Spring Weekend Retreat
|
24th to 27th April, 2026 - Join artist Deb L Bunker for a weekend of watercolour painting at the Hymns. Surrounded by this bowl of hills, with soaring views around, The Hymns offers the perfect space to explore artistic expression and creativity. Designed to cultivate mindfulness and deepen your connection with your artistic self, the weekend consists of guided workshops, one to one tuition, demonstrations, and optional evening activities. Whether you are an experienced artist or a complete beginner, you’ll leave feeling refreshed, inspired and creatively renewed. Enjoy freshly cooked, nutritious food, comfortable beds and beautiful countryside to explore.
Added activities include a Friday evening sound bath with Helen Wilding, a visit from Jo Ordonez from Earthbound Organics to talk about her organic herb growing and skincare products, and a Sunday morning Tai Chi Movements For Wellbeing session with Amanda Griffkin. Price includes full board, all tuition, demonstrations, and evening activities. Click the button above to book. |
Our retreat runs from 4pm on Friday 24th April to 10am on Monday 27th April.
Once we settle in and meet everyone on Friday late afternoon there will be an optional sound bath with Helen Wilding Sound Healing. Helen offers a complete Sound Healing experience to balance your mind body and soul.
Saturday evening gives us a talk by Jo Ordonez from Earthbound Organics about her skin care products. We’ll get to try out her amazing products which are made on her farm near Dolau using a blend of organic herbs, foraged botanicals and certified organic oils.
On Sunday morning we start our day with Amanda Griffin, who will lead us in a class (optional) of Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing, which takes it’s movements from tai chi and chi kung that promote wellbeing.
Once we settle in and meet everyone on Friday late afternoon there will be an optional sound bath with Helen Wilding Sound Healing. Helen offers a complete Sound Healing experience to balance your mind body and soul.
Saturday evening gives us a talk by Jo Ordonez from Earthbound Organics about her skin care products. We’ll get to try out her amazing products which are made on her farm near Dolau using a blend of organic herbs, foraged botanicals and certified organic oils.
On Sunday morning we start our day with Amanda Griffin, who will lead us in a class (optional) of Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing, which takes it’s movements from tai chi and chi kung that promote wellbeing.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The stay includes 3 nourishing DIY breakfasts of granola, yoghurt, honey, toast and jams, 2 light lunches of soups served with local breads, and 3 hearty suppers. All meals freshly prepared over the weekend with tea, coffee and home made cake available throughout the day.
Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements so that we can take these into account when we prepare the menus.
WHAT TO BRING
Come alone or with a friend to enjoy the company of this small group of 8. Whilst we hope for glorious weather and a chance to get out for a walk in this beautiful space, please bear in mind that might not be the case, so do bring wet weather gear and plenty of cosy layers, and loose, comfortable clothing if you like to join the sound bath and Tai Chi. Remember to pack a bottle of wine or two if you would like to relax with a drink in the evening or have a glass with your supper.
Art equipment wise, do bring your own kit if you have it but I will provide all paper and have spare paints and brushes for any that need them.
THE VENUE
The Hymns is a very special home, a sensitively restored ancient farmstead set in idyllic countryside in the Welsh Marches. Sitting at the end of a private lane, the farmstead and grounds are beautifully peaceful, offering a spacious and unique base perfect for a weekend of painting and relaxing. Our classes will be based in the Chapel Barn, a 17 metre airy space with wide reaching views out through a stunning oak gable to the north. We will be small group of a maximum of 8 students ensuring you get plenty of one to one tutoring and plenty of time to work on your still life study. The bedrooms sleep up to 12 and are spread over two upper floors. These rooms are filled with the owners collections of paintings and books. Downstairs, a large sitting room with ancient beams and comfy sofas and a large dining room in which to enjoy our meals.
The stay includes 3 nourishing DIY breakfasts of granola, yoghurt, honey, toast and jams, 2 light lunches of soups served with local breads, and 3 hearty suppers. All meals freshly prepared over the weekend with tea, coffee and home made cake available throughout the day.
Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements so that we can take these into account when we prepare the menus.
WHAT TO BRING
Come alone or with a friend to enjoy the company of this small group of 8. Whilst we hope for glorious weather and a chance to get out for a walk in this beautiful space, please bear in mind that might not be the case, so do bring wet weather gear and plenty of cosy layers, and loose, comfortable clothing if you like to join the sound bath and Tai Chi. Remember to pack a bottle of wine or two if you would like to relax with a drink in the evening or have a glass with your supper.
Art equipment wise, do bring your own kit if you have it but I will provide all paper and have spare paints and brushes for any that need them.
