Courses
Landscape Plein-air Courses
Cinque Terre Courses
Florence & Venice Courses
Testimonials
“An incredibly relaxing way to paint and experience the beauty of Italy’s countryside!"
Ashley H, I stayed at the Retreat for a week in late July for one of their plein air painting holidays. The...
Amazing experience !!
Jess V. I have just returned from a fabulous week at The Retreat !! Apart from John being the perfect host and...
Florence Watercolour course
D. Oliver,I came on Easter week. There were just two of us: me from London, and Myrna from Houston. We had...
Watercolour Florence
M. Yarney, I loved my week of study with John. It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed the stay at the Convent...
Upcoming Courses

17th-22nd April 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

23rd-28th April 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
23rd-28th April 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its gondolas and grand…

8th-13th May 2021 Florence Watercolour course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

14th-19th May 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
14th-19th May 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its gondolas and…

5th -10th June 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

11th-16th June 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
11th-16th June 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its gondolas and grand…

19th-25th June 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop
19th-25th June 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop Enjoy drawing and painting the beautiful scenery surrounding The Retreat. In the morning,…

3rd-8th July 2021 Painting, Yoga & Cooking Retreat
3rd-8th July 2021 Painting, Yoga & Cooking Retreat Intensive Painting, Yoga and Cooking Retreat This Retreat is a combination of…

10th-16th July 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop
10th-16th July 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop Enjoy drawing and painting the beautiful scenery surrounding The Retreat. In the morning,…

24th-30th July 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop
24th-30th July 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop Enjoy drawing and painting the beautiful scenery surrounding The Retreat. In the morning,…

17th-22nd July 2021 Painting, Yoga & Cooking Retreat
17th-22nd July 2021 Painting, Yoga & Cooking Retreat This Retreat is a combination of painting, cooking and yoga, the holy-trinity…

21st-27th August 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop
21st-27th August 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop Enjoy drawing and painting the beautiful scenery surrounding The Retreat. In the morning,…

4th-10th September 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop
4th-10th September 2021 Painting & Drawing Workshop Enjoy drawing and painting the beautiful scenery surrounding The Retreat. In the morning,…

11th – 16th September 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

17th-22nd September 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
17th-22nd September 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its gondolas and grand…

25th – 30th September 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

9th -14th October 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

15th-20th October 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
15th-20th October 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its gondolas and…

23rd – 28th October 2021 Florence Watercolour Course
Treat yourself to this fantastic opportunity to paint water colours in the beautiful Renaissance city of Florence. It doesn’t really…

29th October-3rd November 2021 Venice Watercolour Course
29th October - 3rd November 2021 Venice Watercolour Course Spend 6 fantastic days immersed painting the historic canals with its…
The Retreat
The Retreat is a small art school in the heart of Italy’s beautiful Le Marche Region specialising in exclusive painting holidays with a truly personal touch.
Small groups and a ‘home-from-home’ atmosphere let any aspiring and experienced artist relax, indulge and create to their heart’s content.
See For Yourself
The location for the The Retreat was inspired by an Italian artist friend’s recommendation to visit „Italy’s best kept secret – Le Marche“. It was love at first sight. Here, you find all regions of Italy combined into one – the rolling hill-sides of Tuscany, the mountains of the north and coastal scenes and beaches of the south all in one panoramic view. It truly is ‘tutto Italia in una regione – all of Italy in one region’ as the Italian’s call it. What better place to pitch your easel.
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