CIAO BELLA!
Sketching and Painting in Tuscany
Date: 7th - 14th September 2025
You are invited to join us for a magical retreat in enchanting Tuscany, Cradled in the heart of the iconic Chianti region,between the cultural gems of Florence and Siena, Ancora del Chianti is a hilltop villa with breathtaking scenic views.
A Haven of artistic inspiration and serene rejuvenation seamlessly blends the tranquility of a secluded estate surrounded by a lush garden, vineyards, olive groves, and panoramic views that beckon you to experience the essence of Italian charm and hospitality.
Hear the sounds of nature become your companion and harmonize with your inner rhythms– the gentle rustling of leaves, the melodic chirping of birds, and the distant whispers of the wind through the vineyards.
23 April - 02 may 2025
who is this retreat for?
THIS RETREAT is perfect for those looking to delve into their creative side against an inspiring backdrop. Experience Tuscany in a unique way, learning about the culture while keeping a sketchbook of your journey. Daily sketching and painting sessions, along with workshops on various techniques, will help you capture the essence of Tuscany.
THIS IS YOUR RETREAT.
You can customise it to your liking. Nothing is required from you.
** ALL ART SUPPLIES INCLUDED **
including Watercolour journal (sketchbook), brushes, pencils and plenty more ....
07 - 14 Sept 2025
What to Expect
Creative Projects and Skill Development:
- Learn to make your own paints and inks using natural pigments found during guided hikes.
- Daily sketching and painting sessions in the inspiring Tuscan landscape.
- Workshops on overcoming perfectionism and developing your unique creative voice.
Personal Growth and Mindfulness:
- Kickstart your creativity or deepen existing projects in a supportive environment.
- Revive dormant artistic desires and reinvent your relationship with your inner critic.
- Engage in self-care activities that promote relaxation and personal discovery.
"it felt like a weekend with family i never knew I had. thank you." Jenny, retreat attendee, Sept 2023
07 - 14 September 2025
But that's not all
Community and Cultural Immersion:
- Connect with like-minded individuals in a creative community atmosphere.
- Enjoy all five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to integrate the Tuscan experience into your art.
- Embrace the Italian philosophy of "Il dolce far niente" during ample downtime for personal reflection and relaxation.
Immersive Tuscan Experience:
- Forage for natural pigments and participate in intuitive painting sessions.
- Experience a day trip to Florence to sketch and explore its artistic treasures.
- Indulge in a local wine-tasting tour and optional cooking class to enrich your cultural understanding.
Ciao Bella Tuscany retreat
pricing
DOUBLE ROOM
6 double bedrooms with double or twin beds, with private bathroom for two persons sharing
Shared Double Occupancy: £2145 per person
TRIPLE ROOM
Triple bedroom with private bathroom for 3 persons sharing: with 1 double and single bed or 3 separate beds
*Triple Occupancy: £2060 per person
£500 non-refundable deposit holds your space, with HALF of the remainder due 1st Oct 2024 and final balance due 15th Jan 2025.
* Room availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and retreat size is limited to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. Prices are based on shared occupancy of rooms unless otherwise specified. You can request who you share a room with or be randomly placed If you are traveling alone. Making New Best friends is half the fun of a creative retreat.
At this time single rooms are not available for this retreat. Due to limited space, we currently only have options for double or triple occupancy. If this is a deal-breaker for you, please contact Susan at hello@susanyeates.co.uk, and we can add you to a waitlist in case any single rooms become available.
Cancellation policy: Should you need to cancel your space, all payments become non-refundable if we cannot fill your spot.
If we can fill your spot with a replacement, you will receive all payments back, less £500.
Ancora del Chianti - Tuscany
location
Cradled in the heart of the iconic Chianti region, between the cultural gems of Florence and Siena, Ancora del Chianti is a hilltop villa nestled between Florence and Siena.This charming stone farmhouse is surrounded by lush gardens, vineyards, and olive groves, offering breathtaking views and a tranquil atmosphere ideal for creativity and relaxation.Just a short drive from Florence and the quaint village of Greve in Chianti, the retreat blends rustic elegance with modern comforts. It accommodates up to 17 guests in 8 well-appointed rooms with private bathrooms, and features a spacious studio and garden areas perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities.
take time to travel and sketch
Immerse yourself in your creativity
What to Expect
Creative Projects that include guidance from me (Susan Yeates) and artist Missy Tripp Ronquillo.
Sketching & Watercolor Painting workshops
Learn to observe and appreciate the small details often overlooked in the rush of daily life.
Engage all five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to fully integrate the Tuscan experience into your sketchbooks and art.
