10th-14th September 2026
Join Laurie King and Jemma Gunning for creative play using natural materials on the beautiful and biodiverse Isle of Eigg. On this all-inclusive four night retreat you will be invited to explore the island’s iconic landscape through walking, foraging, painting and printmaking – using plants to create colour and pattern, as well as looking to the landscape for subject and inspiration.
During the retreat, we will be making plant pigment inks and natural painting tools, as well as getting to experiment with painting techniques to capture the essence of the island’s beauty on paper. Exploring the crafts of botanical printmaking and cyanotypes, we will be also using plants to make prints and pattern. The retreat will culminate in a book binding activity to bring all your creations together.
What’s Included:
- Four nights in a tranquil accommodation, overlooking the sea, with a cosy woodburner in the communal space.
- Guided walks and foraging sessions by Laurie King.
- Painting, drawing and printmaking tuition with Jemma Gunning.
- Learn ink making and tool making techniques.
- Fully catered, delicious meals, teas and snacks, prepared by a local chef. We can accommodate all dietary requirements so let us know when booking.
meet Jemma
Jemma Gunning is an artist with a BA in Drawing and an MA in Printmaking. Working primarily with lithographic and intaglio processes, she explores the fragile beauty of changing landscapes and the poignant traces of abandonment and decay. Her work is held in both private and public collections, including the V&A, the Ashmolean Museum, and the RWA, and she exhibits widely across the UK and internationally. Jemma is an elected Academician of the Royal West of England Academy and a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
In 2016, she co-founded the Bristol Print Collective to promote local printmaking and share her love of the printed mark. In 2021, she established her own print studio, a space that encourages experimentation, collaboration, and the use of natural materials and sustainable processes within printmaking.
Beyond her artistic practice, Jemma is a nature enthusiast currently working towards her Mountain Leader qualification. Recently, she has been exploring ways to make her own natural inks and pigments from the earth to draw and paint with, further deepening her connection between creativity and the natural world. Her journey reflects a grounded, thoughtful approach to both art and life.
WHAT LAURIE BRINGS
Laurie lives and creates on the Isle of Eigg, inspired by its landscapes and weatherscapes. She will be your local guide and will also pass on her knowledge of plants and their uses, as well as sustainable practices, gleaned from studying for a PhD on foraging in the UK. Laurie makes inks and prints from wild plants on the island which are for sale online and in the Eigg craft shop. She also brings reflective and mindfulness practices to the retreats, having trained as a Wilderness Therapeutic Practitioner.
Itinerary*:
Thursday – Arrival & Welcome
- Arrive on the island and settle into your accommodation.
- Opening circle to begin the retreat and introduce ourselves.
- Laurie will lead a guided walk, pointing out some of the landmarks of Eigg.
Friday – Gathering & printmaking with plants
- Explore Eigg’s coastline and woodlands, foraging for natural materials to use as inks and drawing tools, as well as plants for botanical printmaking.
- Botanical printmaking and cyanotype workshop all afternoon.
Saturday – Ink/tool making, drawing & painting
- Spend the morning making inks, charcoal and tools for the afternoons art sessions.
- Drawing tuition – we will guide you to scenic parts of the island and lead drawing activities.
- Try out some homemade inks as ways to express moods and atmospheres in the landscape.
Sunday – Painting & book binding
- Morning walk to freshen up and observe the island’s colours and patterns.
- Painting session- inspired by Eigg’s incredible landscapes and weatherscapes, using our homemade inks and tools from foraged objects.
- Refine and complete your artworks, integrating the techniques and inspiration gathered throughout the retreat.
- Individual feedback and support to help you develop your skills.
- Book binding – bringing together your artwork into a beautiful collection.
Monday – Farewell
- Group reflection and farewell. The retreat ends at 10:30-11am.
- Before the ferry there may be time to explore the island. Maybe visit the cafe or craft shop, go snorkelling or walk up An Sgurr.
- Depart from Eigg with your beautiful homemade sketch book and a renewed sense of connection to nature.
Free time will be built into the schedule of this retreat so you will have space to reflect, rest or maybe go for a sea dip!
Please note – the walks could be between 5-10km long, over some uneven (and quite probably boggy!) terrain.
*This itinerary may change slightly to adapt to wild island weather conditions!
Booking
£595 bunk room; £795 single room; bring a friend and share a twin for £695 each; £995 en-suite annex (£795 each as a double/twin for the en-suite annex). Booking open until 10th August 2026.
Crafting and crofting on the isle of Eigg 