At Tandy Pengelly Creative Retreats, I guide women through transformational art and yoga retreats in the French countryside, combining creativity, mindfulness, movement and soulful restoration. These retreats are designed to help women reconnect with their authentic selves, awaken creative confidence and experience deep inner renewal in a beautiful, nurturing environment. Time to step away from the noise of modern life and enter a deeply nurturing space where art, yoga, meditation and nature come together in harmony. A week-long Soulful Art Retreat in France combining mindful painting, yoga, meditation, and plant-based nourishment. This intimate creative retreat is designed to help you slow down, reconnect with nature, and rediscover your inner artist in a deeply supportive and inspiring environment, giving you the opportunity to gently guide you back to yourself, through mindful painting, embodied movement, and the quiet beauty of the natural world. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced artist or yogi, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to slow down, breathe, and create from a place of presence. Through a carefully held week of practices, you will: Reconnect with your creativity in a relaxed, non-judgemental space Learn to paint through mindful observation and intuitive expression Deepen or begin a yoga and meditation practice Experience the healing power of plant-based, nourishing food Slow down your nervous system and restore inner balance Reawaken your connection to nature, beauty and source This retreat is an invitation to remember that creativity is not something you “do”, it is something you are. An Intimate, Transformational Experience Unlike large, impersonal retreats, these gatherings are: Small and intimate for deep personal support Application-based to ensure aligned energy and group harmony Held in a beautiful rural location, surrounded by nature Guided by a professional international artist and experienced yoga teacher Daily guided art tuition Healing yoga and meditation classes All plant-based meals Small group experience Personal guidance and support Beautiful rural retreat setting You will be gently supported to explore your own artistic voice while also receiving practical painting guidance and techniques. Beyond Technique Where Style Becomes a By-Product of Presence: One of the most common questions artists arrive with is, “How do I find my style?” It is a question shaped by modern expectations, by social media, by visibility, and by the pressure to be recognisable. Yet this idea, as it is often understood, can quietly limit creative growth. At Soulful Art Retreats in France, we take a different approach. Rather than asking you to define your style, you are guided to deepen your way of seeing. Authentic style is not something you decide and repeat. It is something that emerges over time through perception, experience, and inner awareness. When artists attempt to fix themselves into a recognisable aesthetic too early, the work often becomes predictable. It may appear consistent, but it loses its vitality. The creative process shifts from discovery into repetition, and this is where many artists begin to feel disconnected from their own work. In contrast, when you remain open, curious, and attentive, something far more meaningful begins to develop. Your work begins to carry a quiet coherence, not because it looks the same, but because it comes from the same depth of perception. This is where serious art meets inner transformation.

Website Link

https://www.tandypengelly.com/creative-retreats-france/

What's Included

This is a full inclusive retreat where accommodation, equipment, and meals are included.

What to Bring

Loose, relaxing clothes and comfortable walking footwear.

Leader Bio

Tandy Pengelly is a contemporary artist whose work is inspired by the restorative beauty and emotional presence of the natural world. Working primarily in oils, she creates atmospheric wildlife, floral and nature-based paintings that explore stillness, connection and the quiet relationship between human emotion and the living environment. From an early age, Tandy felt deeply drawn to nature, finding a sense of calm, wonder and belonging within the natural world that often felt absent elsewhere. Many of her earliest memories involve time spent alone outdoors, observing birds, animals and changing landscapes, experiences that continue to shape her artistic practice today. After studying fine art at university, Tandy stepped away from painting for a period of time, disillusioned by the constraints of traditional art education and searching for a more authentic creative voice. Eventually, the need to create became impossible to ignore, leading her back to painting with renewed clarity and purpose. A regional art award in 2009 marked a significant turning point, encouraging her to fully recommit to her artistic path. Alongside her work as an artist, Tandy has spent many years teaching yoga, studying Buddhist philosophy and exploring creativity as a form of personal wellbeing and self-understanding. These experiences subtly inform her paintings, not through overt symbolism, but through atmosphere, sensitivity and a deep appreciation for presence and connection. Her work often moves between realism and emotional impression, using colour, texture and light to evoke a sense of immersion and quiet reflection. Rather than simply depicting nature, Tandy seeks to convey the feeling of being within it, the calm, grounding and emotional restoration it can offer in an increasingly fast and fragmented world. In addition to her visual art practice, Tandy is also the author of several books exploring creativity, wellbeing and authentic living. Across both painting and writing, her work is united by a belief in the importance of beauty, presence and meaningful connection to the world around us. Tandy perceives the relationship between art and existence as a profound and intrinsic connection, where her creations serve as a vital expression of life itself. Tandy states that ''art transcends mere creative output; it encapsulates the very essence of our being, manifesting thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a way that captivates and inspires''. This unique perspective allows her art to act as a bridge, connecting individual consciousness to a collective human experience and highlighting the shared journey of existence among all sentient beings. Through her lens, art becomes a powerful medium for exploring themes of unity, connection, and the divine spark that resides within everyone. Tandy’s work communicates the intricacies of life, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the human experience while inviting viewers to engage deeply with their own sense of existence. Ultimately, she believes that through the act of creation, one can tap into a deeper understanding of life, fostering empathy and awareness of our interconnectedness of existence. Tandy is truly a unique creative being, and her art resonates with a brilliance that inspires and awakens all who encounter it. Tandy’s work is characterised by its emotive and atmospheric qualities, often described as magical by those who encounter it. Specialising in wildlife and floral oil paintings, Tandy infuses each piece with vibrant colours and a deep emotional resonance. Today, Tandy stands as a testament to the idea that a true artist’s voice can never be silenced, and their work inspires others to seek their own creative paths. Beyond her visual art, Tandy is also dedicated to empowering others through her self-help books. Tandy's writings are an extension of her artistic philosophy, aimed at helping people embrace an authentic, vibrant, and creative existence. Tandy believes that by nurturing our creative spirit and appreciating the abundance around us, we can lead lives filled with joy, purpose, and fulfilment. In both Tandy's paintings and books, her mission is to inspire others to see the world through new eyes, to find beauty in simplicity, and to live with a heart full of gratitude and creativity. ''Through my dual passions of art and writing, I endeavour to illuminate the path to a richer, more vibrant life for all.''

Other Information

Throughout the week, you will be invited to see differently, to notice the subtle beauty of light, texture, and form in nature, and to bring that awareness into your artwork. During the retreat, the focus rests on two essential aspects of artistic development. The first is inner awareness. Through meditation, yoga, and guided observation, you begin to slow down and reconnect with your sensory experience. You become more attuned to light, form, movement, and emotion, not as abstract ideas, but as lived experience. The second is technical skill. You are guided through practical elements of painting, including composition, tonal value, colour relationships, and confident mark making. These are not restrictive rules, but tools that allow your inner vision to take form. Without skill, expression remains internal. Without awareness, skill becomes mechanical. It is the integration of both that allows your work to become authentic, alive, and evolving. You may find yourself working across different subjects, experimenting with new approaches, or stepping away from the need to complete everything you begin. This is not a lack of discipline, but a return to curiosity, which sits at the heart of meaningful creative practice. Over time, something deeper begins to unify your work. Not a fixed style, but a consistent essence. This is the space cultivated within these art and yoga retreats in France, a space where you are not asked to perform or define yourself, but to observe, explore, and develop both your skill and your perception. Your role as an artist is not to arrive at a final identity. It is to remain attentive, responsive, and open to change. From that place, your work will naturally evolve.