with botanical artist Mary Dillon

May 17 – 21, 2027

Learn the techniques. Experience the process. Explore your personal expression of this beautiful art form.

There is something wonderful about having the time and space to immerse yourself completely in painting.

For five days, I invite you to join me in my bright and spacious home studio in Kilkenny for an intimate botanical art retreat centred around one important question:

What is your voice in botanical art?

This retreat is designed to give you the time, tuition and creative space to explore that question.

With 26+ hours of tuition and dedicated studio time, we will work through a combination of demonstrations, practical exercises, observation, discussion, individual guidance and sustained painting.

The emphasis will not simply be on producing a finished painting. Instead, we will explore the process of botanical art—how we observe, interpret and respond to a plant, and how technical knowledge can become a foundation for something much more personal.

We will look closely at botanical structure, colour, light, form, composition, transparency and technique, while considering how each artist can develop an individual approach.

My aim is to encourage you to become more confident in your own decisions and to recognise that accuracy and scientific understanding need not restrict personal expression. They can, in fact, provide the foundation from which your own voice can emerge.

THE STUDIO

The workshop will take place in my home studio in Kilkenny.

Bright, spacious and designed as a working artist’s studio, it provides a relaxed and intimate environment in which to concentrate on your painting.

The small-group format allows plenty of opportunity for individual tuition, conversation and feedback, while also giving you uninterrupted time to work independently.

Each day begins at 9.00am.

Across the five days there will be more than 26 hours of tuition and studio time, allowing us to explore ideas in depth rather than rushing through a series of exercises.

Tea, coffee, cakes and refreshments will be available throughout the day, and lunch will be provided each day.

Cost and Registration:

https://bookwhen.com/marydillonbotanicalart/e/ev-sw38k-20270517000000

The cost: €850

This covers: 

*26+ hours tuition in the studio

*Lunch for five days 

*Refreshments throughout the day

*Transport to and from the studio

*A half day tour to include a visit to nearby craft studios, 

Jerpoint Abbey Cistercian Monastery and Rothe House Medieval City Garden.

It does not include:

*Your transportation to Kilkenny

*Accommodation or meals other than lunch each day. 

To Register please follow the booking link below and / or email Mary Dillon to express your interest in the retreat

https://bookwhen.com/marydillonbotanicalart/e/ev-sw38k-20270517000000

THE STORY OF CHARLOTTE WHEELER CUFFE

Kilkenny has a remarkable connection to botanical art through the extraordinary life of Charlotte Wheeler Cuffe.

Charlotte lived in Kilkenny and died just short of her one hundredth birthday in 1967.

During twenty-five years spent in Burma with her husband, engineer Otway Cuffe, Charlotte developed an extensive knowledge of the flora around her. She discovered five plants new to science and created an extensive body of botanical paintings.

Her collection is now held in the library and archives of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

During the retreat, we will explore Charlotte’s story and the remarkable intersection of botanical art, scientific observation, exploration and place.

Her life provides an inspiring reminder that botanical art can be much more than the accurate depiction of a plant. It can be a way of seeing, discovering, recording and connecting with the natural world.

DISCOVERING KILKENNY

Kilkenny is a city where history, art, craft and creativity come together.

Known for its medieval architecture and vibrant contemporary arts scene, the city is home to:

• Kilkenny Castle and Castle Park
• Kilkenny Design
• The National Design & Craft Gallery
• Butler Gallery
• Rothe House and Medieval Garden
• St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower
• The Medieval Mile Museum

There will be opportunities to explore many of these places during your free time after class.

AN AFTERNOON BEYOND THE STUDIO

One afternoon will be dedicated to experiencing some of the cultural heritage and creative character of County Kilkenny.

Our arranged excursion will include visits to:

Ballyreddin Clay Studios and Nicholas Mosse Pottery, Bennettsbridge
Discover the craftsmanship and distinctive Irish design tradition of some of Ireland’s best-known pottery studios.

Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown
Explore the atmospheric remains of this remarkable medieval Cistercian abbey and its surrounding landscape.

Rothe House and Medieval Garden, Kilkenny
Step into Kilkenny’s past and explore the recreated sixteenth-century garden within this remarkable historic townhouse complex.

Transport will be arranged for the afternoon.

TIME TO EXPERIENCE KILKENNY

There will be free time after class on other days to explore the city at your own pace.

Visit Kilkenny Castle and its parkland, discover an exhibition at Butler Gallery, explore St Canice’s Cathedral and Round Tower, browse Kilkenny Design, or wander through the medieval streets.

If shopping appeals, Kilkenny has a lovely selection of independent shops, boutiques, galleries and craft outlets.

And in the evening, there is an excellent choice of restaurants, cafés, bars and traditional pubs where you can enjoy dinner and perhaps continue the conversation with fellow artists.

YOUR STAY

The retreat is designed to make your experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

For participants staying in a nearby city hotel, transport to and from the studio will be arranged each day. The journey takes approximately ten minutes.

On registration you will receive:

A suggested materials list
So you can prepare everything you need before arriving.

A selection of reasonably priced accommodation
With options chosen for convenient access to the studio and city.

Practical information about the retreat
Including transport and other useful details to help you plan your stay.

Kilkenny is approximately 2 hours from Dublin Airport with direct bus transport and 1½ hours from Rosslare Ferry Port, making it an accessible destination for participants travelling from Ireland, the UK and further afield.

WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR?

Finding Your Voice is intended for artists who already have some experience with botanical art or watercolour and who want to deepen their practice, strengthen their technical skills and explore a more individual approach to their work.

The small-group format means that the retreat can respond to the individual interests and needs of the participants.

Whether you want to refine your technique, explore composition and colour more deeply, develop greater confidence in your painting decisions, or simply reconnect with the joy of painting plants, there will be space to explore.

COME FOR THE PAINTING.

STAY FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

Five days.

One beautiful city.

A welcoming studio.

More than 26 hours dedicated to botanical art.

Time to look closely.

Time to experiment.

Time to learn.

Time to paint.

And time to discover what makes your work uniquely yours.

Finding Your Voice is an invitation to immerse yourself in botanical art while experiencing the history, culture, craft and character of Kilkenny.

FINDING YOUR VOICE

A Botanical Art Retreat in Kilkenny

Five days • 26+ hours tuition and studio time • Small intimate group • Lunch & refreshments • Cultural excursion • Studio transport

Learn the techniques.
Respect the science.
Experience the process.
Find your voice.