Five Day Art Retreat on Exmoor
Walk the Moor. Paint the sea.
Exmoor's only retreat where you do both.
Five days of gently exploring the landscape and guided art, based in our south-facing cottages on Exmoor — five minutes from the sea at Lynmouth. A wonderfully inspiring and restorative retreat on Exmoor. A chance to create, relax and explore in beautiful surroundings and nature.
Art that begins outside and comes to life indoors.
Every morning begins outside with a gentle, unhurried exploration of the landscape around us. Bridget and Richard guide you at a relaxed pace — through the high moor, the wooded river valleys, the coastal paths with views over the sea and the tucked-away places that most visitors never find. These are not strenuous hikes but mindful wanders: walks designed to help you slow down, look carefully, and take it all in. Bridget guides you to look the way an artist looks — at the light, the texture, the mood, the small detail that makes a place feel like itself. Richard knows the routes, the hidden viewpoints, and how to set a pace that gives everyone time to stop, breathe, and notice.
You'll sketch, photograph, make notes, and collect impressions as you go. There's no pressure to produce a finished piece on the walk. The walk is about gathering — raw material for what comes next. Back in our light-filled art studio each afternoon, that raw material becomes something you made yourself.
No experience needed. Just curiosity, comfortable boots, and a willingness to get a bit of ink on your fingers
Why this retreat
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Only 8 places. Small enough that you'll get real time with your tutor and get to know your fellow guests properly.
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Stay where you create. Guests stay on-site in our cottages, with private terraces, 11 acres of wildflower meadow, far-reaching Exmoor views — and in Fern and Whitebeam, a wood-fired hot tub to relax in and look at the stars.
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All materials provided. Oils, watercolour, gouache, acrylics, printmaking materials, charcoal, ink, paper, boards, brushes, palettes, studio easels — and a complimentary sketchbook from local artisan papermaker Two Rivers. Whether you've never picked up a brush or you paint every week, you'll be guided at your own pace.
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Wholesome food, made from scratch. Homemade lunches and dinners, homemade cakes, teas and coffees, and welcome drinks on arrival
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24-hour art room. The studio is yours around the clock, giving you the luxury of getting completely absorbed in your work whenever the mood takes you.
Retreat Dates...
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September 30th - October 6th 2026
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April 12th -18th 2027
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October 4th -10th 2027
Places are limited to eight guests. Early booking is recommended — contact us to check availability.
Prices
All prices are per person for the 5-day retreat including 6 nights' accommodation.
Arrangement and Price per person
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One person in a one-bedroom cottage £1,175
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Two people sharing a one-bedroom cottage (with sofa bed) £920
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Two people sharing a three-bedroom cottage with wood-fired hot tub £1,340
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Three people sharing a three-bedroom cottage with wood-fired hot tub £1,095
We have reserved all cottages for each retreat — contact us to find out which are still available. If you have a partner who'd like to join you in the accommodation but not on the retreat, there's usually a small extra cost — just ask.
Sample Itinerary
This will vary with weather and the group.
Arrival day
Arrive from 2pm. Settle into your cottage, then join everyone for welcome drinks with Bridget and Richard at 6.30pm.
Retreat days 1–4
Meet in the art room at 9.30am for tea and coffee (you're welcome to use the art room earlier if you wish). Set off for a guided walk — either directly from Moor and Sea or driven to a location. Walks range from dramatic coastal paths and beaches to woodland walks with waterfalls and beautiful open moorland. There'll be time to sketch or paint in nature, gather inspiration, collect materials, and take photographs.
Lunch is either a delicious homemade packed lunch of soups, bread, dips and cheeses, eaten back at Moor and Sea, or a cosy pub lunch out and about. Walks on some days are shorter to allow more time in the art studio.
In the afternoon, explore and develop your ideas in a variety of media in our light and airy art room.
Each day includes a homemade lunch or dinner and cakes. There'll also be a gentle yoga nidra session on one evening and a soma breathwork session on another. Wild swimming is available weather and tide permitting.
Day 5
A delicious group breakfast, then a day similar to the others but with more flexibility to finish your artworks. In the evening, a group showing of everyone's creations — followed by a meal out in Lynmouth.
Bridget and Richard — your hosts
Bridget and Richard run Moor and Sea Holidays and art courses together. They walk on Exmoor and the North Devon coast most days .
Bridget is your tutor and artist guide. She works in oil, print, and glass, and most of her inspiration comes from walking and sketching every day. She'll plan creative exercises to get you going, but equally you can follow your own artistic thread, creating alongside like-minded people. She works with everyone from complete beginners to experienced artists wanting to explore in this part of the world.
Richard guides the morning walks alongside Bridget and cooks the meals. He's an accomplished craftsman working mostly in wood, equally inspired by the local landscape and can help you find the perfect view.
What is included...
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Six nights' accommodation in one of our eco cottages on the Moor and Sea estate
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Guided sketching and painting walks with Bridget and Richard
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Welcome drinks on arrival
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A homemade lunch or dinner each day of the retreat, plus homemade cakes, teas, and coffees
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A full selection of art materials: oils, gouache, acrylics, printmaking materials, charcoal, ink, paper, boards, brushes, palettes, studio easels and other artist tools
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A complimentary sketchbook from local artisan papermaker Two Rivers
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Transport to different locations
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Creative guidance from Bridget throughout
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24-hour use of the art room
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Charcoal making
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Sound bath or soma breathwork session
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Yoga session
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Wild swimming (weather dependent — transport provided to a suitable location, not instructed)
You can opt out of anything you'd rather not do.
Optional extras
Printmaking is available at a small extra cost for materials (a basic starter set is included).
Not included
Cost of lunches out at pubs or cafes · Cost of the group meal out on the final evening
We have a maximum number of eight on each course so that everyone has the best experience possible.
This course is suitable for everyone from those new to art through to experienced artists wanting to explore and be creative in this stunning part of the world. The course is partially En Plein Air so come prepared!
Book your place
To reserve your place or ask a question, contact Bridget and Richard directly.
Email: contact@moorandseaholidays.co.uk Phone: 01598 751567 or 07794 594916
For every direct card booking,1% of your payment goes towards helping support Exmoor National Park
Some of the reviews of our art retreat
The best art retreat I have ever been on, everything was perfect from the accommodation to the hikes, to the food: but most importantly the level of tuition and encouragement was exceptional. Our hosts were charming and generous, and the group was supportive and fun. Cannot recommend the retreat highly enough.
I’m just back from a 5 day art retreat staying in Fern with my husband.
Bridget and Richard created a safe, nurturing environment for creativity , exploration and self development. There was a large , generous selection of art materials provided and Bridget was there to support, encourage and use her expertise in a gentle way. We were taken to different locations, all in the stunning area of North Devon where we worked plein air and managed our own challenges within that with sun, wind and rain . A learning experience. We were physically nourished by Bridgets delicious cakes and Richards delicious meals and welcomed into their beautiful home. Fern lodge was cosy, comfortable , peaceful and I miss the ever changing stunning views over the countryside. The week left me enriched and inspired.
Thank you
Fantastic on every level.. Bridget and Richard really thought of everything to make the art retreat so enjoyable. I felt so nourished and cared for. It felt like time out of time.. they were welcoming, generous and I felt such freedom to be myself . The setting and facilities are great, and they were generous in sharing their love for the area.