THE VENUE
The Hymns is a very special home, a sensitively restored ancient farmstead set in idyllic countryside in the Welsh Marches. Sitting at the end of a private lane, the farmstead and grounds are beautifully peaceful, offering a spacious and unique base perfect for a weekend of painting and relaxing. Our classes will be based in the Chapel Barn, a 17 metre airy space with wide reaching views out through a stunning oak gable to the north. We will be small group of a maximum of 8 students ensuring you get plenty of one to one tutoring and plenty of time to work on your still life study. The bedrooms sleep up to 12 and are spread over two upper floors. These rooms are filled with the owners collections of paintings and books. Downstairs, a large sitting room with ancient beams and comfy sofas and a large dining room in which to enjoy our meals.
H'Art Workshops (September)
Three days with three types of workshops are taking place during our Radnorshire Artists exhibition at the Hymns, near New Radnor.
Attendees are welcome to join workshops individually, or to make a day of it with two classes on each day, with a light lunch available for purchase in between,
Attendees are welcome to join workshops individually, or to make a day of it with two classes on each day, with a light lunch available for purchase in between,
Click here or the button above to book
|
Saturday 5th September
11am to 1pm Suminagashi Marbling with Sarah Amatt 1.30pm to 4.30pm Egg Tempera painting of Delft inspiration with Alison Huntley |
Sunday 6th September
11am to 4pm Watercolour painting the glories of the Garden with Deb Bunker |
Friday 11th September
11am to 1pm Suminagashi Marbling with Sarah Amatt 1.30pm to 3.30pm Drawing Techniques with Deb Bunker |
Saturday 12th September
11am to 2pm Egg Tempera painting of Delft inspiration with Alison Huntley 2.30pm to 4.30pm Botanical printing with Deb Bunker |
SUMINAGASHI MARBLING
Saturday 5th Sept 11am to 1pm (£35),
OR
Friday 11th Sept, 11am to 1pm (£35)
join Sarah Amatt to learn to marble paper with this ancient Japanese technique called Suminagashi which dates back to the Heian period of Japan (794-1185). We will be floating ink on water to create unique, subtle designs then lifting them off onto paper. Spend the morning unleashing your creativity and gaining familiarity with the process and materials involved. Take home many sheets of paper decorated with suminagashi for use in bookbinding, paper arts or just to frame! No artistic training required, just curiosity!
Saturday 5th Sept 11am to 1pm (£35),
OR
Friday 11th Sept, 11am to 1pm (£35)
join Sarah Amatt to learn to marble paper with this ancient Japanese technique called Suminagashi which dates back to the Heian period of Japan (794-1185). We will be floating ink on water to create unique, subtle designs then lifting them off onto paper. Spend the morning unleashing your creativity and gaining familiarity with the process and materials involved. Take home many sheets of paper decorated with suminagashi for use in bookbinding, paper arts or just to frame! No artistic training required, just curiosity!
EGG TEMPERA DELFT
Saturday 5th Sept 1.30pm to 4.30pm (£40)
OR
Saturday 12th Sept 11am to 2pm (£40), join Alison Huntley, to learn the ancient art of egg tempera and paint your own delft-tile inspired design to take home. This workshop shows you how to use raw pigment and egg yolk to make egg tempera paint. We will create a blue and white antique style delft ‘tile’ on hand made paper, using paint layering and ageing techniques. Suitable for beginners and those with some painting experience who wish to try a new medium.
Saturday 5th Sept 1.30pm to 4.30pm (£40)
OR
Saturday 12th Sept 11am to 2pm (£40), join Alison Huntley, to learn the ancient art of egg tempera and paint your own delft-tile inspired design to take home. This workshop shows you how to use raw pigment and egg yolk to make egg tempera paint. We will create a blue and white antique style delft ‘tile’ on hand made paper, using paint layering and ageing techniques. Suitable for beginners and those with some painting experience who wish to try a new medium.
WATERCOLOUR, DRAWING & BOTANICAL PRINT
Sunday 6th Sept 2026, 11am to 4pm (£50) join Deb Bunker for a watercolour workshop painting the Glories of the Garden, and, if the weather becomes inclement, the Glories of the Potting Shed! Using the beautiful gardens, greenhouse and potting shed of The Hymns, we will spend the day exploring watercolour techniques to create exciting, colour washed compositions. Suitable for beginners and intermediates over 14 years of age. Materials provided but do bring your own brushes and paints if you have them.
Friday 11th September, 2026 1.30pm to 3.30pm (£35), join Deb Bunker in her class designed to take your drawing skills to the next level, we will learn the fundamentals of composition, perspective and proportion, and how to build a sketchbook. Using right brain drawing exercises, we will speed up your drawing progress dramatically.
Saturday 12th September 2026, 2pm to 4pm (£35), join Deb Bunker for an afternoon of botanical printing. We will gather natural materials from the hedges and fields of The Hymns and use them to create delicate botanical prints using a simple monoprint method.
All materials provided. Age 14years plus.
All materials provided. Age 14years plus.
