3-8 September 2025
Capture the essence of Portugal through pen and watercolour sketches, with Renee Walden. You will explore the rustic allure of Monsaraz, where each cobblestone and rolling hill tells a story waiting to be painted.
We’ll be painting outside and in the dedicated studio, and you’ll learn about aerial and linear perspective, compositional ideas and the power of a limited colour palette. We’ll have fun sketching and painting all sorts of subjects, and my aim is to give you the confidence to try new things.
On this retreat, Renee will give you the confidence to paint en plein air, mastering the art of capturing scenes on location with ease. With minimal materials, you’ll learn to create evocative sketches that tell a story. It’s a small group only, which ensures you’ll receive personalised attention, with ample time dedicated to questions and one-on-one feedback.
This retreat is not just about improving your technique, it’s about fostering a deeper connection with your art, telling a story and capturing your memories in a visual way, and all in the company of like-minded individuals. By the end of the retreat, you’ll have a your memories captured in watercolour sketches and an invigorated passion for painting.
Renee Walden is a renowned contemporary artist known for her vibrant paintings that capture the essence of the world around her. Renee has a profound appreciation for the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife of the places she has lived and traveled to. A South African born, New Zealander, currently living in Spain, she taken her sketchbook and paints with her across the globe. Painting the world, first on location and then in the studio, has given her a deep connection to the story behind places and the people who live there. Often she paints these stories in a representational way, sometimes in more abstract form, but her paintings are always full of colour and emotionally resonant. She believes that experiencing the landscape firsthand is crucial to capturing it’s true spirit.
Renee has exhibited often in New Zealand and her pieces are held in collections across the world. She regularly conducts workshops and art retreats, sharing her techniques and inspiring a new generation of artists to paint outside and to find their voice. Her passion for the environment also drives her involvement in conservation efforts, using her art to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the natural world. Join Renee, and let’s explore the art of watercolour together!
September – 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 – 2025
(6 days and 5 nights)
Shared Room:
2.000€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = 2.460€
Single Room:
2.100€ PP (+vat 23%) = total 2.583€
Paid 2 times:
Reservations:
1st Payment:
1230€ (shared room)
1291,5€ (single room)
2º payment until 15th May 2025:
2nd Payment:
1230€ (shared room)
1291,5€ (single room)
4 full day Art Classes with Renee Walden
Yoga Class
Visit to the Rug Factory
Visit to Tile Museum in Estremoz (one hour way from SIM)
3 Dinners
4 Lunches
5 Nights Acommodation (with breakfast included)
Wine tasting Event
Transport from Lisbon Airport to the Hotel (2 hours) and transport in the area.
• It is advisable to book the plane after the final confirmation that the retreat will happen, or sooner until we have 10 participants.
• If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 10, the event can be canceled and the payments refund to the participants, less 50€ for cancelation costs.
WEDNESDAY, 3 September 2025
The bus will pick the participants at Lisbon airport at 4 pm. It is advisable to arrive at Lisbon airport before 4 pm. If there is a travel delay you will phone us to wait for you.
Arriving at the hotel Vila Planície, Monsaraz. Around 2 hours from Lisbon.
After Évora drive to Reguengos de Monsaraz, and then Monsaraz/Telheiro.
A light dinner is served at the Hotel when arriving.
THURSDAY, 4 September 2025
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll walk together for 15 minutes to “Sofia In Monsaraz”. There we will have a welcoming session and then we’ll do some painting in the studio before moving into the gardens with our sketchbooks.
Around 12.30 we’ll have lunch at SIM.
In the afternoon, and before dinner we will visit the Rug Factory. Then we will travel to the castle/Monsaraz, where the dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
FRIDAY, 5 September 2025
Today we visit Monsaraz to sketch all day in this pretty hilltop village. The bus will pick us up after breakfast for a 10 minute ride. We’ll have lunch in a local restaurant.
The day will end with a wine tasting to learn more about Alentejo’s wines with a local sommelier. Dinner is not included.
SATURDAY, 6 September 2025
This day we will visit Estremoz Village (1 hour bus drive away), where we will go to the Museum of Tiles and then explore the amazing local market.
Lunch will be in a nearby restaurant.
We will then return to SIM and in the afternoon we will sketch from photos we took in the morning.
Dinner is not included. There is an option for this night to organize an astronomical observatory to see the stars and planets from a local observatory (tickets are not included).
SUNDAY, 7 September 2025
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll take our sketching gear with us and sketch a scene on our walk to SIM.
Then in the studio we’ll finish our sketches from the week.
After lunch we will create an informal mini group “exhibition” to review the paintings and sketches to discuss what you have learnt, with Q & A and personal feedback.
Dinner will be at a local restaurant, where we’ll share the special moments of our days, with new friends.
MONDAY, 8 September 2025
After breakfast at 9 am you return to Lisbon, and estimated arrival time is 12.30 pm.
On the way to Lisbon the bus will stop at a local pottery shop for 45 minutes.
Everything is organised to detail so that nothing will prevent you from enjoying all the peace and quiet of the Alentejo.
All the rooms have air conditioning, full and private bathroom, shared or private balcony and outdoor access.
This accommodation is a 15-minute walk from the workshop venue (SIM) and passes by the Bulhoa menhir (National Monument) and the Alentejo plain, ideal for reflection before starting work.
Shared Room:
2.000€ PP (+vat 23%, only 6 rooms available) = 2.460€
Single Room:
2.100€ PP (+vat 23%) = total 2.583€
Paid 2 times:
Reservations:
1st Payment:
1230€ (shared room)
1291,5€ (single room)
2º payment until 15th May 2025:
2nd Payment:
1230€ (shared room)
1291,5€ (single room)
If you would like to make a direct booking: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
Internacional roundtrip airfare, transport to the place, alcoholic drinks, activities not included in the itinery, hotel incidentals including room service, expenses during free time, laundry service and hotel bar, food and beverages not included in the itinerary. COVID-19 test, if applicable.
We require all participantes to have a personal travel insurance that at minimum covers medical emergencies and cancellations. We do not provide travel insurance for the retreat and each participant is required to have their own individual travel insurance. The place, where the retreat happens, has an Insurance that covers accidents. Will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you have to miss your scheduled trip.
We cannot guarantee to accommodate vegan, gluten free or dairy/egg free, and some allergies. We are unable to accommodate participants with severe food allergies or food intolerances. Please contact us in advance of registering if you have any dietary questions
It will start when arriving at the hotel, Wednesday and finish when you leave the hotel, by Monday. We are not responsible for any non-retreat activity that a participant decides to purchase outside of the retreat and such activity will not form part of the participant’s contract with us. The bus transport is insurance secure.
This retreat includes one walking tour, where the ground may be uneven and you may be on your feet for several of hours at a time and should be comfortable walking 1km.
The supllies list will be comunicate a few months before the event.
In this event we will accept until 15 people. The event does not include spouses, partners or friends if they are not taking the workshop. Please contact us if you would like to bring a non-participant partner.
If we cannot gather the minimum participants of 10, the event can be canceled and the payments refund to the participants.
Other questions about this retreat please contact: info@sofiainmonsaraz.site
For more info or questions please consult here our Terms & Conditions.
Rua do Chafariz, nº 6 Aldeia do Outeiro
7200-179 Reguengos de Monsaraz
(+351) 266 557 091
Sofia in Monsaraz Ⓒ 2023 – All rights reserved | Identity design by Jorge Silva | Video created by Janz Anton-Iago | Photos by Ana Paula Carvalho
We will contact you with the details for payment.
This website uses cookies to ensure the best user experience and improve the quality of our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to receive all cookies and agree with our Privacy Policy .
