Take your artistic journey to new heights!

The Artists Retreat in Andalucía

Friday 20th September - Monday 30th September 2024

Every aspect of this art retreat is designed to revitalise your energy and passion for drawing and painting in one of the most inspiring regions of Spain, Andalucia. This art retreat has an exciting combination of creativity, delicious cuisine, walks and day excursions exploring some of Andalucía’s most beautiful villages and colourful landscapes to ignite your passion.

Immerse yourself in an inspiring atmosphere where you can connect with other artists and like-minded peers. There will be painting demonstrations and personalized tuition that will help you learn new skills and strengthen existing ones to elevate your artistic journey to new heights!

A little glance to wet your brush and your appetite!

We meet you on arrival at Malaga train station at 1 p.m. on the first day. After a quick cafe stop to refresh you, we drive in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle to Granada. After arriving at our beautiful accommodation near the Alhambra, enjoy light refreshments over an introduction to your retreat.

Granada - The Alhambra and Generalife

On day two, we visit the magnificent Alhambra and Generalife. The Alhambra’s stunning palaces, tranquil gardens and trickling fountains are a delight for the senses and will inspire your imagination. To top the day off we will walk up to the plaza San Nicholas where you can see one of the best views of the Alhambra at sunset. This is one of the most quintessential and photographed views in Spain. Sunday is a free morning to either explore the Albaycin with its charming narrow labyrinth of streets and delightful tea houses or join an excursion to the Alpujarras before we begin our next few days of painting in and around Granada.

During the first six days you will have the opportunity to paint or draw in either the gardens of the Alhambra or nearby Granada. We paint during the mornings and again later in the day when the temperature is cooler, so participants can come and go as their work allows. It’s each person’s choice as to where they work, whether that be outside in the garden, during excursions or back under shade in privacy at our accommodation. There will be an opportunity to participate in plein air painting demonstrations, receive instruction if desired or simply create in privacy. We will also take a day excursion to Guadix. Guadix is a fascinating troglodyte town with colourful lime-washed houses and cute chimneys that pop up like meerkats everywhere. It’s one of Spain’s oldest historic towns, similar to Cappadocia.

Mediterranean Cuisine

Enjoy delicious meals with a mediterranean flare prepared with local seasonal produce. Breakfasts and lunches are inclusive except when we dine out during excursions. After a rewarding day of creativity, we can’t think of any better way to end the day than with a glass or two of Spanish wine or fino accompanied by delicious tapas and wonderful conversation.

Ronda - Breathtaking and Majestic

From Granada, we travel to our fabulous accommodation in Ronda. For the second part of your art retreat, you will be filled with even more inspiration! The ‘Puente Nuevo’ bridge built in the 18th century is a masterpiece of engineering, spanning a deep gorge with vertical rock faces on both sides. At the base of the Puente Nuevo, Grant will demonstrate how to use charcoal drawing to quickly establish tone and scale for creating a larger work back in the studio. From Ronda day excursions to the white villages (Pueblos Blancos) of Grazalema, Zahara and Arcos, will provide even more subject matter as you discover some of Spain’s hidden gems.

The Pileta caves

The Pileta caves, are also on our itinerary and will take you back to the origins of art and ignite your enthusiasm. The scenery on the way to the Pileta caves is as dramatic as any in Andalucía. This area, with craggy terrain, is renowned for birds of prey and a treat for ornithologists. The Pileta caves, with their palaeolithic and neolithic rock paintings, are privately owned and were discovered by the present owners’ grandfather in 1905. Inside there are caverns of varying sizes - the tallest is 12 metres high- where Stalactites droop overhead. Some of the oldest paintings date from the Paleolithic period some 25,000 years ago showing a pregnant mare, goats and an enormous fish. These caves are incredibly impressive and visitors are taken through in very small groups, which is perfect for us.

The finale! Arcos de la Frontera

Our last day is in Arcos with a rooftop evening surprise! to inspire the next part of your creative journey and leave you with lasting memories of this wonderful region in Spain and new friendships to continue and enrich your future.

Reserve your spot early as participation is limited to a small group on a first-come, first-served basis!

Your hosts and art facilitators

Grant Kenny and Alexandra Heyes

As practising artists and tutors with works in private collections around the world, Grant and Alexandra are delighted to share their practical knowledge of painting and art history. 

Grant Kenny studied painting in Madrid at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, painted in the Museo del Prado and the National Gallery in London. Grant has lived and travelled extensively throughout Spain and as a consequence knows Spanish art and history very well.  Fluent in Spanish he enthuses those who meet him with his passionate, entertaining and funny anecdotes. His plein air painting experience will help you gain an understanding of composition, tone and the medium of oil that will bring you great confidence.

Alexandra specialises in portraiture and figurative painting. Alex makes her own oil and tempera paint and loves experimenting with natural pigments, mediums and surfaces, sharing this knowledge through her workshops and art courses. Not only does she love painting but her passion for cooking, especially Andalucian cuisine, will treat you to some mouth-watering classics like salmorejo and her speciality flan!

During this Artists Retreat in Ronda, painting demonstrations and personal tuition are freely available to each attendee. If you have never painted from life or in plein air then this artists retreat will open a door that will ignite your confidence. 

As each artist has different material requirements participants are requested to bring their own art supplies. We are happy to send a list of materials we recommend after you register should you need one. If you would like any materials to be purchased on your behalf, to save having to bring them with you, we may be able to arrange this as long as you give us advanced notice ( The cost of materials is additional and we can send you a quote ). Easels may be available if you require one. ( Please advise us if you need an easel as these must be booked ahead of time). Arrangement for the transportation of finished works after the retreat is the sole responsibility of each participant.

Your art retreat facilities and accommodation

The accommodations we choose are all luxurious, from charming boutique hotels to stunning private villas, and 4-star hotels depending on the number of participants and availability. All rooms are double and include breakfast. Each of our accommodations include areas to paint and relax, many with their own private gardens.

The Artists Retreat in Andalucía - 2024

Includes the following

What’s Not included

Airline tickets. Travel insurance and visas. (A mandatory requirement which must be arranged from each person’s home country.)  Art materials. Please note: It’s each participant’s sole responsibility to arrange transportation of their completed work home after the retreat. Private travel including taxis or buses to and from the retreat accommodation. Alcohol, however, we do provide a moderate amount of wine and fino with meals. Hotel mini bar expenses. Evening meals away from the residence and during excursions. *Whilst breakfasts and some catered meals are included in the Artist’s Retreat when we eat out at restaurants and cafes, these are not included. 

Excess baggage, any related excess, lost or stolen luggage or other costs due to travel during the tour or airline disruptions. Entry tickets for museums and other events you choose to visit that are not specified on the Art Retreat itinerary. Telephone communication or business charges in hotels or villas. (All our accommodation has free wi-fi ) The cost of items of a personal nature such as laundry services eg: dry cleaning.

Please read about our terms and conditions and our art retreat policy.

Our art retreat policy →