After the success of our sold-out retreat in January, international artist Lisa King and bestselling author Alice Vincent are returning to Pye Corner House with another inspiring and beautiful mid-week offering to nourish your creativity this summer.
Nestled in the gorgeous Pye Corner House, residents of the second writing and drawing retreat will be treated to hands-on tuition and inspiration in practices that will encourage you to find new ways of making that are rooted in the sumptuous gardens and rolling hills of one of the Cotswolds’ most admired villages.
Alice, author of books including Why Women Grow and Rootbound: Rewilding A Life, will be sharing insight from her career as a writer and journalist, leading an accessible and insightful morning of creative writing that will prompt you to think differently about the world around you - and how to express it in words.
Lisa, best known for her nature-inspired prints, will share examples of how she’s found inspiration in her surroundings, and created themes for her fashion collections and artworks. Drawing on patterns, paintings, carvings and objects from the beautiful interior of Pye Corner House, as well as the beautiful gardens, she will show you how to use mixed media to illustrate and ignite those ideas. The workshop is suitable for beginners but can be tailored to those with prior experience looking for new challenges and approaches in drawing.
You will be nourished by El Kemp, chef, food stylist and recipe writer, with al fresco meals on Pye’s impeccable lawn. El’s cooking always follows the seasons, making the most of beautiful and flavourful locally grown produce, in meals that are rooted in nature. A keen forager, her food celebrates what we can find around us throughout the year. Expect colourful and vibrant food that relishes the bounty of English summer.
Between relaxed and intimate workshops, we will be enjoying satisfying meals, dawn swims in Pye’s hidden swimming pool, dusk strolls around the idyllic Cotswolds countryside that surrounds Pye Corner House. There will also be time for one-on-one tuition and guidance from Alice and Lisa. We welcome writers and artists of all abilities and intentions to start this new year gently. Our retreat is limited to 12 guests.
ThE ITINERARY
Tuesday, June 17
3pm – Guests arrival
4.30pm – Tea and cake welcome gathering
7.30pm – Dinner
9pm – Optional dusk walk into Broadway Village
Wednesday, June 18
8.30am – Optional poolside stretch session or morning swim
9am – Breakfast
10.30am – Writing workshop with Alice
1pm – Lunch
2pm – Introduction to drawing and materials
3 pm to 6pm – Optional one-on-one tutorials with Alice and drawing with Lisa
7pm – Drinks in the Victorian greenhouse
8pm – Dinner
Thursday, June 19
7am – Optional morning walk to Broadway Tower
9am – Breakfast
10am – Abstract drawing from nature
1pm – Lunch
3pm – Guests depart
What’s INCLUDED
2 nights at Pye Corner House
A beautiful 450 year old grade II listed home in the Cotswolds with full access to gardens, greenhouse, stream and swimming pool.
1 writing workshop with Alice
A 2.5-hour insightful and invigorating writing practice to nurture your creativity
1 drawing workshop with Lisa
A 2.5 hour practical and inspiring drawing workshop to ignite your visual thinking.
1-on-1 tutorials with Alice and Lisa.
All meals and soft beverages.
Access to art materials in free time.
Guided walks.
What’S not included?
Travel
Travel to and from the accommodation, although we can arrange a shuttle for an additional cost depending on guests’ needs
See ‘Find us’ section for details about how to get here.
Alcohol
There will be wine available for the table at dinner, but you are welcome to bring more of your own and we can store it for you.
Writing Equipment
We encourage you to bring your own favourite notebook, sketchbook and pen! Feel free to bring your laptop for downtime writing; or alternatively enjoy a screen-free retreat.
ACCOMODATION
Twin BEDROOM
£775 per person (single occupancy) or £1,445 per room (double occupancy). Shared bath and shower.
Three twin rooms available.
MASTER EN SUITE
£850 per person (single occupancy) or £1,500 per room (double occupancy). En suite with shower.
One available.
DOUBLE BEDROOM
£790 per person (single occupancy) or £1,450 per room (double occupancy). Shared bath and shower.
Three double rooms available.
MASTER EN SUITE WITH BATH
£900 per person (single occupancy) or £1,675 per room (double occupancy). Ensuite with shower and bath.
One available.
If you are a solo traveller open to sharing a twin room with another guests, please specify this in your booking.
This will garner a better rate per night.
Please email enquiries@pyecornerhouse.com to secure your place on the writing & drawing retreat.
Payment terms: 50% upfront deposit is needed to secure the booking with the remaining balance due on June 2, 2025.
If you are a solo traveller and open to sharing a twin room with another guest, please specify this in your booking.
Follow along:
And so with the sunshine and with the great bursts of leaves growing on trees, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.
– F. Scott Fitzgerald
