WILD WOMAN
Art Retreat 2027
Permission to Play!
For the Midlife Woman to return to herself and give time and space to discover what’s next, without the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘ought to’s’ weighing her down.
📍 North Yorkshire, UK
📅 11th - 15th October 2027
VIP Day on the 16th October
Have you spent years putting everyone else first?
I’m willing to bet that your life became full of school reminders, careers, caring responsibilities and endless to-do lists.
Somewhere along the way, the door to your passions quietly closed.
Your light dimmed and gathered dust.
Your desires were pushed to the back of the cupboard.
Even now the children have grown, you have to schedule play, joy and self expression on your calendar otherwise you will forget to give this to yourself.
But now you are feeling a powerful urge to create the next chapter of your life differently.
To play with ideas you buried down deep.
To expand your creativity.
Even bring a passion project into reality.
And you can’t ignore it any longer.
You can hear the call of adventure and wild expressive play.
This is exciting but different to what you are used to – so where to start?
After all you feel safe when there is structure…
but the chance to experiment, explore and express is so alluring.
The wild woman is beating her drum and you are ready to dance to her rhythm and see what happens.
You are ready to place yourself and your needs first.
And create without judgement or fear interrupting your flow.
Now, imagine this...
‘sYou have five days with no expectations – no shoulds or ought to’s’ – fully immersed and surrounded by the wild expanse of the Yorkshire Moors..
- No pressure to get it right.
- No art rules.
- Just colour. Curiosity. And childlike wonder.
You’ll have the time to embrace the stillness, quieten your busy brain and allow the intuition to flow.
Just like the original Wild Woman.
And you’ll be creating with women who simply get you.
Laughing til your cheeks ache.
And remembering yourself as an artist before convention and conditioning quashed your creativity.
The one who loved to:
- paint like no one’s watching
- play with art media like an excited child
- trust and listen to her intuition to make art that is powerful and meaningful to you.
Now perhaps...
You’ve spent years being the one who holds everything together. Looking after everyone else. Being sensible. Doing what was expected of you. Being the ‘good girl.’
And somewhere along the way, you lost touch with the woman who used to play, dream, create and follow her instincts.
When you create, you find yourself worrying whether it’s good enough.
You fear the blank canvas.
You fear people dismissing your ideas as frivolous fantasies. What if you fail? What if you prove everyone right – people like you cannot dream big and make thingshappen.
You have ideas bursting inside you, but you second-guess them before they ever get a chance to come alive.
And you’ve become disconnected from your intuition.
BUT you know there’s a new chapter waiting for you.
And this is why I’ve created this Wild Woman Art retreat.
To remember what happens when you stop trying to get it right and start asking:
“What do I really want?”
“What do I want to say?”
“What do I want to create?”
What happens when you give yourself permission to create?
Meet Ann...
However, this wasn't celebrated - it was considered frivolous. It was much more important to be academic. So my art was pushed aside. It lay dormant for over 50 years until I met Sarah.
Sarah unlocked and unleashed me and my artistic self. She cleverly weaves her masterclasses and courses and never disappoints. I've never looked back. I'm in awe and wonder of what I create.
Art is an integral part of my life now. Its an essential part of my mental health and wellbeing. I immediately felt safe with Sarah.
She put me at ease and that trust and surrender led to flow, growth and self-belief. I now strongly believe I'm an alchemist and an artist. It brings great joy to my life.
So don't hesitate in working with Sarah your best is yet to come.
I highly recommend her".
Example of Ann's work from our time in Wild Woman Rising
This is for you if...
This retreat is for the woman who knows there’s a creative and playful part of her longing to return.
- You are at a threshold after a big life change and you are wanting to do things differently from now on.
- You used to love making art, or you’ve recently found your way back to it and you’re longing to make art that feels like YOU.
- You have a perfectionist streak or self-doubt that limits your self expression
- You have watched art tutorials but you want your art to say something about you
- You want to be more intuitive with your art practice and less bothered by technique
- You are open to spiritual practices and want to combine them with your art making and the way you make decisions
- You are happy to attend a an alcohol free retreat.
This is NOT for you if...
