This beautiful weekend is more of a self reward than work.  We will gather and get creative in all manner of materials with a focus on fun and creative play.

The aim is to give you an opportunity tin gathering your thoughts and softly reflecting on where you would like to take your focus, creatively and otherwise, in the year ahead.

It will allow you time, space and support to plan forwards, creating ideas on direction and content for project work and paintings. It is designed to reduce any pressures or anxiety about what and why you are creating and where you are going with your work.  This weekend retreat is suitable for writers, musicians, counsellors, creative business owners and visual artists alike.

It is the perfect time of year to come together, in an intimate setting with fellow creatives, set your creative goals and although in no way a prescriptive timetable, this immersive weekend course will assist you in identifying your own personal creative direction, with renewed ideas on how to achieve your goals.

You may revisit, rehash and/or set your own goals, timetable by working backwards to reduce stress, switching into your open mode of creative flowing thought and giving yourself permission to reassess how your working practice could develop towards delivering goals for your own focused interests in the year ahead.

Please bring, or email in advance, a selection/examples of your work which will be used as a starting point for your own self-led, but gently guided, progression.

We may have the opportunity to work outdoors so please bring weatherproof clothing and footwear with you.

Please bring your own notebook and whatever materials (paints, collage, other) you might prefer to work with.

Cost €100. 10am-4pm each day. 8 participants. Tea, coffee and scones provided. Light lunch provided. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

Please bring your own materials. We can supply materials at a reasonable price, but you would need to let us know in advance.

A suggested Materials List (for oil painting) will be emailed four weeks in advance of your course. Please let us know of any dietary requirements on booking.

A suggested Materials List will be emailed one month in advance of the course. You are welcome to bring whatever medium you prefer but we specialize in working with oils.

Those who choose stay at our Artists’ Retreat Accommodation are very welcome to access the art studio in the evenings, the outdoor seating area and gardens, and the fire bowl.

Our Cottage Gallery exhibits the artwork of resident artist Sinéad Smyth, including drawings and paintings both old and new. Works are available for sale on enquiry. You can view Sinéad’s latest work at www.sineadsmyth.com

Please bring your own materials. We can supply materials at a reasonable price, but you would need to let us know in advance.

Accommodation

We have reduced rate accommodation in two twin rooms (for up to four people) at our Artists' Retreat during our art course weekends. It's reduced because the living room/kitchen and toilet areas are used by other course participants during the day.

Our reduced Painting weekend 2025/26 rates are €50 per person sharing, €75 for two nights (Fri & Sat). Or €70 per person single room supplement, €100 for two nights (Fri & Sat). Please contact sinead@artstaysdonegal.com to book as booking is not available on the website for these weekends.

If our artists’ retreat accommodation is already booked, we can recommend other local places to stay nearby.

You can view our rooms here: artstaysdonegal.com.