Spend a relaxed week in Pembrokeshire with renowned watercolour artist Sarah Stokes, capturing the coastline’s wildlife, light and atmosphere in your sketchbook. With Sarah’s guidance, you’ll develop your sketchbook practice, build confidence in your painting and explore places such as Skomer Island (weather permitting), Tenby and the surrounding coast.
At the heart of the week is the idea of a travel journal, a simple, personal way of recording the colours, details and feeling of a place through sketching and painting.
No pressure, no finished pieces, just time to slow down, observe and enjoy painting in a beautiful setting.
Set along the stunning coastline of Pembrokeshire, the UK’s only coastal National Park, this retreat is shaped by its landscapes, wildlife and ever changing light. From rugged cliffs and wide sandy bays to wild flowers and shifting skies, the surrounding environment provides endless inspiration. During the week, we aim to include time on Skomer Island, known for its seabird colonies, including puffins in season and the chance of spotting seals along the shoreline. Visits are dependent on weather and sea conditions, but when possible, it’s a memorable part of the experience.
With guidance from Sarah, supported by Jaime Moore, you’ll build a sequence of expressive sketchbook pages that come together as a personal visual record of your time on the coast.
Both Sarah and Jaime are award winning watercolour artists known for their clear teaching style and encouraging approach. Between them, they have taught many thousands of students and are recognised for helping painters simplify the process, build confidence and achieve strong results. You’ll be supported throughout the week, with guidance available during painting sessions as well as informal opportunities to ask questions in a friendly, focused and relaxed environment.
Many guests find this way of working becomes something they continue long after the retreat, a simple, enjoyable way to capture future travels and create a lasting visual record of the places they visit.
Inspiration is also drawn from nearby locations such as Bosherston lily ponds and hidden coves, along with the distinctive charm of Tenby, with its colourful houses, harbour scenes, cafés, gulls and sweeping beach.
Most sessions take place indoors at the comfortable Broadmead Hotel, where you’ll work from sketches, photos and observations gathered during gentle outings. The pace is unhurried, allowing time to walk, notice more, and return to your painting with fresh eyes.
This retreat is ideal for those looking to reconnect with their creativity, build confidence in their sketchbook practice, and enjoy a supportive, like-minded group in a beautiful setting.
Suitable for beginners and more experienced artists.
Beginners are encouraged to watch Sarah’s short, free tutorials in advance, helping you arrive feeling confident with the basics and ready to enjoy the process.
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Pembrokeshire Art Retreat Itinerary
The proposed 8 day, 7 night itinerary is shown below. This relaxed and thoughtfully paced retreat combines sketchbook based art sessions with time spent exploring one of the UK’s most beautiful coastal regions, Pembrokeshire. Throughout the week, guided by Sarah Stokes and supported by Jaime Moore, you will develop a personal travel journal inspired by the landscapes, wildlife and atmosphere encountered each day. No prior art experience is necessary, the focus is on observation, enjoyment and building confidence through a simple, accessible approach to sketching and painting. The itinerary is designed to balance gentle exploration with time to work creatively. Visits to locations such as Skomer Island (weather and sea conditions permitting), Bosherston lily ponds and the coastal town of Tenby provide rich and varied source material for your sketchbook, from seabirds and marine life to architecture, colour and detail. Time outdoors is used to observe, photograph and gather inspiration, while indoor sessions at the Broadmead Hotel offer a comfortable and sociable environment to develop your work with guidance and support. The pace is unhurried, allowing you to absorb each experience fully and translate it into your journal in a relaxed and personal way. While elements of the programme are guided, there is also flexibility built into the week, allowing space for rest, independent exploration or simply enjoying the surroundings. Please note that the programme may be subject to change depending on weather conditions and local arrangements.
Day One
Arrival and welcome Arrive at the Broadmead Hotel and take some time to settle in and unwind. We’ll come together for a relaxed introductory session to meet each other and ease into the week, followed by an informal aperitif before dinner. In the evening, we’ll enjoy a comforting three-course meal, a chance to relax, chat and start looking ahead to the days to come.
Day three
Seabirds in the sketchbook After breakfast, Sarah will guide you through developing sketchbook studies inspired by the seabirds and coastal wildlife observed the day before. We’ll explore how simple shapes, tone and mark making can be used to capture character and presence in a loose, approachable way. This is where your sketchbook really starts to come together, with pages beginning to form a cohesive visual record of your experience of the coastline. In the evening, we’ll head out for dinner at a local restaurant.
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Day five
Dolphins and developing journal pages After breakfast, Sarah will guide a session developing your sketchbook studies, drawing on the coastal landscapes and observations gathered so far. After lunch, Jaime will lead a session focused on painting dolphins moving through water, exploring rhythm, flow and how to simplify movement into clear, expressive shapes. We’ll come back together in the evening for dinner at the Broadmead.