- You are looking for traditional, step-by-step art tuition.
- You are in the throes of trauma or grief – there are other people who specialise in this who can help.
- You are not open to the diversity of others. We embrace all beliefs, race, colour, background and believe most strongly in humanity and equality.
- You want to focus primarily on realistic or technical painting.
- You’d rather be told exactly what to paint than explore what emerges intuitively.
- It would greatly trigger you if your work was different or, in your view, not as good as other people’s on the the retreat.
- You’re not curious about exploring the connection between creativity, intuition and self-expression.
- You’re not happy to attend a retreat without alcohol.
6 Invitations...
Every day reveals another part of your creative journey.
10th October 7pm – Meet and Greet
Main retreat: 11th – 15th October 2027
VIP day 16th October 2027
Day 1 - Play
What do YOU
desire?
First, an opening ceremony where we will choose our intentions for next chapter in life. Then we’ll play with words, colour, marks and texture to embody our desires. Maybe a guide will arrive as we play.
Day 2 - Curiosity
Letting Go of Expectation
Starting from story wisdom, we will create with curiosity and without a plan to build up our creative resilience. We will explore what comes up for us when we let go of expectation and stay curious.
Day 3 - Courage
We are Bright, Bold Beautiful Beings
We’ll paint and print with nature to meet our wild guide. No plan – just our own creative courage. This will be followed by a guided visualisation to receive their message and gift as we move into our new chapter.
Day 4 - Trust
Lean Into Your Inner Knowing
We will step inside a story that teaches self trust and resilience. We will become the characters and draw and paint inspired by what we experience from the story.
Day 5 - Reflection
Carry the Magic Home
Some gentle time to paint a Wish Rock with affirmation, colours and patterns that will remind us of our very special time together. A treasure to cherish. Followed by a very special closing ceremony.
VIP Day - Intuition
Create and Read Your Own Oracle Cards
We will spend our VIP day learning to read playing cards intuitively. We will paint from a place of intuition and receive our own special message. Scroll down for more info.
Each day I will provide journalling prompts for you to reflect on around a passion project or other focus you have.
What is included:
- 5 days of intuitive painting with access to an art mentor so you can paint with more expression and without creative limits
- A pre meeting via zoom for all the guests to create together virtually plus a meet and greet on Sunday 10th October @7pm
- Painting within a small group (no more than 8) like-minded women so you are supported to paint with more depth, freedom and flow to see what emerges.
- Visualisations, story and archetype wisdom so you can deepen your creative intuition and self-trust and fall in love with every mark you make and every idea you have.
- Free afternoons to explore the area, take walks, write or read so you have plenty of downtime to reflect and integrate what you have learnt.
- Experimenting with ways to mark make and layer paint with no art rules here plus time an space to explore the possibility of a passion project.
- Transportation from the nearest rail station from the retreat and transportation back if arriving by train.
- Food glorious food – delicious food throughout our stay provided by a home cook who will stay with us for the whole visit. A range of dietary needs and allergies can be catered for.
- A beautiful set of holiday homes on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors so we can create and find clarity in the silent expanse of the wild, wild wilderness.
- Pleases note no alcohol will be provided or served so we can fully connect into the intuitive flow
Our Home in North Yorkshire 11th October- 15th Oct (VIP day 16th Oct)
For five days, we’ll make our home tucked away in the beautiful, wild and remote countryside of North Yorkshire.
We’re staying in a rural setting offering a glimpse into traditional English countryside life.
This is the wild, beating heart of England. The wilderness.
The wilderness has been a powerful setting in storytelling, often used to explore themes of survival, self-discovery, and the intricate relationship between humanity and nature.
Our holiday home will be our creative base and a place to slow down, breathe and connect. There’ll be time to gather around the table, wander, chat, rest and simply enjoy being somewhere completely different.
And you won’t have to worry about feeding yourself either.
(No making 3 different meals to cater to all your family’s preferences! How glorious!)
All your meals are included apart from the times you will want to eat out, giving you the chance to properly switch off from the planning, shopping, cooking and organising that usually comes with everyday life. We’ll share good food, stories, laughter and the experiences of the day around the table.
