A creAtive retreat in beautiful Portugal

A wildly wonder-full week of presence, practice, and creativity

Bring your sketchbook, your wild heart, and let’s create together

Oh, my wild-hearted friend, I have a beautifully bespoke creative self care invitation for you!

Join me in historical Tomar, Portugal in May 2026, where ancient stone walls hold centuries of stories, where wildlife moves freely between land and water, and where the light falls with its own unique, serene glow.

This isn't a retreat about productivity or perfect drawings.

It's about bringing your whole self, the beautiful human you are right here and now, to a practice of devoted attention. About letting your sketchbook become a record of how you showed up for wonder, for wild beings, for the gentle unfolding of eight days lived at the pace of presence.

We'll begin with a boat trip to an island rich with wildlife, cameras ready, hearts open, sketching if the moment
calls for it.

These encounters, these photographs, these moments of connection with native wild beings will become the creative seeds we tend throughout our week. Back at Casa Genoveva, we'll have generous studio time where you can return to these wild beings again and again, building relationship through sustained attention.

Between our creative studio sessions, we'll wander with our sketchbooks and cameras and wide eyes full of wonder

Through the medieval Castle and Convent of Tomar, discovering the region's deep history. To Quinta da Bizelga, a historic property where past and present meet. We'll gather for meals in the walled garden, sharing wine and stories under Portuguese evening light. We'll have the freedom to sketch en plein air in the gardens, to follow our curiosity, to rest when we need rest, and receive the gift of care.

A full week where you can practice Creative Ecology with wild Portugal as both muse and teacher, surrounded by women who understand that art-making is a form of reciprocity, of belonging, of coming home to yourself.

Where We’ll be staying

Casa da Avó Genoveva is a lovingly restored 19th-century home in the heart of Portugal's Ribatejo region, about an hour from Lisbon.

This isn't a hotel, it's a charming family home that has welcomed guests across generations, where stories and meals and creative work are shared with the same care.

The house offers spacious, light-filled rooms with ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning, and all the comfort you need.

But what makes it special is the feeling of the place: the walled garden where we'll take our meals, the Great Room with its fully equipped kitchen where our hosts will prepare regional dishes, the quiet corners perfect for journaling, the sense that you can truly settle in and stay awhile.

Our studio space has everything we need for our creative work, with room to spread out and natural light that changes throughout the day. And the grounds themselves - olive trees, flowering gardens, peaceful corners - invite both rest and gentle exploration.

This is a place that understands the rhythm of creative work: the need for both gathering and solitude, inspiration and integration, beauty and belonging.

You can see more about Casa da Avó Genoveva here

Coming in 2027!

Limited Spots Available!

Eight days, seven nights in the Portuguese countryside

Pricing:

$3,600 USD (shared room)

$4,100 USD (single room)

{ Casa da Avó Genoveva will handle all payments securely and assist with all booking details. }

Your time with Natalie

Each day will be a gentle weaving of exploration and creation, movement and stillness, connection and solitude.

We'll practice all three strands of Creative Ecology together: Wild Place (the sensory richness of Portugal itself), Wild Being (the creatures we encounter and honour through our art),
and Wild Words (the reflections and wonderings that want to be captured on our pages).

On the Water: Your Wildlife Encounter

Early in our week together, we'll take a boat trip to observe wildlife in their element. Bring your camera or smart phone, your open-hearted wonder, your willingness to simply witness.

We’ll encounter all manner of water birds, plus the wild horses of the Portuguese islands. We might sketch in the moment if it feels right, but there's no pressure - this is our opportunity to take it all in, to be completely here and to use all our senses to embody the experience entirely.

These encounters are about presence first, about building visual memory and genuine connection with the beings we meet. The photographs and memories from this day will become beloved subjects throughout the rest of our retreat.

In the Studio: Devoted Attention

Our studio space remains set up throughout for our entire stay - a sanctuary you can return to whenever inspiration calls.

Here, we'll work with those wildlife photographs from our boat trip, learning to translate what we witnessed into sketchbook pages. I'll guide you in working with graphite, coloured pencils and watercolour, teaching approaches that honour both realism and your unique way of seeing. We will have thought and journaling prompts, to fill our pages with words too, or to create those wild words separately.

Whether you're filling your sketchbook with detailed wildlife studies or creating looser, more impressionistic pages that capture the feeling of your encounters, I'll support your process. This is about building a genuine relationship with these wild beings through sustained creative attention, not about perfection.

