Slow Waters: A Watercolour Retreat

Slow Waters is a three-day watercolour retreat rooted in the landscape, plants and poetry of the Lake District with artist Holly Foskett-Barnes.

Nestled in 30 acres of garden, woodland and waterfall, Rydal Hall has been a place of rest and renewal since the 1600s. Over the weekend, we'll learn to paint Spring flowers from the historic gardens and paint landscapes inspired by local fells and waterfalls.

We will follow in the footsteps of poet William Wordsworth, who lived at Rydal Mount just next door and wrote “A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable”. We’ll immerse ourselves in painting and poetry to bring us closer to the natural world and create from a place of rested calm. This is a gentle, beginner-friendly space for all levels, whether you haven't painted since school or if you have a regular creative practice. All watercolour sessions will be guided by Holly with step-by-step demonstrations and one-to-one tutorial support.

This retreat offers

● 2 nights accommodation at Rydal Hall (Friday & Saturday) ● All meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, home-cooked by the Rydal Hall kitchen

● All watercolour tuition, demonstrations and guided painting sessions

● An artist quality art materials pack if you need to borrow during your stay

● An evening folklore and storytelling session

● Daily guided meditations and poetry readings

● Free time to walk, rest and explore the beautiful natural surroundings

● A handmade pocket notebook for collecting sketches across the weekend

Our retreat schedule

Day 1 — Friday: Arrivals and Welcome

4-6pm Arrivals and settle into rooms

6pm Guided meditation & welcome walk through the gardens

7pm Dinner

Day 2 — Saturday: Plants & Poetry

8am Breakfast

9am Morning guided meditation

9.30am Sketch and walk in the gardens

10.30am Teabreak

11am Watercolours: Spring flowers from the historic gardens. Creating a colour palette, colour mixing, step-by-step demonstrations, one-to-one support.

1pm Lunch

2pm Free time to explore or rest and paint independently in the grounds.

3pm Watercolours: Spring flowers from the historic gardens. Step-by-step demonstrations, developing depth and detail, layering and depth.

5pm Rest time

7pm Dinner

8:30pm Evening fireside folklore and poetry reading with Holly

Day 3 — Sunday: Landscapes & Poetry

8am Breakfast

9am Morning guided meditation

9.30am Watercolours: Intro to landscape painting. Step-by-step demonstrations, colour mixing, one-to-one support.

11am Teabreak

11.30pm Watercolours: Landscape painting. Step-by-step demonstrations, introducing tone and shade, one-to-one support.

1pm Lunch

2pm Watercolours: Landscape painting. Step-by-step demonstrations, developing depth and detail, one-to-one support.

4pm Closing circle - sharing reflections, poems and artworks

4.30pm Departures (rooms to be vacated by 5pm)

To book email mail@rydalhall.org or call 015394 32050