Embedded Files
Nature in graphite with kelly
Nature in graphite with kelly
5 - 10 January 2026
5 - 10 January 2026
Escape to the serene landscapes of Chiang Mai for an exclusive 6-day, 5-night Nature in Graphite Retreat. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at a private property, where a gentle stream flows nearby and lush fruit trees and a small orchid farm surround us. With the cool, comfortable weather, you'll have the perfect opportunity to indulge in outdoor drawing and capture the intricate details of botanical wonders.
We want you to maximise your time in Chiang Mai, so this programme includes a pre-workshop online tutorial session (2hours) to get you started on the exercises. To ensure you have continued support, there will post-workshop online feedback and guidance for up to two months.
Pre-retreat online session (1 x 2 hours) ➜ Retreat in Chiang Mai ➜ Post-retreat online feedback and support (2 months)
join us for a free non-obligation online information session to know more!
join us for a free non-obligation online information session to know more!
2 sessions for your selection.
Session 1: Wednesday 9th July 2025 @ 1900hrs (SG Time)
Session 2: Sunday 3rd August 2025 @ 1500hrs (SG Time)
private retreat venue
private retreat venue
Double House - 2 units available
Each unit (18 sqm) sleeps 2 persons. Both units share a bathroom and toilet.
Single Cottage - 1 unit (ensuite) available
Each unit (18 sqm) sleeps 2 persons (twin or double).
Transformation House Twin - 1 unit (ensuite) available
Each unit (25 sqm) sleeps 2 persons (twin or double).
Transformation House Triple - 2 units (ensuite) available
Each unit (40 sqm) sleeps up to 3 persons.
Triple House Twin - 1 unit (ensuite) available
Each unit (25 sqm) sleeps 2 persons (twin or double).
Triple House Twin - 2 units (ensuite) available
Each unit (30 sqm) sleeps up to 2 persons (twin or double).
About Kelly
About Kelly
Kelly holds a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and will complete the Diploma programme in 2025.
Since 2020, she has served as the Vice President of the Botanical Art Society (Singapore) and is also a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Indonesian Society of Botanical Artists.
Kelly is American, but has lived for over two decades in Southeast Asia. After all that time, she still remains enchanted by tropical flora, finding tremendous joy in waking up to palm trees every morning. She is especially captivated by dried seed pods and other overlooked treasures that others might simply pass by. Kelly’s favorite medium is graphite and she also works in watercolour and colour pencil.
She was awarded the ‘Best Graphite - Exhibiting Excellence Award’ at the Society of Botanical Artists (UK) Plantae 2024 exhibition for her depiction of a Dipterocarpus zeylanicus seed. She has also exhibited in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia.
You can see her work currently at the Botanical Art Gallery, Singapore Botanic Gardens Worldwide Botanical Art 2025 (Singapore) – Crop Diversity exhibition (running through August 2025). Her watercolour work of Syzygium aqueum and her pen and ink illustration of the same plant both won ‘Certificates of Artistic Merit.
Iitnerary
Iitnerary
Day 1: Grounding in a new setting
(check in available until 4pm)
Meal: Dinner
Warm welcome and quick arriving practice
Group introductions and Introduction to the workshop (1.5 hours)
Dinner
Day 2: Foundations
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2 light tea breaks
Mindful sitting and movements
Breakfast
Workshop (3 hours)
Lunch
Open studio (2 hours) or free time for optional activities
Dinner
Day 3: Outdoor sketching
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2 light tea breaks
Breakfast
Tea garden tour, tea tasting
Lunch at tea garden
Flower sketching with guidance at tea garden (2 hours)
Dinner
Day 4: Exploring Texture and Forms
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2 light tea breaks
Mindful walk - sense and savour
Breakfast
Workshop (3 hours)
Lunch
Open studio (2 hours) or free time for optional activities
Dinner
Day 5: Capturing light and shadow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2 light tea breaks
Slow art session
Breakfast
Workshop (3 hours)
Lunch
Open studio (2 hours) or free time for optional activities
Dinner
Day 6: Refinement
Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast
Workshop closing and next steps (2 hours)
Check out (12pm)
Room Type & pricing
Room Type & pricing
Non-workshop participants may share a room with an artist and participate in all activities except the art workshops at a special price.
