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In our busy world, weekends can often feel just as rushed as the work week, packed with errands, commitments, never-ending to-do lists and chores that need to get done. It doesn’t even seem possible to get a break from the doom and gloom that we are constantly being fed by the news cycle and social media. All of this leaves us feeling more anxious than ever and desperate to get a bit of respite from it all.<\/p>\n
Calm is often thought to be the opposite of anxiety, but research suggests that, actually, creativity is the antidote to anxiety as it helps us to engage the right side of the brain, which is associated with curiosity and emotional processing. Creative activities can therefore counteract the left side of the brain’s tendency towards anxious thoughts.<\/p>\n
So what if you could press pause on the busyness and overwhelm, take a break from anxiety and take a moment to invite calm into your life? At The Carlton, we would like to invite you to spend a few days immersed in creativity, surrounded by fresh sea air, inspiring landscapes, and like-minded company. In collaboration with a local artist, we have created a unique weekend retreat in Ilfracombe, where you don’t have to choose between calm and creativity.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re a complete beginner, someone who hasn\u2019t picked up a pencil in years, or a practising artist yourself, this art retreat in North Devon offers the chance to reconnect with yourself, with nature, and with your imagination. With the rhythm of the tides as your backdrop, and an experienced local artist as your guide, you\u2019ll spend time drawing, mark-making, and painting in a supportive and welcoming environment.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t about perfection or performance\u2014it\u2019s about presence. It\u2019s about stepping away from the noise and giving yourself the gift of creative freedom, all while enjoying great food, coastal views, and the comfort of a warm hotel bed at the end of each day.<\/p>\n
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This weekend art retreat has been carefully designed to blend creative exploration with gentle discovery and is perfect for anyone looking for a more mindful holiday with an artistic twist. Food lovers and coastal explorers, in particular, will enjoy the perfect balance of structured artistic guidance and restorative downtime here on the beautiful North Devon coast.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll develop your ability to see light and composition in new ways, capture movement and mood, and express your own emotional response to the North Devon landscape.<\/p>\n
The retreat is carefully designed to balance indoor studio time with outdoor inspiration. You’ll explore Ilfracombe\u2019s coastal paths and harbour views, observing the interplay of light and tide while learning how to translate these experiences into visual language. There will also be time to rest, reflect, and enjoy the company of like-minded guests. Each day builds on the last, guiding you from initial observations and sketches to a completed acrylic painting on canvas.<\/p>\n
This art retreat in North Devon takes place from Friday, 26th September to Monday, 29th September 2025.<\/p>\n
Whether you come alone or with a friend, this is an enriching, supportive environment where you can lose yourself in the process and come away with something that\u2019s truly your own and a reminder of your art retreat weekend in North Devon.<\/p>\n
During your relaxing weekend retreat, you\u2019ll experiment with different materials like pencil, pen, liquid charcoal, oil pastels, and watercolours. You\u2019ll take sketching walks outdoors, observing how light, tide, and landscape inform your work. You\u2019ll learn about colour theory through creative palettes such as the Zorn palette and Frida Kahlo\u2019s vivid colour world. And finally, you\u2019ll create a finished acrylic-on-canvas piece that you can take away with you as a memento of your experience.<\/p>\n
Each day starts with a nourishing breakfast in Brasserie before you head off on a short walk to the studio in central Ilfracombe. The day ends back at the hotel as you enjoy a chef-prepared meal made from locally sourced and seasonal ingredients<\/a>. Evenings are your own to relax and reflect, be that alone in contemplation or sharing a cocktail in Ilfracombe<\/a> with newfound artistic friends on the same Devon art break.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019ve never really embraced your creative side or you regularly paint in your spare time, this creative retreat is designed to be welcoming, inspiring, and completely accessible. You don\u2019t need any formal art training or advanced skills to take part; simply bring your curiosity, an open mind, and a willingness to explore your artistic calling.<\/p>\n There is no pressure to create a masterpiece, so rest easy and focus on the mindfulness of the activity. You\u2019ll be guided by an experienced tutor who will be on hand to support you through each stage, from playful mark-making to producing your final canvas. The emphasis is on observation, exploration, and the joy of creative discovery. This is not about perfection.<\/p>\n This artistic retreat is ideal for solo travellers or couples looking for a restful, enriching weekend that combines creative expression with natural beauty and outdoor exploration<\/a>. If you\u2019re someone who finds joy in walking<\/a>, sketching, sea views, connecting with like-minded people, and appreciating good food, you\u2019ll feel right at home on our art retreat in North Devon.<\/p>\n This creative getaway includes a three-night stay at The Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe, with breakfast and dinner included, and expert tuition and guidance by a local art expert. All equipment is also supplied, including materials and aprons.<\/p>\n If you have favourite brushes or your own equipment that you would rather use, please feel free to bring them. We recommend that you please dress for the weather, so pack sun-hats and sunscreen, woolly hats and fingerless gloves, waterproof clothing and sensible shoes for the beach or slippery conditions, because it can get chilly on the North Devon coast.<\/p>\n We also recommend you bring a mobile phone or a camera to assist in your referencing.<\/p>\n Jane Perrin<\/a> is a multi-media artist, originally from the North East coast of Scotland. She moved to Ilfracombe straight from Glasgow School of Art, where she studied fine art.\u00a0Always an impatient painter, she turned to photography as her hand struggled to keep up with the ever-changing light. Photography soon became a full-time career and passion for Jane, and she achieved Fellowship with the British Institute of Professional Photography<\/a> (BIPP) and Associateship with the Royal Photographic Society<\/a> (RPS)<\/p>\n Ilfracombe has been Jane’s home for 40 years, where she lives with her husband Carl, a born and bred local. Together, they share six children, all of whom have now found their own way in life.