LAKE EACHAM, QLD - ARTIST RETREAT: 29 June - 2 July 2025 - Bookings now open!

Enjoy a nature retreat and learn to illustrate birds and other wildlife with Zoe Lawrence! Located at the beautiful Chambers Nature Lodge, experience the beauty of North Queensland's Lake Eacham World Heritage region, and give yourself time to learn to observe, sketch and illustrate birds. 

Learn to capture two elusive and beautiful species through the medium of coloured pencil. In our workshops we will be studying the Victoria's riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) and the Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) with the opportunity to potentially see both species up close in the wild. We may be able to see early courtship displays of the male riflebird, and the striped possums are regular visitors to Chambers Lodge. 

We will practise sketching from life with these two unique species taking a look at the particular anatomical features of both. Coloured pencil techniques will be demonstrated with exercises focused around creating textures and patterns useful for illustrating birds and mammals. Throughout our retreat we will work towards two finished coloured pencil illustrations of both focus species, as well as multiple sketches and studies of both, and other surrounding fauna and flora of the area. 

This workshop includes three nights of accommodation, and is fully catered with breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Enjoy four days of art workshops with Zoe, as well as nature walks with optional nocturnal wildlife walks. Bring your binoculars and cameras, and get ready for an amazing art and science retreat with our team. 

Our artist retreat and nature immersion getaway includes:

• 4 days of nature, art and science activities in a World Heritage region
• 3 nights with comfortable accommodation at Chambers Lodges with twin share or double rooms (single supplements available on request)
• All meals included - three breakfasts, three dinners, two lunches, plus morning and afternoon tea refreshments
• Art workshops with professional artist and NatureArt Lab tutor Zoe Lawrence
• Guided walks looking at local flora and fauna
• Optional extra walks include night spotlighting walks to see gliders, possums and owls; and early morning bird walks to see bower birds, honeyeaters and riflebirds.
  
• Entomology expertise with Alan Landford
• Nature journaling insights with NatureArt Lab Director, Julia Landford, 

Suitable for people with a moderate level of fitness, optional walks through forest trails. People should have good walking shoes for trails, plus water bottles, sunscreen and hats. A nature journaling kit for art workshops and activities would be useful, and we will provide a full list of suggested art materials for participants. Only 11 places are available. 

Dates: 29, 30 June, 1 July, 2 July 2025 (4 days, 3 nights)

Accommodation: Chambers Lodge, Lake Eacham, North Queensland

Cost: $1,670.00* per person inclusive of accommodation, fully catered, tutored art workshops, nature journaling opportunities, guided walks, night spotlighting walks and early morning bird walks, entomology expertise.

To secure your place for this artist retreat, we suggest booking early; Bookings close on 20 May 2025. 

Our team: 

Julia Landford - Tour Leader

Julia Landford is the team leader and Founding Director of NatureArt Lab and brings substantial experience with natural history, nature journaling and tour management. Julia is passionate about nature and environmental education, and is also a practicing artist and nature journaler. She is the Founding President of the Australian Nature Journaling Association (ANJA), and was awarded the Environmental Educator of the Year (ACT) by the Australian Association for Environmental Education (2019).

Alan Landford has a scientific background in zoology, specialising in entomology from the Australian National University. He also has substantial wildlife experience from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and other regions.

Zoe Lawrence - Guest Artist

Zoe Lawrence, our guest artist and tutor, is an established natural history illustrator and artist based in North QLD. She works with a range of mediums from pencil, coloured pencil, watercolour, acrylic and digital illustration. Zoe has a passion for illustrating all aspects of the natural world but with a particular love for bird life. Throughout her years studying Natural History Illustration at the University of Newcastle she has worked on many projects; animations for music videos, private commissions, logo designs and being published in Australian Geographic. After graduating she now works as a freelance commission artist and has substantial experience working with birds.

Zoe understands bird behaviour and personalities and believes it is important to properly study and have a thorough understanding of a particular species to accurately portray it’s true beauty and charism within artworks.  She hopes to pass on this knowledge and skillset to students, therefore encouraging a passion and love for our wildlife. 

Alan Landford - Entomologist and Co-Director

Alan Landford has a scientific background in zoology, specialising in entomology from the Australian National University. He also has substantial wildlife experience from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and other regions. 

Nature Tour Cancellation policy:

We recommend that participants take out comprehensive travel insurance against injury, illness, emergency medical evacuation, loss and damage to personal belongings, not being able to travel on a confirmed date of departure or tour cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Any cancellations after the deposit is paid will incur loss of the full deposit, which helps to cover our costs for design and management of the tour program and early supplier costs incurred.

For cancellations 120 to 60 days before departure 50% of the cost of the tour will be forfeited. If cancellation takes place 59 days or less before the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.

If NatureArt Lab has to cancel a nature tour due to undersubscription, you will receive a refund of all payments made for that tour.

Please contact us at info@natureartlab.com.au if you have any questions.

Images: Riflebird, Colour pencil by Zoe Lawrence; Wompoo pigeon, Colour pencil by Zoe Lawrence; Catbird, photo by Timothee Bonnett