All prices are in Singapore Dollar. *Early Bird Pricing ends 30 Sept 2025.
Price includes:
More than 20 hours of tutorial and open studio support.
Pre-retreat online tutorial (2 hours).
Continued support post retreat for up to 2 months (via Google Classroom).
5 nights and 6 days accommodation ranging from single to triple sharing.
Full board (3 meals, 2 light tea breaks, refreshments, water, coffee and tea per full day). Food is mostly local / thai. Vegetarian options can be arranged.
Airport/city transfers X 2 way (applicable if pick up is on 5th Jan and departure is on 10th Jan).
2-way trips to Tea garden.
Tea tour, tea tasting.
Arriving practice, mindfulness, slow art appreciation.
Art materials that you require for this workshop and you may keep them.
Price excludes
Airfare to Chiang Mai
Travel and medical insurance
Additional art materials you wish to bring
Additional food & beverage as well as alcoholic beverages
Transportation to and from the optional activities
Meals
Meals
All meals will be provided as part of the package price. The cuisine is a mix of local and international. Vegetarian options are available. If you require any other options, please indicate in the booking form and we will try out best to cater to your needs.
Optional activities
Optional activities
Optional activities you can enjoy (payable) during the afternoons:
Elephant care
White water rafting
Hiking with the hill tribe villagers (2-3 hours)
Massage
Souvenir shopping at tea garden
Booking process
Booking process
Fill up a booking form to indicate your choice of room and the number of persons in the room and click “Submit” at the end of the form.
We will receive your booking, confirm, send you a booking contract and payment link to make a booking deposit of S$500* per person (for both workshop and non-workshop participants). Booking deposit is only applicable to early bird bookings.
For early bird bookings, the remaining balance is to be paid by 1 October 2025.
For bookings made from 1 October 2025 onwards, full payment is required.
Please wait for our confirmation before booking your air tickets. We need to achieve a minimum of 10 workshop participants for the workshop to proceed.
preparation
preparation
Preparation
We will send you a document and packing list to prepare for the retreat.
Online pre and post-retreat tutorial
You will be added to Google Classroom for the pre and post-retreat tutorial and support.
important to note
important to note
Any booking made is non-refundable but it can be transferred to someone else of your choice. You will need to inform us of the person you are transferring the booking to.
If you are arriving earlier or extending your trip, please make your own accommodation and airport transfer arrangements at your own cost prior and after this retreat.
A minimum of 10 workshop participants is required for this retreat to proceed. In the event we are unable to reach this number by 1 December 2025, the retreat will be cancelled and we will refund your booking deposit plus any other payment you have made to us (only) unreservedly. As we are a small outfit, we will not be able to refund any other payment you have made to other travel parties you have made prior to our confirmation.
Personal travel insurance is mandatory before we depart and we will request for a copy of your insurance for reference at least 3 weeks before departure.
FAQ
FAQ
Flights to Chiang Mai
Use Google Flights to check which airlines fly to and out of Chiang Mai.
Direct flight from Singapore: Only Scoot offers direct flights from Singapore. Check here https://www.flyscoot.com/en.
When should you arrive in Chiang Mai?
You should arrive at the retreat venue anytime from 12pm to 3pm local time. The distance from Chiang Mai International Airport to venue is about 1.5hours.
The retreat venue is only booked from 5th Jan to 10th Jan. Prior to 5th Jan, the venue is not open for adhoc bookings like a regular hotel/resort. We apologise in advance for this, but if you need or plan to arrive before 5th Jan, please find another accommodation. There are many hotels within and outside of the old town of Chiang Mai. We will be happy to recommend some hotels, depending on what you wish to explore.
When should you depart from Chiang Mai?
This retreat programme ends at 12pm 10th Jan. Transportation to the Chiang Mai International Airport is part of the package price. The trip to the airport will take about 1.5hours. Please check if you have any flights that can accommodate this timing. If you need to extend 1 more night in Chiang Mai, we can recommend some hotels.
What is the weather like in Chiang Mai during January?
January is considered the "winter" season in Chiang Mai, which is from November to January. The temperature ranges from 14° to 29° with sunny skies and little or no rain.
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Page updated
Report abuse