Mixed Media Painting & Yoga Holiday Retreat

Mixed Media Art Holiday: Landscapes, Wildlife & Culture of the Algarve with Yoga

This immersive creative holiday with yoga draws inspiration from the Algarve’s landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage. Through a variety of artistic techniques, guests develop new skills while exploring the region’s distinctive Mediterranean mosaic landscape, biodiversity, colours, and traditions.

A guided mixed media painting and yoga experience

Throughout the week, you work with a wide range of materials and techniques, guided by experienced art tutors in a relaxed, non-competitive setting. During each session, tutors offer demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual support. In this way, you can build confidence while enjoying the creative process at your own pace.

Alongside the painting programme, the retreat includes three yoga sessions spread across the week. Meanwhile, these sessions help you slow down, settle into the rhythm of the retreat, and return to your art practice feeling grounded and refreshed.

Painting holiday schedule

The programme may vary slightly depending on tutor availability or other unforeseen circumstances.

Sunday – Wildlife in Pastels (Half Day)

Led by Tracy-Jane Pooler.

Discover techniques for bringing animals to life in pastel, inspired by species found in Portugal’s natural landscapes. Learn how to create realistic fur, feathers, texture, and movement while transforming simple shapes into expressive animal studies. Along the way, gain a deeper appreciation for the wildlife that forms part of the Algarve’s natural heritage.

Monday – When Colour Runs Riot (Half Day)

Led by Tracy-Jane Pooler.

Explore colour, pattern, and expression through a vibrant mixed media workshop inspired by the Algarve’s rich visual character. Influences are drawn from the Algarve’s vibrant colours, traditional ceramics, wildflowers, and coastal landscapes. Using watercolour and brusho, create energetic artwork while experimenting with colour, composition, and mood.

Tuesday – Charcoal and Graphite (Half Day)

Led by Ana Rita Afonso.

Explore the beauty of simplicity through charcoal and graphite techniques inspired by the distinctive trees of the Mediterranean mosaic landscape. Focusing on carob, olive, almond, and cork oak trees, you will develop skills in line, texture, tone, and shading while strengthening your observational drawing practice and appreciation of this unique cultural landscape.

Wednesday – Ink and Mixed Media (Half Day)

Led by Ana Rita Afonso.

Combine ink, coloured pencils, and watercolour to create studies of birds and butterflies commonly found in the Algarve. Through pattern, colour, and delicate detail, discover how traditional agricultural landscapes and conservation efforts help support local biodiversity. Inspiration is drawn directly from the natural world surrounding Figs on the Funcho, including insights from our partnership with Vita Nativa, a local conservation organisation working to protect Algarve wildlife and habitats.

Thursday – From Shore to Horizon (Full Day)

Led by Samantha van der Westhuizen.

Immerse yourself in acrylic painting inspired by the landscapes and seascapes of the Algarve. During the morning session, you will explore the movement, energy, and colour of a breaking sea wave, using a limited palette of primary colours, black, and white to capture the power and atmosphere of the ocean.

In the afternoon, inspiration shifts to the rural landscapes surrounding Figs on the Funcho. Drawing on observations made during walks and free time throughout the week, you will paint the rolling hills, river valleys, Mediterranean mosaic landscape, and countryside views that characterise this part of the Algarve, translating light, colour, and texture into expressive paintings.

Yoga during your art holiday

In between workshops, the retreat offers three yoga sessions, held in nature whenever possible. Through these sessions, you deepen your connection with the surroundings while encouraging mindfulness, mobility, and relaxation.

Importantly, no prior yoga experience is required, and all sessions suit both beginners and experienced practitioners.

Free time & cultural discovery

When you are not painting or practising yoga, you have time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Figs on the Funcho. You may choose to walk along riverside paths, relax by the infinity pool, explore the countryside, or simply sit and sketch as the light changes throughout the day.

During the week, the group usually enjoys a relaxed afternoon exploring one of the Algarve’s coastal communities or a place of cultural interest. Whether strolling through a traditional fishing village, enjoying lunch by the sea, walking along a boardwalk, swimming, or simply observing daily life, the visit provides further inspiration from the landscapes, culture, and traditions of the region. Lunch on this day is enjoyed independently, giving you the freedom to dine where and when you wish. We are happy to arrange transport for the group.

About your tutors

Collectively, the tutors bring a wide range of experience and complementary approaches.

Tracy-Jane Pooler brings extensive experience in adult art education. In particular, her teaching style feels inclusive, encouraging, and practical. Over time, her work has spanned further education, community learning, and specialist support for adult learners.

Ana Rita Afonso, based in Silves, combines artistic practice with scientific illustration and environmental education. Through her work, close observation of nature and a deep respect for biodiversity remain central.

Samantha van der Westhuizen works primarily in acrylics and takes a process-led approach to painting. As she guides each session, she encourages experimentation, confidence, and enjoyment of the act of creating.

Together, the tutors provide variety, guidance, and a supportive learning environment throughout the week.

Who this mixed media painting & yoga holiday is for

This holiday suits:

• Adults seeking a relaxed, guided art holiday
• Beginners wanting reassurance and structure
• Experienced painters looking for fresh inspiration
• Solo travellers, mothers and daughters, and couples
• Anyone who values creativity, nature, and time to slow down

Ultimately, there is no pressure, no competition — just thoughtful guidance, good company, and space to create.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior painting experience to join the mixed media painting holiday?

No prior experience is required. The holiday is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced painters. All sessions are tutor-led, with demonstrations and individual guidance, allowing each guest to work at their own pace.

What art materials and techniques are covered during the week?

You’ll explore a range of mixed media techniques using materials such as pastels, watercolour, ink, charcoal, graphite, coloured pencils, and acrylics. The focus is on experimentation, layering, texture, and developing confidence with different approaches.

How does yoga fit into the painting holiday?

Gentle yoga sessions are offered three times during the week and are designed to complement the painting programme. Yoga helps you relax, reconnect with your body, and return to your art practice feeling refreshed. No prior yoga experience is needed.

What is included in the holiday, and are any meals taken independently?

The holiday includes guided painting sessions, yoga classes, accommodation, and most meals. On one day, the group chooses to explore a nearby town or place of interest, and lunch is enjoyed independently at the chosen location. We arrange transport for the group.

Explore our painting holidays

• Painting Holidays in the Algarve
• Mixed Media Painting Holiday with Yoga (this page)
• 4-night Botanical Watercolour Painting Holiday with Yoga