Retreat: “To withdraw to a quiet or secluded place”
Oxford English Dictionary
At Backbury House Retreats we specialise in offering expertly planned courses in: drawing, painting, photography, printmaking and creative mindfulness.
In summary, we offer lots of choice including monthly taster sessions, weekly art classes as well as weekend courses. There are also bespoke options available too.
Furthermore, we believe that we offer a truly special art retreat in the UK. This is due to the picturesque and panoramic setting offering an inspirational and magical space to enjoy.
In conclusion, a visit to Backbury House Retreats really is an opportunity not to be missed!
All of our courses are delivered by a fully qualified art teacher with nearly 30 years’ teaching experience. In addition, we limit the number of attendees on our courses so that we can offer tailor-made support for every ability level.
In summary, we provide:
Please note that full details for all of our course options are detailed on the following pages:
Regular Classes and Workshops / Weekend Courses / Online Course
In summary, taster sessions offer a short introduction to a particular technique. They offer the basics in a subject in order to boost confidence levels and inspire you to learn more.
Therefore, we offer a rolling programme of beginner’s workshops every month. In particular, you can choose between our Beginner’s Watercolour Workshop or Beginner’s Drawing Workshop. So visit our events calendar to view more details and to book your place.
For your convenience, you can purchase our classes, courses and workshops online 24/7 through our Events & Bookings page. Once purchased, you will receive a booking confirmation plus helpful event information all via email.
So firstly, read all about our different programmes on the designated pages. Afterwards, choose either our Art Classes and Workshops page or Courses Menu page.
Then, once you have made your course choice, visit our Events & Bookings page to complete your ticket purchase. Just select the appropriate event and then scroll down on the event page to the ticket purchase section.
Finally, if you are unable to complete your purchase online, then please get in touch so that we can help.
Our studios are ideally situated for a great selection of places to stay, all within easy reach.
In summary, you could choose from luxury boutique hotels, traditional hostelries, budget options or even glamping!
So, head over to our accommodation page to view a selection of local options that we have provided for your convenience.
11-12 Oct 25
Suitable for beginners to improvers.
Weekend Course tickets available.
18 Oct 25
Aimed specifically at beginners.
3-hour Workshop tickets available.
01 Nov 25
Aimed specifically at beginners.
3-hour Workshop tickets available.
15-16 Nov 25
Suitable for beginners to improvers.
Weekend Course tickets available.
We have two regular mid-week classes. They are offered throughout the year in 10-week blocks for spring, summer, autumn and winter sessions.
Please click the images below for the next available session.
Thank you to all those who completed our course preferences survey. The results of which are invaluable in order for us to update our course programmes for 2026.
Our heartfelt congratulations goes to the winner of our prize giveaway for completing the survey, Ms Margaret Harris. A free course voucher is on its way to you!
We are excited to announce that we have teamed up with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust to offer a series of Nature Journalling Workshop during 2025.
In brief, there will be four workshops which will explore and celebrate the four seasons. Furthermore, each workshop will involve a scenic nature walk followed by a practical art workshop exploring different themes and techniques.
In addition, the workshops will take place at Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum, which is the home of the Trust.
So don’t delay. Simply click the link to book your place now: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.
Are you interested in nature journalling and would like to learn more? If so, download our free Nature Journalling Guide which offers information, ideas and practical worksheets in a handy pdf document.
If so, why not purchase a gift voucher for a creative workshop or course?
Simply purchase a voucher from our shop page and you will then receive an email containing your voucher immediately.
In addition, if you open an account on My Account page, you can accumulate purchased vouchers in a total balance which can then be redeemed on a future purchase of your choice.
If not, you are missing out! In our online shop we have a wonderful selection of original framed artworks by Sharon Brookes.
To summarise, Sharon has been a practising artist alongside her art teaching career since obtaining her BA (Hons) in 1993. In essence, she is drawn to depicting fine detail in her artwork together with capturing an expressive quality and characterful subjects.
In summary, the artwork available to purchase online includes:
So shop now to view and purchase the full range of artworks.
In order to offer a useful source of technical knowledge and inspiration, we periodically publish our know-how posts. In addition, if you sign up to our newsletter, you will automatically be sent the latest posts. So we hope that you will enjoy reading them and find them informative. Just click on the titles to view the full articles.
Do you require a creative boost? It is common to experience periods of stagnation or uncertainty regarding one’s creative…
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Being Inspired to paint In searching for images to paint in watercolour, I came across this beautiful photo. The…
If you are interested in developing your watercolour technique and achieve quality results, then please read on! The Task…
Inspiration The beauty of the etching process is multifaceted. Firstly, the technique enables an artist to extend their ideas…
We are an award-winning art retreat in the heart of the Wye Valley in Herefordshire. We offer expertly led art, photography and creative mindfulness courses for all ability levels.
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"Sharon was perfect! We clicked immediately and it was like having coffee with a friend. Despite my zero knowledge re watercolours, she was very patient. She was easy to understand and had the right approach, tools and tips to allow one to learn very quickly. I came away feeling very excited to try by myself. I would highly recommend Sharon's experiences. And her coffee, biscuit and views are all A++! Thanks Sharon!"
"I bought this experience for my dad for this Birthday. He enjoys taking photos but always wanted to learn how to take really good ones - he loved the experience! Found Sharon friendly and helpful, and came away with a lot of new skills and enthusiasm for photography. Would recommend!"
"Sharon organised a great workshop on studio portraits, creating a friendly atmosphere to experiment with various creative techniques. The session was great fun and I was amazed by the results you can achieve just using simple everyday materials if you get the light right. Highly recommended"