ITALIAN ART RETREAT 2026

24TH - 29TH AUGUST

Join me in Puglia, Italy for a 5 night art retreat where you can escape from the stress of every-day life and unwind in the serenity of the Italian countryside. Enjoy guided art workshops in the dedicated studio space, nutritious and authentic Italian food, comfort and beautiful natural surroundings.

THE VENUE

MASSERIA SPECULA, PUGLIA

The Italian word 'Masseria' translates to farmhouse.

Carved into a gentle hill, Masseria Specula is ahistorical farmhouse, surrounded by 20 hectares of exclusive private land, offering a tranquil retreat just a 15 minute walk from the enchanting shores of the Ionian Sea.

Owners Carlo & Asana are dedicated to minimising their environmental impact. The venue is powered by solar energy, they avoid single-use plastics, and plant trees every winter.

THE REGION

Puglia or Apulia, is the southernmost eastern region of Italy. Its coastline, the Adriatic in the east, the Ionian south and west, is one of the most beautiful in all of Italy, with silvery olive orchards stretching all the way to the long sandy beaches touched by the one of the clearest and cleanest seas in the Mediterranean.

It is an ancient land, and one which was invaded many times in its history. Today it is famous for its Primitivo wine, produced from a variety of black-skinned red grape grown in the region.

Puglia is a dry, hot region with a Mediterranean climate. Temperatures reach up to 31°C in August with minimal rainfall.

THE ROOMS

Designed with authenticity and comfort in mind, the Masseria is home to 7 rooms. The rooms are light and airy, with en-suite bathrooms, double or twin beds, air-con and a beautiful array of antique furniture and decorative items collected by the family over many years.

You can choose from a double-occupancy or triple-occupancy room which you will share with another guest, or you can choose your own room when booking if you'd prefer a private space to yourself.

Towels, beach towels, shampoo bars, soap and bottled water is provided for you.

THE ART

As a coloured pencil wildlife artist, I will host numerous art sessions where we will draw a swallow together in the dedicated art studio at the Masseria.

I will provide the art materials for these workshops and give you step-by-step instructions to teach you my favourite processes and techniques for creating realistic coloured pencil drawings.

I also recommend to bring a sketchbook and any additional supplies you love using along with you as we will have the opportunity to create art from inspiration; sketching on location.

THE INSPIRATION

The inspiration to draw a swallow together in coloured pencils comes from the many swallows I observed, swooping over the Masseria, while on my retreat in 2025.

Waking up to the beautiful sight and sound of these gorgeous birds put me instantly at ease while in Italy, and you can often see them from the studio.