painting holidays
Welcome — I’m so glad you’ve found your way here.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. What to Expect
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upcoming art retreats |
| 10 days sketching, medieval villages, wonderful food and company. Fully booked. VIEW DETAILS | Sketching in a tranquil paradise surrounded by nature and wonderful history. VIEW DETAILS | |
| A week in beautiful Tuscany! Gorgeous location, wonderful local excursions, staying on an historic olive farm. VIEW DETAILS | I'll be back in France for my 5th retreat at Perigord Retreats, for 10 wonderful days of painting, culture, fantastic food and company. VIEW DETAILS | |
| Imagine staying in an historical palazzo, nestled elegantly between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Coast and capturing your memories in sketches. More details. | Plan a holiday to Europe and invite me to join you. We'll sketch together with plenty of guidance from me. Contact me and we'll make a plan. | |
let's paint together |
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Capture your life in colour. Since 2017, I’ve been teaching art workshops and running painting holidays that combine creativity, travel, and connection. Whether you're picking up a brush for the first time or looking to deepen your practice, these experiences are designed to help you grow your skills, gain confidence, and tell your own stories in vibrant watercolour. We paint in breathtaking locations, from medieval villages in France to serene lakes in New Zealand. These aren’t just classes — they’re immersive, joy-filled creative journeys where you’ll learn to see like an artist and return home with sketchbooks full of rich memories. What to expect on a painting holiday. My painting retreats are immersive, inspiring weeks where art, travel, and connection come together. Each day there are relaxed sketching and painting sessions in beautiful locations — whether it’s a quiet hillside village, a bustling market square, or a peaceful garden. There will also be studio time, too, for demos, theory or painting sessions. You’ll learn to observe deeply, simplify scenes, and express what you see in vibrant watercolour. I'll guide you step-by-step and, because group sizes are small, there's plenty of time for individual help. We take time to enjoy our surroundings, share meals, and soak up the atmosphere. There's no rush — just a warm, supportive environment where creativity can flourish, friendships are made, and confidence grows. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you'll return home with a full sketchbook, new skills, and unforgettable memories. |
Who these retreats are for. Whether you're just beginning your watercolour journey or have years of experience, my retreats are designed to meet you where you are. I create a relaxed, encouraging space where everyone can grow their confidence, develop their skills, and discover new ways of seeing. Many participants come solo and leave with new friends. Others travel with partners or fellow creatives. All are welcome — the only requirement is a love of creativity, exploration, and a willingness to slow down and truly see the world. Why travel sketching? Sketching on location is a powerful way to connect more deeply with the places we visit. Instead of simply taking a photo, you pause, observe, and absorb your surroundings with all your senses. That moment becomes etched in your memory — not just as an image, but as a lived experience. Travel sketching teaches you to see beauty in everyday scenes, to simplify what you see, and to capture stories as they unfold. It’s one of the most rewarding and personal ways to document your journey. What's special about a paintiing holiday? You might be interested in this blog post I wrote. |
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workshops |
| Fun, relaxed classes on Zoom. Join my mailing list to find out what's coming up. | Watercolour lessons in New Zealand. Next workshop - TBA | |
what participants say |
| In no time at all Renee will have you on your way The hardest thing about Watercolour painting is getting started. So, take the plunge and join one of Renee’s classes, you won’t regret it. Renee is super supportive offering plenty of clear instructions and useful advice. Importantly you’re not left with any time to stare at a blank page – the only way to learn and improve is to jump right in! In no time at all Renee will have you on your way and encouraging you to leave all doubts behind in order to just relax and enjoy the process. I wholeheartedly recommend Renee’s classes and online tutorials. SL, Wanaka, New Zealand |
Your encouragement has helped me believe in myself more! 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 |
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| 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, Red Bluff, CA, USA |
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| French Retreat 2023 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. This was my first experience doing Plen Air, and I think I absolutely loved it, nothing like it, I will try and incorporate this, when the weather permits. PB, Vancouver, Canada |
French Retreat 2023 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 |
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| French Retreat 2023 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. I enjoyed the daily structure of walking around a village in order to get a feeling for the place, which is important to me because my individual interpretation of the site is a big part of my painting. I like that you allowed for us to develop our unique feeling for the site and express it through our sketches and paintings. In addition I benefited from your instructional sessions in different types of perspective in landscape and architecture. I will continue to practice these in my landscape paintings. There were so many highlights of the retreat for me. First of all, being part of a group of painters with a passion for watercolor was wonderful. I learned so much from you, the instructor, and also from our group. Everyone brought something delightful and meaningful to our daily experience. Sharing delicious meals together also created a camaraderie that I believe will be long-lasting. All of the painting locations were fantastic, but two of them were special highlights for me—the water garden and Collonges-La-Rouge. The sites were truly inspiring and also challenged my techniques of color mixing and perspective. Also, your attention to each of our questions or needs, as well as your helpful input every step of the way were very positive experiences. Another important highlight was our ‘exhibition’ and dinner on our final night. A perfect closure to the retreat! MB, USA. |
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