retreat calendar

2026 - 2027

2026

MOROCCO

FULLY BOOKED

7 - 14 March, 2026

Fully booked for 2026, but I have spots available in 2027 (see below).

2026

FRANCE

FULLY BOOKED

27 May - 05 June 2026

Fully booked for 2026, but I have spots available in 2027 (see below).

2026

ITALY

FULLY BOOKED

18 - 25 Sept 2026

Fully booked... please contact me if you'd like to be on the waiting list.

2027

MOROCCO

20 - 27 February 2027

Travel sketching in Morocco. Vibrant souks, exciting bazaars, intricate tiles, warm light, and landscapes begging to be sketched. In connection with Perigord Retreats.

MORE DETAILS

2027

FRANCE

21 - 30 June 2027

Watercolor art retreat in southern France. I'll be back in France for my 5th retreat at Perigord Retreats, for 10 wonderful days of painting, culture, fantastic food and company.

MORE DETAILS

I came home with loads of memories, new skills and a lot of inspiration to keep me going until next year’s retreat. I’m already looking forward to that!

— MT, Austria

Taking the plunge to join you and a bunch of strangers on the other side of the world for a residential painting retreat turned out to be one of the best holiday decisions I’ve ever made.

— SL, New Zealand

watercolor art retreats

Have you ever wished you could slow down, soak in the beauty of a place, and capture it in your sketchbook? I'm Renee Walden — a watercolour artist and passionate plein air painter — and that's exactly what I help people do.

Forget selfies! The real magic happens when your sketch your travels.

What to Expect

Art retreats that nourish your creativity
Time to slow down and truly see the world around you
Supportive teaching — no experience needed
Inspiring locations, from medieval French villages, to Italian hill towns to lakeside New Zealand views
Local cuisine, good wine, lots and lots of laughter!
A friendly, welcoming community of fellow creatives

let's paint together

Capture your life in colour.

Since 2017, I’ve been running watercolor art retreats and painting holidays. These are joy-filled adventures with sketchbooks, watercolour, laughter, good food, and a glass of local wine at the end of the day. These retreats are all about learning, creating, and filling your sketchbook (and your soul) with colourful memories.

Think of it as a the best trip you could ever imagine!

What to expect on a painting retreat.

Relaxed painting and sketching sessions in beautiful spots — a bustling market, a sleepy village square, or a sunlit garden. Studio time for demos and tips. Individual guidance, because small groups mean you’re never left staring at a blank page.

Absolutely everything taken care of so that all we have to think about is painting!

No rush, no stress, just painting, chatting, exploring, and soaking up the atmosphere. By the end, you’ll have a sketchbook bursting with your creations, new skills, and, for sure, a few new friends.

Who these watercolor retreats are for.

Anyone who loves to create, travel, and see the world in colour. Beginners welcome. Experienced artists welcome. Solo travellers welcome. Partners welcome. Friends, family, grandmas and grandkids welcome (it's happened!)

Why travel sketching?

Unlike a photo, your sketches capture the full experience — the light, the movement, the smells of the market… the whole story. Travel sketching turns ordinary moments into memories you’ll treasure forever. You'll capture your journey in a way that feels alive and deeply personal.

My aim? To inspire you to never go anywhere without a sketchbook again.

What's special about a painting trip?

You might be interested in this blog post I wrote.

See my reviews on Google.

I really appreciated your calm, enthusiastic and patient demeanor in your teaching. You nurtured this group from day one on the FB group and upon arrival so that we all already felt like friends. I can't talk you up enough to friends and family. I could not have imagined a more perfect trip other than in my dreams.

— RC, USA

It was an experience I will remember forever. You helped me by teaching me how to let go of the “how to video“ sessions that I had become accustomed to and to try doing it on my own.

— PB, Vancouver, Canada

Thoroughly enjoyed my weekend workshop with Renee. There was a really good mix of practical theory followed by practise and Renee was readily available for any queries and/or difficulties. She is a patient, enthusiastic instructor and I now feel much more confident painting in the field (plein air). The small group was amazing and I fully recommend this workshop.

— JM, Wanaka, New Zealand

Just finished another one of @reneewaldenart ‘s online classes. What fun this was! Thank you so much Renee! I am thoroughly enjoying your classes and learning soooo much!!! :-) It makes some of the things that have intimidated me feel so much more doable. Your generous teaching has been such a gift.

— MC, California, USA

The retreat was a fabulous experience for me as a studio watercolor artist with little experience in plein air painting. Also, journaling through sketching is a new experience for me. I love to travel and my new lessons in journaling with watercolor will be an integral part of my future trips.

— MB, Hawaii, USA.

I attended Renee's two day workshop and gained so much by doing so! Not only did it boost my confidence in painting outdoors, but I gained skills to take on landscapes and perspective drawing, both of which I was intimidated by. I have been an artist all my life ... more seriously in the last few years. I found the course suited both beginners and experienced artists. Renee is a wonderful teacher and such a positive person to learn from. I highly recommend you take this course yourself.

—HB, Lake Hawea, New Zealand