ART in the CITY Retreats
Small groups, big art
Carefully curated, bespoke journeys in amazing cities for artists and art lovers, who want more than a standard holiday. Experience art in the city as part of a small group and looked after local experts.
We are delighted to announce the location of our first retreat from 11-16 October 2026. It is beautiful Oxford, where we are based.
The Oxford Art in the City retreat, “From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’” includes bed and breakfast accommodation in central Oxford, all group meals in fantastic local eateries, daily art and cultural activities, such as visits to the Ashmolean Museum and an art-focused Oxford college tour, a wonderful afternoon tea at the Alice Restaurant of the iconic Randolph Hotel in Oxford, an expert masterclass and being part of a small closely knit group. Find below what is and is not included, prices and a day-by-day itinerary.
‘From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’’ Retreat
WHAT is INCLUDED?
Accommodation: 5 nights of stay at a wonderful, centrally located hotel in the city.
All Meals Included: Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner is fully covered throughout the retreat with no out-of-pocket dining costs, featuring the Welcome Dinner at the amazing Cherwell Boathouse, city dinners in Oxford’s vibrant, Jericho area, Afternoon Tea at The Randolph Hotel and the grand finale at The Alice.
Reasonable alcohol consumption with lunches and dinners (two-three glasses of wine or equivalent) is also included.
Exhibition Entry & Expert Tour: Private group entry and expert-led tour of the Ashmolean’s flagship ‘Aphrodite - The Making of a Goddess’ exhibition (opening to the general public on 8 October 2026).
Curated Museum Sessions: Participation in (or observation of) specialised drawing and discussion sessions at the Ashmolean.
Exclusive Masterclass Experience: An exclusive drawing masterclass or art history talk by a guest expert artist or art historian.
Pre-Raphaelite & College Visits: Guided tours of Oxford colleges rich in history with a local expert.
‘From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’’ Retreat
WHAT is NOT INCLUDED?
Travel to Oxford, travel insurance and excessive alcohol consumption.
Oxford is very conveniently connected to London Heathrow and London Gatwick. Regular, comfortable and very reasonably priced 24/7 airline coach services run and will take you directly to the heart of the city.
We expect participants to travel to the hotel on their own before then being looked after us.
‘From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’’ Retreat
WHAT is THE COST?
Price for participation - accommodation, meals and activities all included:
Single room occupancy cost: £1,699 pp
Double room occupancy cost: £1,399 pp
Zero Financial Risk: No money changes hands until our minimum cohort is officially confirmed.
We are currently gathering an Expressions of Interest (EOI) waitlist and aiming to close this on 27 August 2026.
The retreat will only run if we have a minimum of 5 participants.
It is only at this point that we would ask those who have expressed an interest if they would like to take part.
A non-refundable deposit of £500 will then be requested at this stage. This would be to contribute towards organisation and bookings should a participant decide not to participate. You do not have to pay anything now to register your interest.
‘From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’’ Retreat
PLANNED day-by-Day itinerary
Sunday, 11 October - Arrival & Welcome
Afternoon: Arrive and check in at the hotel
Evening: Kick off the retreat with an intimate Welcome Dinner at the Cherwell Boathouse, overlooking the river and meeting the group.
Monday, 12 October
Classical Antiquity: The Divine Form
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.
9:30 AM Meet in the hotel lobby with the event organiser.
Head out to dive into the ‘Aphrodite The Making of a Goddess’ exhibition at the Ashmolean with our dedicated expert guide.
Lunch: Panoramic lunch at the Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant.
Afternoon (Dual-Track Sessions):
Artists: Explore the divine feminine form with a focus on classical sculpture, establishing foundational artistic technique under the guidance of our local art tutor in a museum drawing session.
Art Lovers: Observe, participate, and engage in curator-led discussions exploring classical representation and myth.
Evening: Group dinner in Jericho.
Tuesday, 13 October
Old Masters: The Search for Beauty
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.
9:30 AM Meet in the hotel lobby with the event organiser.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM exploration of the Ashmolean's Old Master’s collection with an expert guide, examining how historical artists searched for and defined beauty.
Mid-Day: Group walk to the historic Oxford Covered Market for a vibrant lunch at one of its lively local venues, exploring the vibrant stalls.
Afternoon: Weave back to the hotel through Oxford’s charming streets, visiting specialized stationery, rare book, and indie shops.
Evening: Dinner at Branca restaurant.
Optional: Oxford City Life Drawing session (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM), not far from the restaurant.
Wednesday, 14 October
Pre-Raphaelite Immersion, Masterclass & Afternoon Tea
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.
9.30am Meet in the hotel lobby with the event organiser.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM A private, curator-led exploration of the Ashmolean's world-renowned Pre-Raphaelite collections.
Mid-Day: Light lunch in the city center.
Afternoon:
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Exclusive drawing masterclass led by a guest artist or art historian (tbc).
4:15 PM: Luxurious Afternoon Tea at The Alice Restaurant in The Randolph Hotel (capturing the classic hotel lounge experience) in lieu of dinner that evening, providing a warm end to the day and allowing everyone a relaxed evening to unwind. To be joined by masterclass artist or art historian (tbc).
Thursday, 15 October
College Histories & Celebration
Morning: Breakfast at the hotel.
9.30am Meet in the hotel lobby with the event organiser.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM head out for a Pre-Raphaelite Oxford colleges’ tour with a local expert.
Afternoon: Free time to explore, sketch independently, or visit the Westgate Shopping Centre in the city centre.
Evening: Final grand celebration group dinner at The Alice restaurant (located inside The Randolph Hotel right by the Ashmolean).
Friday, 16 October
Departure
Morning: A fond farewell breakfast together at the hotel, followed by independent departures at your leisure.
Participants can stay longer to see more of Oxford/Oxfordshire or head out to London for further exploring.
NB: Programme may be subject to changes depending on the interests and preferences of participants.
‘From Aphrodite to Pre-Raphaelite ‘Stunners’’ Retreat
DEADLINE to register interest
Thursday, 27 August 2026
This to allow us to secure optimal hotel rates and give ample time for flight bookings, as well as masterclass, tour and other arrangements.
FAQs
Who is organising this?
Locally based artists and guides will look after you. The idea for the retreat was one of the artists - Sasha and she would be delighted to introduce you to Oxford’s artistic delights.
1
Why these dates?
The retreat dates were based on the opening of the Ashmolean exhibition - Aphrodite - the Making of a Goddess, which will open its doors to the general public on 8 October. We wanted to organise the retreat closely to this date.
2
Why APhrodite and Pre-RaPhaelite Stunners?
3
The Aphrodite exhibition and Oxford’s Pre-Raphaelite artistic heritage presented an opportunity to explore this theme whilst also exploring Oxford itself.
How Much does the retreat cost?
4
Price for participation - accommodation, meals and activities all included:
Single room occupancy cost: £1,699 pp
Double room occupancy cost: £1,399 pp
Zero Financial Risk: No money changes hands until our minimum cohort is officially confirmed.
We are currently gathering an Expressions of Interest (EOI) waitlist and aiming to close this on 27 August 2026.
The retreat will only run if we have a minimum of 5 participants.
It is only at this point that we would ask those who have expressed an interest if they would like to take part.
A non-refundable deposit of £500 will then be requested from only those who wish to join this experience.
This would be to contribute towards organisation and bookings should a participant decide not to participate. You do not have to pay anything now to register your interest.
