A Calligraphy Retreat in Strangford, Northern Ireland

Join us for a very special three-day calligraphy retreat in the beautiful village of Strangford, Northern Ireland - a peaceful creative escape designed to slow you down, inspire new ideas, and immerse you in beautiful lettering, thoughtful composition, and atmospheric mark-making.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Strangford Lough and the rural landscape of County Down, this retreat invites you to spend a weekend surrounded by creativity, good food, and like-minded people. Guided by Kirsten Burke and Rosie Parkes, we’ll explore the theme of poetry through expressive calligraphy, learning how to create mood and atmosphere within our lettering while keeping compositions balanced, elegant, and beautifully considered.

Throughout the weekend, Kirsten and Rosie will guide you through inspiring creative sessions designed to help you loosen up, experiment, and develop work filled with personality and feeling. On Sunday, Rosie will also lead a special tutorial in gel plate printing, layering colour and texture to create unique backgrounds and papers to incorporate into your calligraphy pieces.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your creative practice, reconnect with making, or simply spend a restorative weekend creating in a stunning setting, this retreat is designed to leave you inspired and creatively refreshed.

Your Retreat Includes

• Two nights accommodation with breakfast

• Friday evening welcome gathering with bubbles and grazing boards

• Saturday workshop (9.30am – 3pm) including hot lunch

• Sunday workshop (10.30am – 3pm) including hot buffet lunch

• Teas, coffee and refreshments throughout

• A thoughtfully curated Retreat Goodie Box

  
  
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Travel & Accommodation

You’ll have your own room at our beautiful accommodation in Strangford, just a short drive from the workshop venue. Once you arrive with us, we’ll make sure you’re comfortably transported between the accommodation and workshops throughout the retreat weekend.

Guests will need to arrange their own travel to Northern Ireland. We recommend flying into Belfast City Airport or Belfast International Airport, both of which are within easy reach of Strangford. Ferries are also a lovely option, particularly from Scotland or Liverpool, if you’d prefer to travel by car.

Once you’re here, you’re very welcome to relax and let us take care of transport to and from the workshops, or you may choose to hire a car if you’d like to explore more of the beautiful coastline and surrounding areas during your stay.

Strangford is a small village at the mouth of Strangford Lough on the Lecale Peninsula in County Down, a place of quiet beauty, coastal views, and inspiring landscapes that feel perfectly suited to a creative escape.

All retreat tickets include your own private room within the accommodation, each with a double bed for single occupancy, giving you a peaceful space to relax and unwind after each creative day.