And if you have allergies or specific dietary needs, we’ll discuss these with you before the retreat so that we can make sure you feel well looked after throughout your stay.
We’ll be surrounded by the same landscape that has inspired generations of stories. This is where Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights were written.
And I love the thought that we’ll be creating our own stories with art as our guide.
Five days of wild moorland, creative adventure, good company, delicious food and the freedom to make your own mark with a large sprinkle of wild woman magic.
A beautiful cottage style holiday home on the edge of the moors and close to historical sites.
Space for quiet contemplation, journalling and relaxation.
A break from all the demands
Some single rooms are available plus sharing – perhaps an opportunity to make a new lifelong friend
A cook who will create delicious, honest home cooked food. A range of dietary needs and allergies can be catered for.
This is what Diana has to say...
Meet Your Guide
Hi I’m Sarah
I’m an artist, creativity guide and lifelong lover of colour, curiosity and making a glorious mess.
For years, I thought being an artist meant being good at art. I worried about getting things wrong, making ugly paintings and what other people might think.
It took me a long time to realise that the most exciting work happens when we stop trying to get it right and start listening to what wants to come through.
That’s what I love about intuitive art. It gives us space to play, experiment, make a mess, follow a hunch and see what emerges.
I’ve spent years developing my own intuitive creative practice and helping women reconnect with the artist inside them — particularly those who have lost touch with their creativity along the way.
You don’t need to be “an artist” to come on this retreat.
You just need a little curiosity and a willingness to play.
I’ll be there to guide and encourage you, while creating a space where you can experiment without judgement.
Because this retreat isn’t about teaching you how to paint like me. It’s about discovering what happens when you give yourself permission to paint like YOU.
I can’t wait to welcome you to the Wild Woman Art Retreat.
Imagine what you'll bring home with you…
You’ll leave with more than paintings.
You’ll leave with a deeper connection to your own creative voice.
You’ll have given yourself permission to create without rules, without judgement and without needing to know where you’re going before you begin.
You’ll have explored your intuition and learned to trust those little nudges again.
You’ll have played, experimented, laughed, made a mess and surprised yourself.
You may discover ideas and possibilities that you couldn’t see when you were caught up in everyday life.
And perhaps most importantly…
you’ll remember who you are when you’re not busy being everything for everyone else.
You’ll go home with your artwork, your memories, your new creative possibilities and a renewed sense of “I can.”
You will create more often and make art you love.
You may even find yourself saying yes to the thing you’ve been putting off.
Taking your ideas seriously.
Making space for your creativity in your everyday life.
Trusting your instincts a little more.
And looking at the next chapter of your life with a very different question.
Not:
“What am I supposed to do now?”
But:
“What do I want to create?”
This is your invitation to stop waiting for permission.
To reclaim your creativity and PLAY!
To reconnect with the wild, intuitive, playful part of you that’s been waiting patiently beneath all the responsibility.
Your investment to yourself: £3000 (this is the early bird then full investment will be £3500)
Your Investment:
5 Day Retreat
(11th - 15th Oct 2027)
+ Sunday 10th for Meet and Greet
£3000
This investment is an early bird price which will end in March or when the first 4 people have joined us – whichever comes first.
The full investment for this retreat is £3500
Retreat VIP Day
Saturday 16th October 2027
£500
VIP day is Saturday 16th October aimed to deepen your connection to your wild woman intuition. We will be reading and painting our own oracle cards.
More info below.
VIP Travel for International travellers and those who wish to break up a long journey
£500
Arrive 2 days early on Friday 8th and we will arrange 2 nights in the beautiful and historical city of York so you can enjoy the retreat without the effects of jet lag.
And we will pay for your train fare to get there and to the retreat.
Whatever path you choose...
There are options to pay in 3 instalments with Klarna.
Or pay in 6 or 10 monthly instalments.
(VIP travel options are up to 6 month payments only so we can comfortably arrange your accommodation and travel).
Payment includes accommodation, food and art materials plus access to my intuitive art workshops.
It does not include travel there (unless you choose VIP travel) and any trips, meals, snacks, souvenirs.