<\/p>\n Maturity has brought her some patience, and the coastline provides her inspiration. Jane’s art is mostly described as bringing happiness and joy. Colour is everything to Jane and she works in mixed media, enjoying pen and ink, watercolour, acrylic, oils, printing and photography. Her studio is open to the public, where she displays her work and runs classes for all abilities.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re longing to escape the hustle and gift your mind with some much-needed downtime, perhaps an art retreat in North Devon is exactly what you need.<\/p>\n Dates: <\/strong>Friday, 26th September to Monday, 29th September 2025<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> \u00a3679 based on a three-night stay, with bed, breakfast and dinner included. Price is for two people sharing a double- or twin-bedded room, assuming one art workshop participant.<\/p>\n Additional nights can be booked for \u00a370pppn.<\/p>\n Upgrade to a Queen or King room from \u00a325pppn.<\/p>\n Please call us on 01271 862446 to book your creative getaway or email eliot@ilfracombecarlton.co.uk<\/a> for further information and to discuss pricing variations, for example, a different room type or two art workshop participants per room.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover a Creative Break in North Devon In our busy world, weekends can often feel just as rushed as the work week, packed with errands, commitments, never-ending to-do lists and chores that need to get done. It doesn’t even seem possible to get a break from the doom and gloom that we are constantly being […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":285426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Is This Creative Retreat in Ilfracombe Right for You?<\/h2>\n
What’s Included in Your Art Retreat in North Devon?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAbout the Tutor<\/h2>\n
![\"Jane](\"http:\/\/www.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Jane-art-holiday-tutor-during-Art-Trail-weeked.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBook Your Creative Holiday in North Devon<\/h2>\n
Morte Point, Mortehoe Village<\/span><\/h1>\r\nEnjoy a challenging walk through a rare spot of coastal heathland which provides the wonderful backdrop for a wealth of wild flowers and wildlife. \u00a0You might even be lucky enough to spot some of our infamous sealife including dolphins and seals. This wonderful dog walk will take you out into the fresh country air and really give you an opportunity to get the blood pumping with steep ascents, steps and descents to challenge you along the way. \u00a0Adventurers will be rewarded with the discovery of some hidden beaches along the way and for those who enjoy a bit of history, discover why Morte Point has been responsible for many a shipwreck throughout the centuries.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Saunton Sands<\/span><\/h1>\r\nA short drive or long walk along the South West Coast Path and you arrive at stunning Saunton Sands. \u00a0This particular beach is a favourite for dog walks\u00a0as it welcomes dogs year round. Saunton Sands employs\u00a0easy to follow zoning sections where just the car park and first 5 minutes of your stroll requires that your dog is kept on the lead. \u00a0From here you have the next 3.5 miles of golden sands to explore and enjoy with your four legged friend.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Hillsborough Nature Reserve<\/span><\/h1>\r\nKnown to the locals as 'the sleeping elephant', Hillsborough Nature Reserve offers a short but testing walk for you and your dog. \u00a0This dog walk takes you past beaches which are also dog friendly so offers plenty of opportunity for a run and a dip in the sea for both of you - especially welcome during those warm summer months! The views provided by this dog walk are glorious - a bird's eye view of Ilfracombe, out to Lundy Island and even as far as the South Wales coast. \u00a0There is so much for nature lovers to enjoy along the way too with an array of wildlife and their habitats to be seen.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
Baggy Point<\/span><\/h1>\r\nAs well as providing a dog friendly route, Baggy Point is also an easy access route which is especially important in opening up our beautiful countryside walks to as many people as possible. \u00a0Considered an easy route, Baggy Point lends itself to those pups who cannot manage a challenging route but still enjoy the great outdoors. \u00a0It is also considered equally good for young children. Baggy Point might be a shorter, easier dog walk than others on our list, but nonetheless it delivers in breathtaking sights. \u00a0The views along the way extend along the coast and out to sea\u00a0and you can also enjoy sightings of our diverse wildlife and sealife - there's plenty to keep everyone captivated along the way.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\r\n
The South West Coast Path<\/span><\/h1>\r\nThe Carlton Hotel is delightfully situated in Ilfracombe town centre where you can begin dog walks\u00a0in any direction to end up on the beautiful South West Coast Path. \u00a0Here we have miles and miles of stunning countryside and coastal walks to explore and discover your very own favourite spot. Whilst we have only covered our top 5 dog walks\u00a0in this blog, there are of course so many dog walks here to enjoy and far too many to list . \u00a0The South West Coast Path website<\/a> is an excellent place to begin to plan your local dog walks when you visit us here in Ilfracombe.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Carlton Hotel is a dog friendly hotel which welcomes well behaved humans and their four legged friends. \u00a0Our aim is to make your break as pleasurable for your dog as it is for you. \u00a0Inform us when you book<\/a> and we will endevour to ensure all your needs are met, including bowls and dog beds in your room. We look forward to welcoming you and your dog to The Carlton Hotel.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column][plethora_button button_text=\"Book your dog friendly stay here\" button_link=\"url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilfracombecarlton.co.uk%2Fbook%2F|||\" button_size=\"btn-lg\" button_style=\"btn-primary\" button_align=\"text-center\" button_with_icon=\"0\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_padding_top=\"padding_top_none\" row_padding_bottom=\"padding_bottom_none\"][vc_column width=\"1\/4\"][\/vc_column][vc_column width=\"3\/4\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]","_et_gb_content_width":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,548],"tags":[733,732],"class_list":["post-285420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-packages","tag-art-retreat","tag-creative-getaway"],"yoast_head":"\n