Welcome to Italy 2026
Our Art Retreat in The Heart of Italy
28th Aug - 4th Sept, 2026
A very warm Welcome to you!
I am so happy you are here.
I want to start by saying that giving yourself a week like this is a beautiful thing. Time to create, to slow down, to be somewhere new, to be in the studio with no one needing anything from you. That is a gift. And I cannot wait to share it with you.
For one full week we will gather at the gorgeous Hotel Leone in Le Marche, Italy. A small, soulful boutique hotel nestled in a medieval hilltop village, with views to the Sibillini Mountains on one side and a little glimpse of the Adriatic on the other. It is quiet. It is warm. It is the kind of place where you exhale the moment you arrive.
This is a page with information for you to prepare for the trip. I will add to this page as we get closer.
I am so excited to meet you in August.
What this week will give you
Here is a little taste of what you can look forward to:
A new way of working with mixed media, more playful and free
Creating soulful faces and eyes through layers, with real emotional depth
Letting go of perfection and embracing the beauty of imperfection
Becoming a little bolder and braver in your creative voice
A handful of finished pieces, plus a simple art journal to remember it all
Personal one to one guidance from me, in a small group of creatives
New friendships with like-minded people who really get it
Excursions to the beautiful surroundings
Rest, good food, slow mornings, long dinners, and a real sense of being held
And maybe most importantly, a renewed trust in your own creative voice
You are coming for the art. You will leave with so much more.
I cannot wait to create with you in Italy.
A week of creating, exploring, resting, and reconnecting with your own creative voice.
We will spend our painting days in a bright, air-conditioned private studio, getting joyfully messy with mixed media. Think layers of paper collage, acrylic paint, acrylic ink, crayons, pens, and all the grungy texture I love. I will guide you step by step through my creative process, share live demonstrations, and paint at least one of my signature faces alongside you so you can see exactly how I work.
You might paint faces. You might not. The subject is not really the point. What we are really practising is how to let go. How to loosen up. How to release the need for perfection and trust your own creative voice. Whether you are a complete beginner or an established artist looking to deepen your practice, there is a place for you here.
And it is not all studio. We will step out into Italy too. We will have a taste of Le Marche with local food and wine producers, a visit to the beautiful town of Ascoli Piceno, a pizza giro evening at a little trattoria a few minutes from the hotel, and gentle days on location with our art journals.
Where we will stay
Our home for the week is Hotel Leone, a beautifully restored pre-16th-century palazzo perched on the edge of a historic hilltop village in Le Marche, Italy.
It is the kind of place where time slows down on its own. Quiet mornings, long afternoons by the infinity pool, evenings filled with good wine, slow conversation, and beautiful local food under the open sky.
The hotel is small and soulful, with just twelve individually designed bedrooms. Each one has been lovingly put together with care, character, and lots of thoughtful little details, while still feeling fresh, comfortable, and easy to settle into.
It feels elegant and welcoming at the same time. A little luxurious, very warm, and so easy to feel at home in.
Our Excursions
Taste of Le Marche
Experience the community and culture of Le Marche on a full-day “Taste of Le Marche” excursion, where we’ll visit three family-run, artisanal food and wine producers tucked into the region’s rolling hills. At each stop, you’ll enjoy a guided tour and tasting—sampling everything from hand-pressed olive oil and aged cheeses to regional wines and traditional sweets. Along the way, you’ll meet the passionate makers behind these local treasures, hear their stories, and experience firsthand the heart, heritage, and hospitality that make this region so special.
Torre di Palme
Perched high above the Adriatic Sea, Torre di Palme is a jewel of the Marche region—quiet, sun-washed, and full of charm. With its narrow stone lanes, flowering balconies, and sweeping sea views, this medieval hilltop village feels like a step back in time. We’ll wander through its peaceful streets, sketching its textures and vistas, and soaking in the stillness that makes it such a perfect place for reflection and creative pause.
Ascoli Piceno
Eleanor's background spans education, coaching, and creative development. With a strong focus on process and progress, Eleanor helps learnerOnce a thriving Roman settlement, Ascoli Piceno is a town steeped in elegance and timeless beauty. We’ll stroll through the grand Piazza del Popolo—one of Italy’s most beautiful squares—lined with Renaissance architecture and gleaming travertine stone. From there, we’ll explore its winding streets, historic churches, and artisan shops, soaking in the quiet rhythm of Italian life. It’s a place where history and inspiration meet at every turn—an artist’s dream come to life.s move from where they are to where they want to be—one step at a time.
Do you have a question?
I am Jenny and I am your Creative Guide on this Art Retreat.
I am a perfectly imperfect, mixed media artist.
Like you, I spent many years pushing aside my creative spark. Then, one day I realised the only way to awaken my inner artist was to just dive in and do it.
This means focusing on the process of making art–the making and doing. Over the years I’ve developed an intuitive, unstructured, tactile and yes, messy (but fun!) process that has allowed me to open up the magic of what is unique within me.
Now, I am a Mixed Media Artist living in Stockholm, Sweden who has sold artwork, exhibited and run workshops all over the world. And I’m on a mission to inspire people like you to be brave, to use your inner creativity and to do more of what you love. To learn how to be more creative in life, as well as in your art.
I love sharing my magic world with you and can’t wait to see you in Italy. I have seen how my creative approach has helped the creativity blossom in me and in thousands of my students. I’m so excited to share it with you to inspire you to expand your skills, and grow your creative confidence too.
Love Jenny
