Creative Workshops
Find out more about the workshops that will be part of our June 2025 Jane Austen Creative Retreat.
Writing + Storytelling
Just like the Romantic era writers, you can be inspired by the locations that we visit to create pieces of writing that reflect your own experiences.
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This series of workshops will take you through a variety of exercises to cultivate your voice and produce pieces worthy of an audience.
Sketching + Painting Onsite
There's something transcendent about taking time to sit in a place and capture it with your own mark making.
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This series of art workshops will teach you the basics of sketching + painting on location as well as how to translate your own experiences into beautifully illustrated memories.
Writing + Storytelling
with Nicole Jacobsen
Workshop 1 / Chawton House
In our first writing workshop, we will do a few close readings of Jane Austen's prose and Romantic era poetry, pulling out our favorite aspects of each. ​
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Each participant will then begin work on a piece that emulates these styles, inspired by the country setting and surrounds.
Workshop 2 / Royal Crescent, Bath
In the shadow of one of the most iconic streets in England, participants will do character work, indulging in a bit of people-watching as research.
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A mix of guided exercises and open-ended prompts will prepare each writer to develop their individual pieces further.
Workshop 3 / Lyme Park
The series of workshops will culminate in a pressure-free peer review, where participants will have the chance to share their work with the group and receive ideas and inspiration from each other.
Sketching + Painting Onsite
with Lexi K.
Workshop 1 / Stourhead House and Gardens
In our first art workshop, we will review the basics of sketching + painting from life and on location with a demonstration by Lexi K.
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Each participant will then explore their own sensibilities and what kinds of themes, scenes, and subjects they are drawn to with a guided sketching + reflection exercise.
Workshop 2 / Royal Crescent, Bath
With its diverse array of landscape, old architecture, and passersby for subjects, participants will practice capturing the essence of a busy scene with a series of gouache paint studies.
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Participants will have the opportunity to learn different painting techniques through brief demonstrations
Workshop 3 / Lyme Park
Our last workshop will recall the skills we've developed throughout the workshops as each participant will be guided in making a painted postcard to send home. We will explore composition