En Plein Air: The Garden as Teacher

Casa Genoveva's grounds offer endless opportunities for sketching the natural world right where we're staying. Ancient olive trees, flowering gardens, the particular quality of Portuguese light on stone walls, all of it invites our gentle attention. We'll have dedicated time for outdoor sketching, learning to see and capture the beauty that's already here, and weave our sensory experience into our pages stories.

Cultural Immersion: Portugal's Deep Roots

Our excursions aren't separate from our creative practice, they're part of it. When we visit the Castle of Tomar, when we explore Quinta da Bizelga's historic grounds, when we wander through centuries-old architecture, we're feeding our artist's eye. We're learning how this land has shaped and been shaped by human and wild presence over time. We get to appreciate the craftsmanship of the masons and sculptors, to wander and wonder, and to invite those old stories into our sketchbook pages.

In Your Sketchbook: Creative Ecology Pages

Throughout the week, I'll guide you in creating sketchbook pages that weave together all three strands of your Creative Ecology:

Sensory observations from your immediate surroundings (the taste of Portuguese fresh produce and bold wines, the texture of stone, the scent of garden herbs)
Wildlife studies from our boat trip, gardens, and local encounters
Words and reflections that capture what this experience is teaching you

Your sketchbook will become a field guide to your Portugal experience - uniquely yours, full of presence and devotion, and so much more deeply meaningful than photos kept in files on your computer.

COMING IN 2027!

Limited Spots Available!

Eight days, seven nights in the Portuguese countryside

Pricing:

$3,600 USD (shared room)

$4,100 USD (single room)

{ Casa da Avó Genoveva will handle all payments securely and assist with all booking details. }

What's Included

Your Creative Journey:

Daily guidance in Creative Ecology sketchbook practice
Wildlife sketching instruction (graphite, coloured pencil & watercolour)
En plein air sketching sessions in the gardens
Support for your unique creative voice and vision
Small group size for personalised attention

Your Accommodations:

7 nights in beautiful ensuite rooms
All meals prepared by in-house cooks using regional ingredients
Wine with lunch and dinner
Wifi, AC, and heating throughout

Your Experiences:

Boat trip for wildlife observation and photography
Visit to the Castle and Convent of Tomar
Exploration of Quinta da Bizelga historic property
Wine and regional products tasting
Private group transportation for all excursions
Plenty of free time to rest, wander, and create

What's Not Included:

Travel to/from Portugal
Three lunches during excursion days
Travel insurance
Personal art supplies (detailed supply list provided upon booking)

Your Excursions

The Castle and Convent of Tomar

We'll visit this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site, where Templar history meets extraordinary architecture. Walk through centuries of stories, sketch the details that catch your eye, let the weight of time and beauty feed your creative spirit. Lunch by the river follows, where we can process what we've witnessed and rest before continuing our gentle exploration.

Wildlife by Boat

On our second day together, we'll take to the water to observe Portugal's rich wildlife in their natural habitat. This is about presence and witness, about really seeing these beings, about capturing them in photographs that honour their particular aliveness. Whether you sketch in the moment or simply soak in the experience, these encounters will become the heart of much of our studio work throughout the week.

Quinta da Bizelga

This historic property, home to generations of Portuguese nobility, offers a glimpse into the region's layered past. We'll tour the grounds, enjoy a meal here, and have studio time afterward to create from whatever moved us during the visit. It's a chance to see how humans have lived in relationship with this land, how beauty and practicality have woven together over time.

What you will carry home

You'll return with a sketchbook full of Portuguese light and wild encounters, yes. But also:

Confidence in your wildlife, nature and historical sites sketching practice
Experience translating photographs and subjects held in hand into devoted art-making
The embodied memory of what it feels like to create at the pace of presence
New approaches to Creative Ecology you can sustain long after you're home
Friendships with women who understand that art is a practice of reciprocity
The knowing that you belong to the wild world, and it to you

Most of all, you'll carry the gift of having given yourself eight days to slow down, to pay attention, to let your creativity and your wild heart lead, and to have allowed yourself to be cared for.

This Retreat Is For You If:

You want to experience your Creative Ecology Sketchbook Practice in an immersive setting

You long for dedicated time to develop your wildlife and wild world art practice without pressure or rush
You want to learn realistic sketching skills grounded in presence and relationship
You're ready to be cared for, meals prepared, logistics handled, beauty offered, permission to rest and move at your own pace
You crave the companionship of other women who understand that creativity is a form of devotion
Portugal is calling to you, and you're ready to answer
You know that the art you make matters less than the attention you bring to making it
You want to return home changed, not just with a full sketchbook but with a deeper relationship to yourself and the wild world

A Note on Art Materials

You'll receive a complete supply list upon registration, but know this: I'm committed to keeping materials accessible and sustainable. Most of what you need, you may already have. And if not, everything can be sourced simply and without breaking your budget.

