Rove Numby Art Retreat with Carina Chambers
Spend two days in a small group painting en plein air with professional artist Carina Chambers, surrounded by the spectacular landscapes of a private station. This is a relaxed, small-group retreat designed to help you slow down, reconnect with your creativity and return home feeling inspired.
Your Art Workshop
Over two days, Carina will guide you through the process of observing and responding to the landscape in your own way.
You’ll learn in a supportive small-group setting, with plenty of time to explore colour, composition, perspective and creative flow.
All art materials are supplied, although you are very welcome to bring your own favourites.
At the end of the retreat, you’ll return home with a ready-to-hang artwork as a lasting memory of your time at Rove.
Luxury Glamping and Country Hospitality
Settle in for one night of luxury glamping at Rove Numby Basecamp, staying in beautifully appointed twin-share bell tents beneath the stars. Your stay is fully hosted, with thoughtful country hospitality, generous meals and plenty of time to relax around the fire.
Your Accommodation and Dining Package Includes:
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One night of luxury glamping in a twin-share bell tent
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One hot or cold breakfast
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One three-course dinner
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Two long lunches
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Two morning teas
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Afternoon Prosecco and grazing-board picnic while you paint
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Local wine, tea and coffee (You are also welcome to BYO if you have a particular favourite.)
Also Included
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A guided gorge walk with Lou, owner and founder of Rove Numby Retreat
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Complimentary return transfers to Basecamp with your luggage
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Campfires, stargazing and an evening beneath the open sky away from city lights
Come Away Rested, Inspired and Reconnected
Paint in the landscape. Sleep beneath the stars. Share beautiful food and local wine by the fire.
Then return home with your own artwork, a fresh way of seeing and the feeling that comes from making space for something creative.
Cost: $950 pp. for the full weekend retreat
This is a small group workshop of 10 people max. (min 6 guests)
About Carina
After returning from the city to a life on the land, Carina creates joyful contemporary landscapes primarily on canvas, that are inspired by the vast skies and seasonal rhythms of rural Australia. Her work invites others to reconnect with the countryside scenes that ground us, restore us and remind us we are part of something larger than ourselves.
Carina paints from her studio on her truffle farm in Central West, NSW, exhibits across Australia and sells locally and internationally via Jumbled Orange NSW.
See more of Carina's work via her website or by following @carinachamberscreative on social media
Art Retreat Schedule
Saturday 7th November
10:00am | Arrival and Welcome to Rove Numby
Arrive at the meeting point before we transfer you to basecamp, alternatively take your own four-wheel-drive. Arrive at camp and settle in with tea, coffee and homemade treats. Meet your host and Carina your painting instructor before a brief introduction to the retreat and the surrounding landscape.
11:00am |
Let’s take a look at our materials and the fundamentals of plein air painting and drawing, working with watercolour, oils and pencil. We’ll cover finding your composition and identifying colours looking light and dark, muted tones and selective brightness in the landscape so that we’re ready to creatively tackle these elements after lunch.
11:45pm | Lunch
Enjoy a relaxed lunch featuring seasonal local produce.
12:45pm | Pre-hike Muster
Gather your materials and prepare to hike
1-2pm | Hike to Engagement Gorge
A gentle guided walk and time to explore the gorge before
2-4:15pm | Paint and Picnic
Carina will take a guided workshop focusing on your chosen composition, and capturing the essence of the Australian landscape. After a quick demonstration you are given the time to start capturing your own experience of the landscape and Carina will offer tutorage by roaming between students.
Grazing board nibbles and prosecco on site at your leisure.
4:30-5:30pm | Return Hike and free time
Quick huddle and a quick chat about challenges and also what’s working. We then walk back to basecamp before some free time at camp.
6:00pm | Pre-Dinner Drinks
Gather on the deck for local wines and grazing.
7:00pm | Long Table Feast
A shared 3 course dining experience showcasing regional flavours and country hospitality.
9:00pm | Fireside Conversations
Relax around the fire with a nightcap before retiring to your luxury glamping accommodation.
Sunday 8th November
7:30am | Breakfast
Granola and/or hot breakfast
8:30am | Painting Session Two
We stay close to camp this morning and return to our work with fresh eyes. Carina will show
you how she makes decisions to resolve a painting and also knowing when to stop. Students
will have the time privately speak with Carina about their work while they finish up.
10:30am | Morning Tea
A short break to enjoy refreshments.
11:00am | Final Creative Session
Add finishing touches to your work and prepare pieces for a relaxed group exhibition over
lunch.
12:30pm | Long Lunch & Exhibition
Celebrate the weekend over a leisurely lunch while guests showcase their completed artworks
and share their creative journey.
2:00pm | Transfers and Farewell
Transfer back to the meeting point and depart Rove Numby with your artwork, new skills and
lasting memories of a weekend immersed in creativity, nature and connection.
This itinerary is an example only and may vary depending on weather, season, group interests and artist requirements. A minimum of 6 guests are needed for this retreat to run.
What will we learn?
With inspiration waiting everywhere you turn at Rove Numby, it’s hard not to slow down and settle into a creative frame of mind. During this weekend workshop, Carina will encourage each student to develop their own individual way of seeing and painting, while gently guiding them through the foundations of perspective, composition, colour and creative flow. Her teaching style is warm, relaxed and full of passion, creating a class environment where students feel supported, inspired and free to enjoy the process at their own pace.
You don’t need to arrive with any painting experience, just a willingness to have a go. This is a joyful, open workshop for anyone wanting to slow down, absorb the landscape and enjoy the quiet pleasure of creating Plen Air.
During your time at Rove, Carina will encourage you to really notice the landscape around you, from its shapes and shifting light, colours and repetitions, to the small details that often go unseen. From there, she will guide you to respond to the landscape in your own way, gathering what catches your eye, a shift in light, a line of trees, a colour, a feeling, and using those details as the starting point for a personal artwork that captures your experience of place.
The weekend is open to students of all levels. So even if you aren’t coming to finesse your artistic practice, you’ll leave with something just as valuable: a different way of seeing. Being brave enough to creatively document your own experience of the landscape is a huge achievement in itself. There’s no judgement and no pressure to get it “right”. Just space to slow down, notice what resonates with you, and have a go.
FAQ's
Do I need prior painting experience?
No. Carina’s approach is process-led and intuitive, making it accessible for complete beginners. At the same time, the depth of her teaching means experienced painters will find plenty to explore, refine and respond to. Maybe even learn something new too!
What art materials do I need?
Nothing! The weekend retreat will supply you with all the materials you’ll need for the weekend. However, if you like to take notes, please bring a pen and notebook.
What will I come away with?
Leave with ready to hang artwork, a reminder of a beautiful weekend spent in the Australian countryside at Rove Numby. Most importantly, you’ll leave with a little more artistic confidence, a deeper connection to place, and the satisfaction of having made something with your own hands
