Fintry Trust Summer School: The Art of Awakening

“Life is Sacred. Life is Art. Life is Sacred Art”

Gabrielle Roth

What is “art”? Why does art inspire? What stimulates the creative impulse?

Come and experience the transformative qualities of integral art with experienced practitioners, and join a Mandala Workshop led by artist Daniel Bowler, at our retreat house, in the heart of the peaceful Surrey countryside, in July 2026.

Over the course of this immersive programme, we will engage with the deeper meaning of art as a living process that reflects and expands human consciousness.

Mandala is a Sanskrit word for circle, but has become a universal symbol of sacred pattern and order. Mandalas are found throughout the cosmos, in nature, and in cultures across the world/our own spheres of life. They reveal the mystery of the One and the All, in the heart of the cosmos and within each one of us.

Together, we will explore the full spectrum of artistic impulse and expression that goes beyond the usual categories of art, to include:

• the pragmatic or ‘useful arts’, including all the arts and crafts that support everyday life;

• the expressive arts, or so-called ‘fine arts’, such as music, literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, drama and dance, that communicate emotions and ideas;

• the remedial arts that facilitate healing and integration, such as the sociological, therapeutic, ethical, legal, and political arts;

• the intellectual arts that engage with ideas, systems of thought, logic, interpretation and critique;

• and the mystical arts, that lead inwards and upwards to the ineffable and the sublime.

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These different modes of creative expression have a unique relationship with the universal and transcendent ideals of Beauty, Goodness, Truth and Unity.

By embracing this wider vision of art, participants learn to appreciate how different artistic modes can coexist, complement one another, and contribute to a creative, holistic and elevated life.

The Art of Awakening offers a peaceful, supportive environment where participants can deepen their artistic practice, expand their understanding, and discover how art becomes a catalyst for personal and collective transformation.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of the Summer School, you will:

1. Understand the broader meaning of “art”.

2. Recognise different kinds of inspiration.

3. Practice and discover the transformative qualities of art for yourself

4. Appreciate the role of art in expanding and elevating personal and collective consciousness.

Sessions will include:

• Illustrated talks, by co-hosts Murray Morison; and Sally and Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud

• Mandala Workshop, led by artist Daniel Bowler (Dan Dala) and Holly Foskett-Barnes

• Meditation practices led by Sally and Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud.

• Small Discussion Groups: A Fintry Trust Reflective Guide, convened by Summer School hosts.

• Somatic practices: e.g. yoga, mindful movement, guided walks (Shinrin-Yoku), led by Summer School hosts and invited teachers.

• Opportunities to engage with a variety of artists.

• Relaxation: Plenty of time to enjoy Fintry’s beautiful grounds and excellent cuisine.

Dates and Times

The Summer School will be held at Fintry, Brook, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5UQ and will run from teatime at 3:30pm Thursday 23rd until after lunch on Sunday 26th July 2026.

Meals

The Summer School provides homemade vegetarian meals, using seasonal garden produce, as well as home-made cakes and jams. Some dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Prices

Residential price includes full board, vegetarian meals, refreshments, access to all sessions, Fintry Trust Library, Quiet Room, Yoga Studio and Gardens.

• Regular: £475.

• Early Bird Discount: £399. Save 16% if you book before 13th February 2026.

• Non-Residential: £325 (all meals included).

• Under 35s Discount: £299. Further discretionary bursaries are available on application to the administrator.

Make the most of the early bird discount for the Summer School, and enjoy a 16% discount of by paying the full £399 by 13th February 2026.

To register for the Summer School please contact admin@thefintrytrust.org.uk

The Summer School Hosts

Dr. Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, co-author and presenter of the Mindfulness and Compassion course for the Fintry Trust. Jean-Paul had a career in International Development and Conservation, and is a lifelong student of the world’s wisdom traditions with experience in leading educational programmes and contemplative retreats. He is a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) trainer and a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance. He was a Director at WWF International and worked in Africa, Asia and Europe. He is a Visiting Professor at Universities in the UK and Europe.

Dr. Sally Jeanrenaud, is a Trustee of The Fintry Trust, an educational charity dedicated to integral and perennial wisdom and the study of ideal philosophy, science, art and religion. She is co-author and presenter of the Mindfulness and Compassion course for the Fintry Trust. She is a qualified Mindfulness trainer and registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance, and has a background as international specialist in International Development. Sally is a Visiting Professor at a number of Universities in the UK and Europe.

Murray Morison MA, taught psychology for many years and is a qualified psychotherapist, teacher, writer, and entrepreneur. In the latter part of his career, he worked as a management consultant for companies in the UK, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. Since childhood, he has had a fascination with mythology, particularly the Greek and Norse myths; he is the presenter of the Iliad course for the Fintry Trust. He has published two novels, writes poetry, and divides his time between South London and Western Crete.

Guest Speakers/Practitioners

Daniel Bowler (Dan Dala) is a visual artist who specialises in mandalas and sacred circles, based in Bristol, UK. His work draws on Buddhist art, Jungian Psychology, and cross-cultural, archetypal patterns – process-oriented symbols which help reconnect our inner and outer worlds. At the forefront of his practice is the sacred mandala (meaning ‘circle’ in Sanskrit) traditionally informed by Buddhist philosophy, but which is an archetypal symbol of wholeness, found in almost all human civilizations. Daniel has a BA Hons in Art from Falmouth University, UK and an MSc in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology from the Alef Trust, UK. He is an experienced workshop facilitator, convening meaningful and transformative creative experiences that are inclusive and accessible, and generating co-creative art that promotes peace, creativity, and connection. https://www.dandala.co.uk/about

Holly Foskett-Barnes was born and educated in London/Oxfordshire, UK. She moved to the south west to study Contemporary Fine Art at Dartington College of Arts, later merged with Falmouth University, graduating with First Class Honours in 2012. Foskett-Barnes graduated with a postgraduate degree in Religious Arts of Asia at the School Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) in 2016, specialising in early Buddhist art from the Himalayas and South East Asia, undertaking field research in Nepal. She has had a solo exhibition in Dali (Yunnan, China) in 2011 and a first UK solo show at HOURS (Bristol, UK) in 2024. Holly lives and works from her studio in Bristol where she facilitates nature connection workshops and pursues her artistic practice. https://www.hollyfoskettbarnes.co.uk