A 4 day painting and yoga retreat
Join myself and Li Lian Kolster (visionary artist and teacher) on a journey of healing and creative empowerment through a blend of painting, yoga, breathwork, and meditation. This transformative experience will take place in a very special place and grounds of Emerson College, Forest Row, East Sussex.
Over the course of the weekend, each participant will create a painting on a panel using acrylic paints. We'll work from a pre-mixed, unified colour palette and within a theme chosen in advance of the retreat. Reference materials will be provided, and participants are also welcome to bring their own images or ideas for elements they’d like to incorporate into their work.
You’ll be guided step by step through the entire painting process. We’ll explore essential techniques such as colour mixing, brushwork, blending, texture application, and fine detailing. Instruction will include a blend of presentations, live demonstrations, and one-on-one support—helping your bring your painting to life.
To deepen our creative connection, Li Lian will also lead guided meditations designed to inspire and open pathways to your inner creativity.
Each day will feature approximately 6 -7 hours of painting along with 2 x 1 hour of yoga sessions and meditation. T
All levels of painting experience are welcome to participate. Participants should bring their own brushes, with guidance available for selection. Group orders for recommended brushes can also be arranged.
Accommodation options include rooms on-site the grounds of Emerson.
About Emmerson College
Emerson College, UK was founded in 1962 by Francis Edmunds. It is now situated on Pixton Hill, Forest Row in East Sussex, UK. It was named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet and transcendentalist. For the past c.60 years there has been an international community of students, teachers, and researchers living and studying on the site inspired by the philosophy and teachings of Rudolf Steiner—which he called Anthroposophy. A book on the history of Emerson College was published in 2013.
At Emerson, food is a core part of the ethical and sustainable living philosophy, featuring seasonal, locally sourced, organic produce, much of which is grown in their own biodynamic garden and greenhouses. Meals are pre-booked to minimize waste, and they actively compost to support soil health.
How to get there
Emerson College offers ample onsite parking for visitors traveling by car.
For those traveling from London, the nearest train station is East Grinstead. From there, you may either take a bus to Forest Row and walk to Emerson College or opt for a taxi directly from East Grinstead. The journey from East Grinstead to Emerson College takes approximately 10-12 minutes.
The closest airport is Gatwick, located about 35 minutes away.
Meet the team
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My name is Emily Gilchrist, and I am a mother, yoga teacher, energy healer, mindfulness coach, fun-loving, creative, and cheeky catalyst for transformation and positive change.
I am devoted to the path of creating sacred, safe, loving and nurturing spaces where people can come, unravel, and be free to show up without apology, exactly as they are. I believe in being authentic and sharing the imperfect, perfect truth of who I am and life, so we can learn to truly accept and embrace the whole of who we all are.
How it began
I became involved in the art of healing over 20 years ago after my own personal journey in Yoga had started. Yoga found me at a crucial turning point in my life back in 2001 while living in India. It was my own trauma and being left with little confidence in myself and who I was that got me on the mat! It didn’t take long before I noticed the profound benefits Yoga had started to have on my overall state of mind and well-being, I soon found myself on the way to the ashram in south India, embarking on my first TTC, where the course of my path would change forever! I left knowing it was my mission to share this medicine wherever my heart led me.
You can read more about me on my page here:
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Li Lian Kolster is a London-born artist whose unconventional journey from science to art has shaped her distinctive vision. With a BSc in Biochemistry and an MSc in History of Science, Kolster brings a scientist’s precision and observant eye to her work, enriching her artistic practice with analytical insight.
Her early work focused on intricate ornithological drawings, which earned her a Society of Wildlife Artists bursary in 2008 to document endangered birds in Colombia. In 2013, her path took a transformative turn when she immersed herself in indigenous plant medicine studies in Peru. Under the mentorship of Peruvian painter Luis Tamani, she developed her unique style over eight months of solitude in the Amazon, combining artistic exploration with the study of Shipibo traditional plant medicine.
Working primarily in acrylics, Li Lian’s paintings blend scientific detail with mystical perspectives, often inspired by her experiences in Shipibo shamanism and her own journey of healing from clinical depression. Her work explores the intersection of natural forms and visionary experiences, creating compositions that capture humanity’s connection to nature, indigenous wisdom, and the transformation of trauma into beauty.
In 2017, Li Lian became an instructor at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art and continues to conduct workshops across Europe.
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at London’s Mall Galleries and conferences such as Breaking Convention in London. In 2019, she presented a solo gallery at the World Ayahuasca Conference in Girona, Spain.
Investment fee
The investment fee:Early bird rate - (running through until June15th, 2025):
Residential - £860
Early bird rate(running through until July 15th, 2025):
Non residential - £625 - for Emilyoga members
Standard rate will be a 10% increase on all above costs.
Please note: You can seucre your place now with just a 10% deposit of the total amount and from there I will be in touch to set up a payment plan for you. Please refer to my Terms & Conditions HERE
What’s included?
Residential is inclusive of :
Accommodation
Full board catering
All Yoga classes
Art workshops, canvas, images and paints
Non residential is inclusive of:
Lunch
Dinner
All Yoga classes
Art workshops, canvas, images and paints
What’s not included?
Transfers to and from the venue
Paint brushes ( we will give you a list of recommended brushes to buy)
Any extra foos and drinks that you order off the scheudled meal times