you take the A30 across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, leave the A30 at St Erth roundabout for St Ives. Turn right at the second roundabout. This road will take you through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives.
Where can I stay?
St Ives has a huge selection of hotels, guest houses and self catering accommodation to choose from. Please browse the art holidays St Ives section on our website and give us a call if you would like any help.
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