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Day seven
Tenby journal spread Today, Sarah will guide you in creating a final sketchbook page inspired by the distinctive character of Tenby — from its colourful houses and hanging baskets to cafés, gulls, the sweeping beach and castle views. The focus is on capturing the atmosphere of the town in your own way, bringing together everything you’ve explored during the week in a relaxed and personal style. We’ll also spend some time reviewing and refining your pages, helping your sketchbook come together as a cohesive record of your experience — whether it’s the start of something new or a continuation of an existing journal. To round off the week, we’ll put together a small, informal exhibition of everyone’s work. In the evening, we’ll gather for an aperitif before enjoying our final meal together.
Day Two
Coastal wildlife observation After breakfast, we’ll head out to explore one of Pembrokeshire’s beautiful coastal wildlife spots. Depending on the conditions, this may include a trip to Skomer Island or another nearby stretch of coastline known for its seabirds and dramatic views. There’s a good chance of spotting puffins (in season), along with guillemots, razorbills, coastal rabbits and other birdlife that thrives here. The focus for the day is simply to walk, observe and take it all in — gathering ideas, photos and inspiration to use later in your sketchbook. We’ll provide a packed lunch to enjoy along the way, and in the evening we’ll return to the hotel for dinner together.
Day four
Bosherston lily ponds and coastal walk After breakfast, we’ll head to Bosherston to explore the well-known lily ponds and the nearby beach. We’ll be joined by a Wales Blue Badge Guide, who will share insights into the landscape, wildlife and history of this beautiful area as we walk. We’ll stop for lunch at the Bosherston Lily Ponds Bistro before heading back. Back at the Broadmead, Sarah will lead a gentle session inspired by the lily pads and surrounding plant life, helping you translate the shapes, textures and details you’ve seen into your sketchbook. Dinner will be served at the hotel in the evening.
Day six
Mulberry paper and Tenby exploration In the morning, Jaime will lead a session continuing your dolphin studies, introducing mulberry paper to add beautiful, natural texture to your sketchbook pages. All materials will be provided. In the afternoon, we’ll head into Tenby to explore its charming streets, independent galleries, colourful houses and small cafés. There’ll be plenty of time to wander, observe and take photographs — gathering ideas and details to bring back into your journal. Later, we’ll join a guided ghost walk with a local expert, sharing stories and history that bring another layer of character to the town. We’ll finish the day with dinner in Tenby before heading back.
Day eight
Farewell breakfast We’ll enjoy a final, generous breakfast together before it’s time to head home. You’ll leave with your sketchbook filled with memories of the week — a visual diary capturing the wildlife, landscapes and atmosphere you’ve experienced, and something you can continue to build on long after you return home.
Experience the Pembrokeshire coast through sketchbook and paint
Artistic Workshops with Sarah Stokes
Under the guidance of Sarah, supported by Jaime Moore, the week is structured around a series of relaxed, skill building workshops designed to help you develop your sketchbook practice while responding to the surrounding coastline, wildlife and atmosphere.
Building a travel journal habit
Learn how to create a personal visual diary that captures your experiences in a simple and enjoyable way. Pages build naturally throughout the week into a meaningful record that many guests continue long after returning home.
Freehand drawing without pressure
Develop confidence drawing directly onto the page without worrying about perfection. You’ll learn how simple shapes and marks can quickly capture character and bring subjects to life.
Composition and page design
Understand how to arrange sketches, colour swatches and notes so that your pages feel balanced, engaging and visually interesting, like a story unfolding across your sketchbook.
Watercolour techniques and expressive control
Explore wet into wet techniques to create soft transitions and atmosphere in skies, water and backgrounds, alongside more controlled approaches for adding definition and detail.
Working with watercolour pencils and mixed media
Use watercolour pencils to add structure while maintaining a fresh, spontaneous feel. Combine pencil, paint and simple mixed media techniques to keep your pages lively and varied.
Texture and surface techniques
Experiment with materials such as salt and mulberry paper to suggest feathers, foliage, water movement and natural textures within your work.
Collage and layering
Where appropriate, explore collage techniques to add depth, interest and a more tactile quality to your sketchbook pages.
Adapting and developing your work
Learn practical ways to adjust, soften or simplify areas that don’t quite work, helping you move forward with confidence rather than getting stuck. Additional guidance is given throughout the week on colour choices, working from observation and photographs, and bringing pages together so they form a cohesive and personal visual story.
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What is a Travel Journal?
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A journal is simply a pictorial diary.
