The Glenview Spring Artistic Retreat
A Two-Day Tutored Workshop guided by Contemporary Irish Artist Melissa O'Donnell
A Creative Escape at The Glenview Hotel
4th & 5th March 2026 | €565 per person | €120 per non participant (room sharing)
Experience a refined two-day, artist-led retreat celebrating creativity, seasonal ritual, and the quiet luxury of time and place.
Hosted in the serene surroundings of The Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club, nestled within 30 acres of lush woodland with sweeping views of the Wicklow landscape, this retreat offers a restorative and luxurious creative reset.
Led by acclaimed contemporary Irish artist Melissa O’Donnell, this immersive painting and drawing experience is inspired by the Irish landscape as winter gently turns toward spring. Through guided workshops, participants will explore both still life and landscape, working from observation in watercolour and drawing.
Melissa brings a wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of art history, enriching the retreat with thoughtful context and insight. Through conversation and shared exchange, participants are invited to connect more deeply — not only with their creativity, but with one another.
Art & Dining — A Shared Experience
Throughout the retreat, art and food are intimately intertwined. Dining experiences are thoughtfully curated by co-host Santina Kennedy and prepared by the exceptional culinary team at The Glenview Hotel.
Each meal becomes a moment of reflection, observation, and creative dialogue — nourishing both practice and perspective.
Across two considered days, generous hospitality and shared table moments create a sense of ease, allowing creativity to unfold in an unhurried, intentional way.
This retreat offers comfort and contemplation, creativity and conviviality — where expert tuition, inspiring landscape, and culinary culture come together to honour seasonality, craftsmanship, and the quiet pleasure of making with intention.
Your Retreat Experience Includes
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Two days of guided art workshops (choice of Still Life or Landscape in watercolour)
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Live technique demonstrations & group discussions
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A warm, supportive, and inspiring creative atmosphere
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Two-night stay with breakfast each morning
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Lunch in The Conservatory each day
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Fireside studio breaks with complimentary tea & scones
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Final evening mini-exhibition of works, followed by a drinks reception
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Private farewell dinner with wine & guest speaker
Open to all skill levels.
Materials
A recommended materials list is provided to help you prepare.
We warmly invite participants to bring their own preferred supplies, allowing you to work comfortably with materials you know and love.
For ease and convenience, an artist-curated materials pack — thoughtfully prepared with everything required for the retreat — is available as an optional add-on for €59. Use contact form below.
Materials List
As Recommended by Melissa O’Donnell
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Watercolour paint (standard quality)
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Acrylic paint
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Drawing materials
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Watercolour paper
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Sketchbooks
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Selection of brushes
Watercolour Paint
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Primary colours
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1–2 earth tones (brown/umber)
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White and black (for mixing)
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Tubes or pans acceptable
Brushes
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Soft bristle brushes suitable for watercolour
Surfaces
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Preferred paper, board, or canvas & appropriate easel
Outdoor Sketching
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Notebook for sketches and notes
Higher quality materials will yield richer results.
About the Tutor
Melissa O’Donnell is a contemporary Irish artist whose works are held in private and public collections across Ireland and internationally. She is represented by Solomon Fine Art in Dublin and featured in Contemporary Irish Art Auctions at Sotheby’s in London and Paris.
A passionate and experienced tutor, Melissa teaches at the National Gallery of Ireland, Artform, and BigLook Ireland, sharing her enthusiasm for both contemporary and traditional art practices with students of all levels.
Let the quiet beauty of nature, the warmth of community, and the flow of creativity guide you on this unforgettable artistic retreat.
www.melissaodonnellartist.com
www.solomonfineart.ie
Testimonials from Previous Art Retreat
"What was the highlight of the Art Retreat for you?"
“Getting Inspiration for developing my future art. Overall, the Lounge was a brilliant room for creating art. Very atmospheric. An enjoyable four days”.
“Melissa’s teaching – Very knowledgeable and experienced teacher. Probably the most useful art tuition I have ever received. Very structured teaching style which is easy to follow. Full of wonderful ideas on how to develop a project or series of paintings. Thank you very much!”
“All of it…I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The hotel was warm & cosy, TV worked; bath was very welcome. Melissa is an excellent & very knowledgeable tutor. I learned to appreciate my work & experiment. The walk was beautiful. I would return for another session from the U.K.”
“The instructor was excellent and so inspiring.”