2025 Lutruwita / Tasmania Art Retreat - let's take a peek!

How do you sum up a fabulous art retreat with a beautiful bunch of humans into a few words and some pics? You can't! But I'm going to do my best...

Artable invited me back to Enclave Tasmania to do a 5 day Art Retreat in September 2025. This was the second time coming to this incredible venue. The first was back in January 2024 when they had just opened. I think I was only the second or third teacher to test it all out. I was so excited to be back though.

Enclave is in the north east corner of Lutruwita / Tasmania in a town called Winnaleah. The neighbouring town of Derby is much better known, especially if you're into mountain biking! We're talking an hour and a half from Launceston, an hour from the Bay of Fires. It feels like the middle of nowhere but it's the perfect setting for an art retreat with an abundance of natural beauty surrounding it.

Most of us arrived into Launceston on the first day and it was proper bucketing rain. We got transported in the near dark up to Winnaleah and were treated to welcome cocktails, delicious dinner and a cosy fire. What a way to get started!

The rain kept pouring on our first retreat day but it was a little blessing in disguise. We got a full day in the studio. Gill, our host, had run around and picked some glorious winter blooms like huge camellias and rhododendron so inspiration was abundant. It was so nice to slowly settle in, keep our bums toasted on the fire and have too many cups of tea. Over the course of the first day we explored our palette set up, painted some flowers and then explored some mixed media applications with the flowers. I encouraged everyone to pick their favourite mixed media and work into a larger, more complex piece. The works from the first day blew me away! This group had such a natural, confident energy. It was a joy to work with. Plus lots of easy chat and laughs makes all the difference!

Our second day we were greeted with no wind and sunshine! Classic Tassie. We headed out the back to the kitchen garden and spent some time with the sun on our faces, sketching all the gorgeous chooks. There were Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks racing all over the yard (AKA very fancy looking chickens). It was a new challenge for many trying to capture a moving target and there were lots of giggles.

We spent time after that translating our sketches to small studies and paintings before heading out to the Little Blue Lake to stretch our legs and see the sights.

Our third day was forecast to have the best weather and that meant only one thing - day trip to the Bay of Fires! I can never get enough of this incredible location, it's nature in its grandest display. First off though, a quick pit stop in St Helens for a coffee and a little bit of shopping. This was such a nice way to start the day. We then drove out to Binalong Bay and spent the rest of the day sketching, soaking up our environment, walking, swimming, taking photos. You don't have to go far here to have views that’ll stop you in your tracks. We were very lucky to enjoy a sunny wind-free day and at about 3 the easterlies kicked in and it was time to go home.

We stopped for a quick walk in an ancient myrtle forest on the way back. It's a long and windy road between the coast and Winnaleah so this was a a nice little break from the bus and a chance to soak up some green. I'd never seen tree ferns like them!

Our fourth day started off with a little excursion to a nearby lake nicknamed the mirror lake, take a look at the pic below and you'll understand why! It is truly quite mesmerising! There wasn't a puff of wind. After that we headed back to the studio.

Over the course of the week I wanted each of the students to capture their best memories of Tassie and put them into a concertina artist book to take home. A special little keepsake encapsulating their art retreat experience. We spent the rest of the day planning, sketching and prepping our books. There were three components, the concertina contents, two covers and a belly band to wrap at the end. It was such a pleasure watch each book take shape and see all the different experiences wrapped up.

For those who wanted to, there was an afternoon excursion to the Floating Sauna too. I couldn't go last time as I was pregnant so I definitely had my hand up this time! What an experience! That first jump into the lake was totally nerve-racking, it was only 7 degrees! But the sensation afterwards was electric. Highly recommend.

Photo: Morgen Carson

Friday, our final day was spent in the studio completing our artist books. It was so nice to finish how we started, tucked up in the studio with the fire roaring. Delicious homemade cake and tea to keep us fuelled. Everyone was so focused, there was an amazing energy in the room. Towards the end of the day we packed up our stations and set out all our favourite pieces we'd worked on, including our books, for a little show back for the whole group. What a beautiful way to celebrate the week. We had a little cheers then headed out for pizza at The Hub in Derby.

Every evening we were treated to local produce, fine wine and desserts to die for, the food drew endless compliments. Our days moved with ease, no one was ever in a rush. We explored both hidden local gems and world-famous sites, all woven seamlessly into the rhythm of the week. This retreat was the perfect balance of art, rest, and a little indulgence. A huge thanks to Gill and Steve for doing what you do so well. As one guest called out, “the best retreat ever” — and I couldn’t agree more.