Art Retreat: A Sense of Place

At Ashley Court — a charming Regency house set within beautiful gardens — you’ll leave behind the busyness of everyday life and enter a slower rhythm. This one-day retreat, led by artist Clare Schmidt Norris, invites you to explore a sense of place through playful, process-led experimentation and time for reflection.

Throughout the day, you will move between house and garden — noticing details, gathering materials and responding intuitively through mixed media play. You will explore freely and embrace the unexpected. Independent time allows you to wander, observe and immerse yourself fully in the environment.

Clare will gently guide you, providing prompts and creative challenges.

You will collage and combine your mixed media experiments, drawings and collected materials into a playful and personal journal that reflects the energy, discoveries and exploration of the day.

We’ll share a seasonal vegetarian lunch with produce from Ashley Court’s kitchen garden, and tea, coffee and delicious handmade cake — pausing and connecting with others.

This gentle six-hour art experience is for creative individuals and artists who want to experiment more freely and build confidence with materials and process. You’ll leave with a collection of mixed-media exploratory work and a renewed sense of freedom and curiosity in your making.

The day runs from 10.00am – 4.00pm. £125 includes all materials, lunch and teas/coffees.

Ashley Court, Tiverton, Devon EX16 5PD

Travelling from further afield? Extend the experience and stay the night at Ashley Court.