This practice is meant to be carried forward, not dependent on expensive supplies.

I will also be bringing you a whole bunch of goodies to play with too!

The focus is always on your attention, your presence, your growing relationship with wild beings - the materials are simply how we translate that devotion onto paper.

Portugal Is Waiting

There's something about art retreats that changes how you see. Something about the pace of life while immersed in creativity that reminds you what it feels like to be fully present. Something about being held in a community of creative women, all choosing to show up for beauty and wonder and wild connection.

This is more than a retreat. It's a return - to yourself, to slowness, to the kind of art-making that feeds your soul instead of depleting it. To eight days where you don't have to be anything other than your wild self, curious, present, and willing to be moved by what you witness.

I have participated in many creative retreats myself, and they are, quite literally, life changing.

Your wild world is calling.

I hope you'll come meet it with me in Portugal.

With wild creative devotion,

COMING IN 2027!

Limited Spots Available!

Eight days, seven nights in the Portuguese countryside

Pricing:

$3,600 USD (shared room)

$4,100 USD (single room)

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. This retreat welcomes everyone from complete beginners to experienced artists. I'll meet you exactly where you are and support your unique creative journey. What matters isn't your current skill level—it's your willingness to show up with curiosity and an open heart.
That's absolutely fine! While students of Your Wild World will recognize the Creative Ecology framework, this retreat is designed to be accessible to anyone drawn to wildlife art, nature connection, and creative practice. I'll introduce all the concepts we need as we go.
We're limiting this retreat to 11 participants to ensure an intimate, supportive atmosphere where everyone receives personalized attention. This size creates genuine community while allowing space for individual connection and quiet reflection.
Yes, generous amounts of it. While we have daily creative sessions and excursions, there's also time built in for rest, wandering, journaling, or simply being. You're welcome to sketch in the gardens alone, take an afternoon nap, or sit with a book and Portuguese wine. This retreat honours your need for both connection and solitude.
Absolutely. Many participants come alone and find this to be one of the joys of the experience—showing up just for yourself, making new friendships, and being held in a community of like-minded women. If you're booking a shared room, I'll thoughtfully pair you with another solo traveller.

The retreat location is approximately one hour from Lisbon Airport. We will arrange shared transportation from Lisbon for those arriving on similar flights.
Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS) is the primary airport, about 1 hour away. Porto Airport is also an option but it is 3 hours away from Casa Genoveva. Most international flights connect through Lisbon, making it the most convenient choice.
Yes! If you’d like to extend your time in Portugal before or after the retreat, our Host will gladly advise on nice places to visit, cosy hotels to stay and transfer options.
Let us know your plans after you register, so we can help you!
Late May in central Portugal is typically warm and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 15-25°C (59-77°F). You'll want layers for cooler evenings and comfortable clothes for warm days. I'll send a detailed packing list after registration.
Yes, I strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and lost belongings. This gives you peace of mind and protection for your investment.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Many countries enjoy visa-free travel to Portugal for stays under 90 days, but please check current requirements for your specific passport. I'm happy to provide a letter of invitation if needed for visa applications.

Upon registering you will be asked to choose between Single Occupancy or Double Occupancy. Single Occupancy Room bookings give you a private room with a private bathroom. Double Occupancy Room will give you a room with two beds and a private bathroom, to share with another Artist. All rooms have private bathrooms.
Casa Genoveva's cooks can accommodate most dietary needs including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and common allergies. You'll indicate your requirements on the registration form, and they'll work with you to ensure you're well-fed and happy.
Breakfast is continental style with regional products. House lunches and dinners are prepared by the house cooks using local, seasonal ingredients. Meals are taken together in the walled garden, patio or dining room, creating natural opportunities for conversation and connection. Three lunches during excursion days are not included, giving you flexibility to explore local restaurants.
This retreat involves gentle walking during excursions (cobblestone streets in historic sites, grounds of estates) and standing/sitting during art sessions. You can always go at your own pace, rest when needed, or skip activities if you prefer. The boat trip is accessible, and studio work can be done sitting.
Casa Genoveva is a historic 19th-century home with some architectural limitations. Please contact me directly to discuss specific accessibility needs so I can work with the venue to accommodate you as best as possible.
Please let me know about any medical conditions on your registration form. Portugal has excellent healthcare, and we'll have information about local medical facilities. Bring any necessary medications and medical documentation.

Got any other questions not answered here? Let me know below and I will get right back to you!