Workshops on pushing past perfectionism
Kickstart your art or allow this week to fuel your existing creativity
Forage for natural pigments during hikes, learning to make your own paints and inks, adding authentic Tuscan colours to your artwork.
Make a personal or professional breakthrough.
Connect and find a community with others who want to live creatively.
Engage in self-care + self-discovery
Or any combination of the above!
RETREAT INCLUDES
7 nights accommodation in an hilltop villa in Tuscany with breathtaking scenic views.
Roundtrip transportation to Ancora del Chianti from Italian Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola, formally Amerigo Vespucci Airport, is the international airport of Florence, the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany
Daily Breakfast & Dinners + 5 lunches at the venue (not including any Meals while out on excursions)
Daily creative workshops with me (Susan Yeates) and Missy (All Supplies included)
A day sketching trip to Florence, soaking in its rich history and art.
A local wine tasting tour to savour the flavours of the region.
Learn to make your own paints and inks using natural pigments found during guided hikes.
Daily sketching and painting sessions in the inspiring Tuscan landscape.
Personal Growth and Mindfulness:
Kickstart your creativity or deepen existing projects in a supportive environment.
Revive dormant artistic desires and reinvent your relationship with your inner critic.
Engage in self-care activities that promote relaxation and personal discovery.
Connect with like-minded individuals in a creative community atmosphere.
Embrace the Italian philosophy of "Il dolce far niente" during ample downtime for personal reflection and relaxation
NOT INCLUDED IN RETREAT
Flights
Additional excursions including optional cooking class
Insurance
Alcoholic drinks (except for wine tasting tour!)
Items of a personal nature/souvenirs
Meals and snacks on excursions.
Snacks
Gratuities
Taxes & fees
A glorious week in Italy
What could you possibly be waiting for?
We don't expect this to be a typical creative retreat, we expect it to be one of the most memorable ones we've ever had.
This is more than just a week off; it's an opportunity to make life-changing choices and set yourself on a path that will bring you joy, peace, challenge, and fulfilment.
** LIMITED SPACES - ONLY 12-15 PEOPLE MAX. FOR THIS RETREAT **
Artist, author and online educator
Meet your host - Susan Yeates
I teach aspiring sketchers, doodlers and dabblers how to live more creatively, re-discover their inner artist, and build confidence in their sketchbooks.
I’ve worked as a successful professional artist for over 15 years, authored 6 art books including Sketchbook Challenge: 100 Prompts for Daily Drawing, spoken at TedX Woking, been featured on HobbyMaker TV, created over 35 online courses, and taught thousands of aspiring artists sketching and drawing techniques through my membership, retreats and online courses.
For the last few years, sketching on a regular basis those things that I see around me has been my foundation, and underpins all of my creative endeavours. To just grab a pencil and sketch what you see in front of you, wherever you happen to be is such a joy.
Like a deep breath of fresh air, sketching for fun and creative play, offers a moment of calm in a hectic world.
Artist / Facilitating Artistic Expression / Radiates Positive Energy
Meet your host - Missy Tripp Ronquillo
Since 1996, Missy has thrived as a freelance artist, specializing in personalized paintings. In 2009, she established Pescado Y Amor, a studio/gallery that became a creative haven where she conducted workshops, cultivated her brand, and discovered her unique voice as an artist. This studio is a sanctuary of good vibes, inspiring art and community.
With 27 years of teaching art at the college level, and in her studio, Missy has gained vast experience in the art world. Currently, she holds in person workshops and retreats, bringing creatives to inspiring locations. The goal of each workshop and retreat is for students to leave with new skills, creativity nourished, and spirits refreshed.
"Exploring the world through art is a gift and a joy that I love sharing. My primary objective in life is to bring as much joy as possible to the people I meet, and I achieve this through creating and teaching art."
missy and susan - artists and friends
about us
Hi! We're Missy and Susan! We first connected in 2022 during a mastermind group we both joined, and we've been friends and colleagues ever since.
Now, we're thrilled to invite you to join us for an all-women's retreat in Tuscany!
We are fun, we are creative, and we are ready to explore Tuscany with you.
Grab your girlfriends, grab your sketchbooks, let's make paint, and let's explore Tuscany together. Let's go!
"I cannot thank you both enough. I've refound my art mojo. I have found my confidence just to do it - right or wrong - have a go. I'm inspired so much!" Jane C, Retreat attendee, Sept 2023
What we get up to
Previous retreats
Here are some examples of previous retreats I have hosted.
Sketching the New Forest - Sept 2023
For three days this group explored the beauty of the New Forest landscape in their sketchbook, based at the Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst. We played with acrylic paints, studied the tallest redwoods in the forest, sketched the local ponies, looked at colour mixing and even a spot of leaf printing from local ferns. All meals, accommodation and materials were provided. This was a beautiful weekend full of landscape sketching, connection and friendship (and a smattering of the good old Britsh rain!)