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It records the small visual moments that make a place memorable, the curve of a bay, the colour of a building, the posture of a bird, the texture of pebbles collected on a beach.
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Because drawings and paintings are created by hand, the process helps you slow down and notice more. Details that might otherwise be forgotten become part of the memory of the trip.
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Many artists find journaling highly absorbing. Recreating colours, shapes and atmosphere helps you revisit those moments long afterwards, often more vividly than photographs alone.
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Over time, a sketchbook becomes a personal record of journeys taken, experiences enjoyed and skills developed.
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It becomes both a creative habit and a meaningful keepsake.
A relaxed and exclusive stay in the heart of Tenby, Pembrokeshire
During your time in Pembrokeshire, you’ll stay at the Broadmead Boutique B&B, a stylish, family run 4-star country house offering a relaxed and comfortable base for the week, with consistently excellent guest feedback.
Tenby is one of the most picturesque seaside towns in Pembrokeshire, known for its colourful harbour, sandy beaches and ever changing coastal light, making an ideal setting for sketching and gathering inspiration throughout the week. The Broadmead is tucked away in a quiet, leafy area just a short walk from the harbour, beaches and historic town centre, giving you the best of both worlds.
We’ve chosen the Broadmead for its warm atmosphere and quality throughout and we have exclusive use of the hotel, creating a calm and sociable environment where everything happens in one place. Guests often comment on the welcoming feel, beautifully kept spaces and attention to detail, reflected in its strong ratings on both Google and TripAdvisor.
Bedrooms are individually designed with comfortable beds, crisp linen and modern en-suite bathrooms, offering a restful space to unwind after a day of exploring and painting. The hotel also offers several inviting lounges and south facing gardens, providing plenty of space to relax.
The light filled dining room becomes our shared studio for the week, a bright, sociable space where you’ll work together, with everything conveniently close at hand.
Meals are freshly prepared by the resident chef using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. Breakfasts are generous and evening meals are relaxed and enjoyable after time spent outdoors gathering inspiration. All meals are included, along with one drink each evening.
The hotel is easily accessible, with Tenby railway station just a short distance away, as well as free on-site parking for those arriving by car.
Located on the first floor, this thoughtfully designed space offers everything you need for a restful stay. Featuring a comfortable double bed and a private en-suite with either a bath or a walk-in shower, this room provides a relaxing retreat after a day of exploring. Though compact, it retains a light and airy feel, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a charming and well-appointed space.
Located on the first floor, this thoughtfully designed space offers everything you need for a restful stay. Featuring a comfortable double bed and a private en-suite with either a bath or a walk-in shower, this room provides a relaxing retreat after a day of exploring. Though compact, it retains a light and airy feel, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a charming and well-appointed space.
Small Double
Ensuite Room
£3,350
per person
The Classic Room offers a perfect balance of comfort and character, each with its own unique charm. These spacious and light-filled rooms provide a welcoming retreat, complete with luxurious king-size beds for a restful night’s sleep. Each room features a private en-suite, with a choice of bath and walk-in shower options.
The Classic Room offers a perfect balance of comfort and character, each with its own unique charm. These spacious and light-filled rooms provide a welcoming retreat, complete with luxurious king-size beds for a restful night’s sleep. Each room features a private en-suite, with a choice of bath and walk-in shower options.
Classic Double Ensuite Room (Kingsize)
£3,750 per person
The Deluxe Rooms offer a perfect blend of comfort and elegance. Each spacious, light-filled room (approximately 26 sq. meters) overlooks our beautiful garden, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Furnished with luxurious king-size beds, these rooms provide the ultimate retreat for a restful night’s sleep. The private en-suite bathrooms feature modern walk-in showers, with plush bathrobes provided for added comfort.
The Deluxe Rooms offer a perfect blend of comfort and elegance. Each spacious, light-filled room (approximately 26 sq. meters) overlooks our beautiful garden, creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. Furnished with luxurious king-size beds, these rooms provide the ultimate retreat for a restful night’s sleep. The private en-suite bathrooms feature modern walk-in showers, with plush bathrobes provided for added comfort.
Deluxe Ensuite Room
£4,100 per person
Located just a few meters from the main building, the Classic Coach House Room offers a peaceful and characterful retreat. With rustic exposed ceiling beams and warm wood accents throughout, this room blends traditional charm with modern comfort. This room offers flexibility of twin beds or a luxurious super king-size bed. The private en-suite features a bath with a shower over, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring.
Located just a few meters from the main building, the Classic Coach House Room offers a peaceful and characterful retreat. With rustic exposed ceiling beams and warm wood accents throughout, this room blends traditional charm with modern comfort. This room offers flexibility of twin beds or a luxurious super king-size bed. The private en-suite features a bath with a shower over, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring.
