Scotland Castle Artist Retreat

Forres, Scotland 2024

Live Like A Laird at Brodie Castle

&

Paint the Scottish Highlands

Experience An Enchanting Week of Art Making, Journaling,

Touring, Exploration, and Friendship

Summer 2024

&

JOIN US IN 2024!!!

If you loved watching “Outlander” and “Men in Kilts,” get ready to experience Scotland! Learn from incredible artists’ during engaging workshops, demos, and lectures at locations such as the the Moray Art Center, Bow Fiddle Rock, Elgin Cathedral’s ancient ruins, fishing villages, and coastal rocks and cliffs. Stay in an 800 year old castle and enjoy evening storytelling, a live violinist performance & pub visits. Eat food prepared by a Scottish chef and enjoy a whiskey tour, the local markets and shops, and an optional Edinburgh Post Trip. Read more below and click on the links to the left of the page for more details of the retreat.

Click the button below to see pricing and register for the retreat


ASSISTANT NEEDED

We need your help. We need an assistant to help with the day to day duties of running a retreat. We want our participants to see a friendly face when they get up in the morning and someone willing to help to make sure everyone has what they need, be it towels, making the coffee and setting out continental breakfast, filling glasses of wine, or being that someone participants can really talk to…..and someone who can easily run up a flight of stairs to retrieve any important documents, or art supplies on the fly, so to speak. This assistant also needs to be able to handle switching gears in a moments notice, and may have to help participants with getting their art gear ready or placed in the vans. If this is something you might be interested in…then pleads click below to read more and apply. All meals, lodging and some demos and some painting opportunities included.


Read More About The Artist Retreat Details Below

Bow Fiddle Rock Demo with Jonathan Shearer

Your Host, Gena Brodie Robbins with Artist and Cousin, Amanda Brodie Stenlund at Brodie Castle.

Pub Trip and Dinner at Mash Tun in Arberlour, Scotland

Elgin Cathedral Ruins and sketching/painting location

Participants got a chance to strike an Outlander pose at Clava Cairns.

This magical seven-day artist retreat and excursion is nestled in the countryside of the Scotland Highlands in Forres, Scotland not far from Inverness, Elgin, and Nairn, and is only a few miles from the beaches and cliffs along the edge of the waters of the Moray Firth. Live like a Laird and stay with other creatives in the Laird’s Wing of Brodie Castle. Explore the Moray Coast, it’s villages, historical landmarks, ruins and culture. Eat beautifully prepared meals by world-renown chef, Donnie MacLeod, and learn from award-winning artists while painting Bow Fiddle Rock and it’s dynamic cliffs, and Hopeman Beach with its rocky shores. In the evenings, receive helpful critiques, and listen to a local musician and a storyteller as they play traditional Scottish tunes and tell jaw-dropping folklore tales.

Watch and learn from some of the best, award-winning artists of the UK & U.S. along with receiving one-on-one and group critiques and instruction from your host and professional artist, Gena Brodie Robbins,

Enjoy sketching and painting en plein air throughout the beautiful Brodie castle grounds and gardens. Explore the ancient Clava Cairns and Via Duct. Sketch the essence and beauty of the historical ruins of the Elgin Cathedral. Enjoy a whisky tasting at one of the many historic distilleries along the Speyside Whisky Trail, and experience and end of the retreat art show with live Scottish music…and much more.

While participating in breathtaking painting excursions and day trips to the cliffs and beaches of surrounding fishing villages, experience lunches and a few evenings sampling some of the best local food and spirits in Scotland’s authentic restaurants and pubs.

Extend your artist retreat and add a two-night stay with us in Edinburgh and explore its many museums, shops, historical landmarks, and delightful restaurants and cafes. Read more about the Edinburgh extension below and highlights of our hotel, the Market Street Hotel in Old Town.

Market Street Hotel, Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland

Market Street Hotel, Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland

Clock Tower at Night, Edinburgh

Clock Tower at Night, Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle & Ross Fountain

2022 Artist retreat participants on Victoria Street in Edinburgh, Scotland

What Does The Artist Retreat Include?

What the artist retreat includes:

  • A smoke-free environment .

  • 7 night shared room occupancy with twin beds in the Lairds wing. Choice of twin bed with a roommate, shared room with a double bed (spouse, partner, relative, etc.)…or private double bed, single occupancy.

  • Each floor has shared bathrooms. The 1st floor has one bathroom with a stand up shower and one bathroom with a tub with a hand held UK style shower head attachment. The second floor has two bathrooms with tubs. One has a handheld shower. (Please note: The castle is historical and 800 years old).

  • Laundry Room off of courtyard with washer and dryer and small washer in kitchen.

  • Champagne reception upon arrival.

  • A surprise art activity that includes some art materials.

  • All meals, drinks, and snacks: Six catered dinners, three catered traditional Scottish breakfasts, three continental breakfasts, and buffet-style self-catered lunches.

  • Access to all areas of the Laird’s Wing in the castle. The kitchen has a coffee maker, microwave, stove, refrigerator, and freezer.

  • Transportation to all-day trips and painting excursions.

  • Tickets to all attractions and tours.

  • Ongoing instruction and in-progress critiques.

  • 12 hours of guest artist demonstrations and discussion.

  • Storyteller and violin performance at the castle.

  • Alcoholic beverages served at dinner.

What it does not include:

  • The ability to smoke or vape!!!!! NOT ALLOWED!!!!!!!! WHATSOEVER!

  • Airfare

  • Transportation to and from airport

  • Meals or drinks at restaurants or other off-site locations

  • Bar tabs

  • Alcoholic beverages outside of provided dinners, reception

  • Art supplies such as traveling easel, paints, paint brushes and drawing materials

  • Personal items (Please bring an extra towel and Loofah)

  • Use of Brodie Studio van or car

  • Keys to the castle or vans