Sketching the everyday - Surrey, March 2024
This sketching retreat was hosted in leafy Surrey in the gorgeous Gorse Hill Hotel. We explored sketching warm-ups to understand our materials, sketched small objects, used viewfinders and generally had a giggle whilst sketching in our special studio space. Participants came away with pages of their sketchbooks full and plenty of techniques and inspiration for daily sketching going forwards. The lunch was fabulous and some even stayed for dinner and a spot of pottery painting at Fired Frog Pottery cafe the next day.
Terms and conditions
Terms and Conditions – Ciao Bella Sketching and Painting Retreat
In these Booking Conditions references to “we” “us” and “our” is the company Susan Yeates Artist, references to "you" and "your" include the first named person on the booking and all persons on whose behalf a booking is
made or any other person to whom a booking is added or transferred.
Susan Yeates Artist operates in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and the
courts of England and Wales, excluding all jurisdiction from other territories / countries.
1. Contract
These terms and conditions, the booking form, along with our privacy policy (found here https://susanyeates.co.uk/policies/privacy-policy) form the retreat contract.
2. Booking and Payment
To book your place on the retreat you must book online and pay the deposit cost of £500 to secure your booking. Arrival date on this retreat is 7th September 2025. Costs for the retreat are listed above and dependent on the room type you book.
Double room - shared double occupancy: £2145 per person
£500 due on booking
£1072.50 due on 01 Oct 2024
£1072.50 due on 15 Jan 2025
Triple Room - shared triple occupancy: £2060 per person
£500 due on booking
£1030 due on 01 Oct 2024
£1030 due on 15 Jan 2025
3. Cancellations
You must contact us in writing at hello@susanyeates.com to cancel your booking. A cancellation will take effect from the date that written notice is received at our office. Should you need to cancel your space, all payments become non-refundable if we cannot fill your spot.
If we can fill your spot with a replacement, you will receive all payments back, less £500.
4. If we cancel your booking
We will do our best to fulfil the obligations of this contract. If we do
need to cancel, we will offer an alternative date or a full refund.
5. Child policy
Guests must be 18 or over to attend our sketching holidays.
6. Participation
On our sketching retreat the activities require an appropriate level of fitness. We reserve the right not to accept participants on our retreats and activities if, in the reasonable opinion of the leader, this would compromise the safety or enjoyment of an individual or the group as a whole.
If you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your booking, please provide us with full details before you make your booking so that we can try to advise you as to the suitability of your chosen arrangements. We may require you to produce a doctor’s certificate certifying that you are fit to participate. Acting reasonably, if we are unable to properly accommodate the needs of the person(s) concerned, we will not confirm your booking or if you did not give us full details at the time of booking, we will cancel it and impose applicable cancellation charges when we become aware of these details.
7. Sketching / Painting
Tools and materials suitable for the activities of the retreat will be provided (e.g. sketchbook, pens, pencils and paints). You are welcome to bring your own materials and you will be responsible for these. In the event of unsuitable weather conditions for “plein-air” painting and/or sketching and/or drawing, the group will sketch or paint indoors (accommodation, cafés or studio if applicable). You are advised to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for outdoor sessions and bring things like sun lotion, hats and appropriate clothes to cover the skin in the event of hot weather.
8. Behaviour
We cannot be held responsible for the actions or behaviour of other
guests or individuals who have no connection with your booking arrangements or with us.
9. Food and Drinks
Each guest will be responsible for what he or she consumes and can or cannot consume while on our holidays. You agree not to hold us responsible for allergic reactions, intolerance to any foods or drinks, or for any foods or drinks consumed which had any negative consequences on your health or
well-being or resulting in death.
10. Illness or absence
If you must withdraw from a holiday after commencement for any reason, you will need to contact your personal holiday insurance company. Unfortunately, no refunds can be made for absences from a holiday, including missed tutoring, missed meals, nights at the accommodation, or any activities you may have missed, or partially missed.
11. Responsibility
We hold no responsibility if you become ill, are personally injured
(fall, road accident, or any other injury) or decease during the holiday period. You are responsible for your personal and travel insurance. You are responsible for complying with our Terms and Conditions. We hold no responsibility for any staining on your clothing caused by you or any member of the group by our materials. For safety reasons, adequate footwear is advisable
when walking to sites with the group, or anywhere outside of the accommodation.
By making a booking for the Ciao Bella Sketching and Painting in Tuscany Retreat listed above you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
If you have any queries regarding the contents of these terms and conditions or would like a PDF version emailed to you, please email hello@susanyeates.co.uk and we will be happy to help.