Retreats in 2024
Join Esté MacLeod and Anna Kwiecinska in Morocco, Bali and Greece
I am thrilled to announce that I’ll be teaching at three very special art retreats in lovely locations during 2024. As with my previous retreats in Sri Lanka and Bali, I’ll be working in collaboration with Creative Living Retreats and their amazing host Anna Kwiecinska who has travelled far and wide to scout out inspiring locations in Morocco and Greece. In addition to these two new locations, I’ll be teaching once again on an art and yoga retreat at Villa Nilaya, Anna’s beautiful home in exotic East Bali.
Moroccan Art Retreat
Date: 21-26 April, 2024
Location: Fes, Morocco
This new retreat + cultural tour offering is similar in style to the one Anna and myself offered in Sri Lanka in 2021. It takes advantage of Anna's familiarity with the location: she lived in Fes for a number of years and has designed and led several 17-day tours throughout Morocco since 2016, having first visited the country in 1986.
Fes is the most beguiling of Morocco's exotic walled cities. The entire old medina, some 1400 years old, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s 9,400 alleys and 'derbs', an intoxicating labyrinth of archways leading into ancient riads whose mosaic courtyards are wonders of craftsmanship, design and fantasy.
You'll find Fes a centre of excellence for mosaics, pottery, painting, embroidery and wood carving, all of which you'll witness being worked in streets or tiny studios. Fes is also the home of the tarbush - the distinctive red cap!
Many visitors spend just two nights and move on, missing the secrets of Fes. We look forward to sharing this week with you, taking time to discover and making space to be inspired as you spend around 5 hrs/day making art with me in our gorgeous riads - grand, private courtyard homes which Anna has secured for the exclusive use of our group. We have room for 12 participants only (partners are welcome).
There are also two cultural small group tours before or after the art retreat in Fes. Would you like to join Anna on one of these?
Marvelous in Morocco I
14-20 April
The first tour starts in Casablanca from where we will travel to the imperial cities of Tangier, Meknes, Volubilis and visit the captivating blue village of Chefchaouen before ending in Fes.
Marvelous in Morocco II
27 April - 5 May
Come and experience romantic luxury all the way from tenting in the red Saharan dunes and bathing at an oasis kasbah, to being absolutely Marvellous in Marrakech and ending the tour with relaxation at the Atlantic in Essaouira’s Blue Palace.
Bali Art Retreat
Date: 16-26 July, 2024
Location: Villa Nilaya, East Bali
If you love the idea of an entire indulgent week of art, yoga, good food, sea swimming and restorative Balinese massages in a tropical island paradise, then Baliesque is a perfect fit for you.
All you need to bring is an open mind and an intention to explore a variety of creative ideas and processes. Anna and her team at Villa Nilaya will do the rest so you can give your full attention to making art and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings.
Villa Nilaya, and your lovely beachfront accommodations are tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, surrounded by coconut palms on the edge of a sparkling sea. The azure water is inviting with sea turtles swimming close to the front of the villa, and we'd love to take you snorkeling to discover the beauty of the reefs on our doorstep ... wonderful inspiration for tropical-infused works. In this retreat we will exploring layering with a combination of water-based mixed media along with a variety of print techniques to get you past the blank canvas stage right from Day One.
Even if you've joined us in the past for the Florabunda retreats, Baliesque will include new processes which you can involve in your own work, regardless of the style and subject you like to paint in.
Please note that I will be teaching one nine day retreat in Bali in 2024, with only twelve places available.
Greek Art Retreat
Date: 16-23 September 2023
NEW DATE ADDED: 27 September - 5 October 2023
Location: Hydra, Greece
Over hundreds of years and for many artists, a stay on Hydra, the enchanting (some say magical) Aegean island, was a significant part of how their art was created.
We’ve chosen to be there for that very reason - the richness of the artistic legacy and for the chance that such exceptional surroundings will be your muse too.
On Hydra, writers, painters, songsters, musicians and dreamers of all types found a place that inspired them. From its shores, looking out to the Aegean or inward to their artistic dreams, poetry, novels, avant-garde texts, masterpieces in paint and word, emerged. Be there with us, and find your own threads of inspiration.
It's the end of summer, the locals are relaxed, you've arrived onto one of Greece's most picturesque islands - one with no vehicular traffic, only donkeys, water taxis and meandering footpaths - and ahead of you a week of making art with my guidance.
With the water still deliciously comfortable for swimming, cool evenings to explore the many charming seaside tavernas and quay-side accommodation overlooking the famous port of Hydra, you'll need to be quick to secure your place on this special week with Anna and I - Anna once lived here for two years and can't wait to share the magic of Hydra with you.
Photos and videos © Anna Kwiecinska