Ready to give yourself permission to play?
I’ll send you full travel information and recommendations for getting to the holiday home once you’ve booked.
Your VIP Day: Create and Read Your Own Oracle Card
Make your stay even more special and choose to come to our VIP day on Saturday 16th September.
Stay for one more day and learn to read the playing cards from a place of deep intuition. Followed by painting your own special card with your own special message.
It will be a chance to bring all what you have explored and experimented with during our week together. A skill you can tune into whenever life is a challenge and guidance is needed.
Who shows up might surprise you.
I will also be offering 3 card readings from my hand painted oracle card deck based on your gift, your challenge and your possible outcome. This will be recorded and sent to you after the retreat.
We will end with a final meal and special mocktails.
Add this to your experience for just £500.
Refund Policy
Places on the Wild Woman Art Retreat are limited and significant costs and preparation are committed in advance.
If you need to cancel your place, please contact Sarah as soon as possible. Any cancellation charge will reflect costs already incurred in connection with your booking. Where appropriate, we will offer the remaining value of your booking as credit towards a future Sarah Bowden Art retreat or another Sarah Bowden Art course or offering.
In exceptional circumstances, such as bereavement or involuntary unemployment, we will always try to be as understanding and flexible as possible and will consider each situation individually.
If Sarah Bowden Art has to cancel the retreat, you will be offered the choice of transferring your booking to a future retreat or another Sarah Bowden Art offering, or any refund to which you are legally entitled.
We strongly recommend taking out suitable travel insurance to cover unexpected circumstances, including illness, cancellation or the need to withdraw from the retreat.
If you choose to pay using Klarna, please ensure that you read and understand the relevant provider’s terms and conditions before completing your purchase.
This is what it feels like to be a Wild Woman Artist:
More Student Art
Let's make this a coven of Wild Woman Artists!
This offer at this investment is open for the first 8 women. After this, you will be added to a waiting list for future retreats and I cannot guarantee the investment will stay at this rate.
FAQs
Do I need to be an experienced artist?
Absolutely not. All levels of artist welcome from beginner to experienced. This is not so much about making beautiful art, but using the power of art as a way of discovering what we need, what’s next and what is important to us right now.
What if I haven’t painted for years?
This doesn’t matter one bit. You will soon feel very comfortable making art again. This retreat is very beginner friendly.
Will I have my own room?
There are 3 single rooms available and the rest will be sharing. The single rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis. As soon as you book, I will be in touch and you will be able to choose your room.
What’s included?
The price includes your accommodation, your art materials, meals at the holiday home and transportation from the nearest railway station. Plus my very own brand of art mentoring and self designed workshops for you to explore the power of your intuition.
What’s not included?
Flights, or any transportation costs associated with getting to North Yorkshire unless you opt for VIP travel, meals and snacks outside the holiday home, souvenirs, and anything you decide to buy outside of what’s in the program.
How do I get to the North Yorkshire?
The retreat is in North Yorkshire, in the beautiful Howardian Hills.
By train: York is the nearest major railway station, with direct trains from London and other major UK cities.
By air: For international guests, the nearest airports are Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle. But you can also fly into London with a tube or taxi then train journey of roughly 3.5 hours. See VIP day bonus to help make your stay more delightful if travelling internationally.
Full travel information, including directions from the airport or station will be provided after booking.
What should I bring?
Clothes you don’t mind getting messy in. This is the UK and we have anything from warm sunshine to pouring rain this time of year, so bring layers, suitable footwear for a rural setting and clothes for walking in. All art materials are provided, but if you have any special art equipment you like to use, feel free to bring.
What Art Materials are included?
Acrylic paints, watercolours, acrylic inks, brushes, sketchbooks, colouring pencils and oil pastels. And anything else I like the look of nearer the time!
What happens if I need to cancel?
If you need to cancel your place, please contact Sarah as soon as possible. Any cancellation charge will reflect costs already incurred in connection with your booking. Where appropriate, we will offer the remaining value of your booking as credit towards a future Sarah Bowden Art retreat or another Sarah Bowden Art course or offering.