Coach House 1
(Shared Twin)
£2,950 per person (based on 2 people sharing)
Overlooking the front of the property, this inviting room features a cozy double bed and a private en-suite with a bath and shower over. Ideal for a relaxing break, the Double Room provides all the essentials for a restful and enjoyable stay in a simple yet stylish setting.
Overlooking the front of the property, this inviting room features a cozy double bed and a private en-suite with a bath and shower over. Ideal for a relaxing break, the Double Room provides all the essentials for a restful and enjoyable stay in a simple yet stylish setting.
Double
Ensuite Room
£3,550
per person
Tucked away in a quiet corner of our beautiful rear garden, the Classic Garden Room offers a peaceful retreat with its own private entrance & patio space. This spacious and bright room combines modern comfort with a serene setting, perfect for a relaxing getaway. Furnished with a luxurious king-size bed, with private en-suite featuring both a bath and a walk-in shower, with plush bathrobes provided for added comfort.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of our beautiful rear garden, the Classic Garden Room offers a peaceful retreat with its own private entrance & patio space. This spacious and bright room combines modern comfort with a serene setting, perfect for a relaxing getaway. Furnished with a luxurious king-size bed, with private en-suite featuring both a bath and a walk-in shower, with plush bathrobes provided for added comfort.
Garden Room Ensuite
£4,100 per person
Positioned just meters from the main building, our Deluxe Coach House Room offers a tranquil and private retreat. This spacious room combines rustic charm with modern comfort, featuring beautiful wooden flooring and exposed timber beams that add warmth and character. Enjoy a restful night in the luxurious king-size bed while taking in peaceful garden views. The private en-suite boasts a classic roll-top bath and a separate shower cubicle, with plush bathrobes provided.
Positioned just meters from the main building, our Deluxe Coach House Room offers a tranquil and private retreat. This spacious room combines rustic charm with modern comfort, featuring beautiful wooden flooring and exposed timber beams that add warmth and character. Enjoy a restful night in the luxurious king-size bed while taking in peaceful garden views. The private en-suite boasts a classic roll-top bath and a separate shower cubicle, with plush bathrobes provided.
Coach House 2
Kingsize Bed- Spacious
£4,310 per
person
These photos show what a typical room looks like. Rooms may be different to the ones shown here.
Getting to Tenby
Tenby is easily accessible from across the UK and for international guests travelling via London.
From London, trains run regularly from Paddington to Tenby railway station, with a typical journey time of around 4.5 to 5 hours, usually with one change.
For those arriving by air, the most convenient airports are:
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London Heathrow
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London Gatwick
From either airport, you can travel into central London and continue by train to Tenby.
If you prefer to drive, Tenby is approximately:
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4 hours from London
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2 hours from Cardiff
Free parking is available at the hotel.
We’re happy to offer guidance on travel options once your place is booked.
Price & what’s included
Your retreat includes everything you need for a relaxed and enjoyable week, with all logistics taken care of so you can focus on painting and time away.
Included:
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Art classes, demonstrations and individual guidance with Sarah Stokes, supported by Jaime Moore
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7 nights’ accommodation at Broadmead Boutique B&B with exclusive use for the group
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All meals throughout the week, including breakfast, dinner and packed lunches on excursion days
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One alcoholic drink each evening with dinner (there is a bar available should you wish to purchase extra drinks)
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Boat trip to Skomer Island (subject to weather and sea conditions)
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Guided walk at Stackpole with a local expert
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Tenby ghost walk experience
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All transport to and from excursion locations
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Entry fees to all planned excursions and activities
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Use of shared studio space and basic equipment (tables, chairs, water containers)
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2 Bottles of water in room (provided each day by the hotel)
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Tea and coffee making facilities in your room
Not included
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Flights
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Travel to and from Tenby
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Travel insurance (mandatory)
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Art materials (a suggested list will be provided in advance)
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Additional drinks outside of those included with breakfast, lunch and dinner
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Personal expenses such as souvenirs or extra refreshments
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Optional additional activities outside of the itinerary
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Tips for local guides and service providers (optional)
Got any questions?
Location, Travel & Logistics
Getting to Tenby
Tenby is easily accessible from across the UK and for international guests travelling via London.
From London, trains run regularly from Paddington to Tenby railway station, with a typical journey time of around 4.5 to 5 hours, usually with one change.
For those arriving by air, the most convenient airports are:
-
London Heathrow
-
London Gatwick
From either airport, you can travel into central London and continue by train to Tenby.
If you prefer to drive, Tenby is approximately:
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4 hours from London
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2 hours from Cardiff
Free parking is available at the hotel.
We’re happy to offer guidance on travel options once your place is booked.
