David Barrow
David has written and illustrated a number of delightful picturebookbooks, like “Fergus Barnaby goes on Holiday” and “The Big Race”, and he’s a wonderfully supportive lecturer at the world-renowned MA in Children’s Book Illustration at The Cambridge School of Art.
In 2015 David won the Sebastian Walker Award, and the following year his playful and funny picturebook, “Have You Seen Elephant?”, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.
He hosts the AOI (Association of Illustrators) meetups with Birgitta Sif and in 2023 he illustrated the touching chapter book “Budgie” by Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho.
David’s Picturebook Retreat
Friday 15th – Wednesday 20th March 2024
Transform your story idea into a successful picturebook!
You’ll go sketching in sunny Rome (sipping cappuccinos and steeping yourself in artistic inspiration!) and you’ll learn how to transition from observational drawing to creating illustrations from your own imagination.
You’ll make your own dummy book:
- developing your characters,
- playing with colour, composition and mark making,
- and exploring the interplay of word and image.
You’ll also investigate how to develop your own authentic creative voice, and you’ll look at how your everyday observations can inspire and inform your visual language and storytelling.
What’s included?
Welcome drinks at our family home on the first night
5 and 1/2 days at the Inky Larks studio to delve deep into your picturebook project and complete your dummy book
5 Picturebook Making sessions with Dave.
3 Sketching Outings: an exploration of the stunning sites around the Inky Larks studio, a visit to a museum or gallery, and an afteroon sketching in the quaint cafès, piazzas and alleyways.
3 Feedback sessions to get personal support and inspiration for your picturebook.
Breakfast every day on the roof terrace: freshly baked cornetti, coffee and tea (this is a lovely chance to chat and bond – or read tea leaves!).
On the last day: drinks at Ottimo Massimo (a lovely independent children’s bookshop) where we read out our completed dummy books, and celebrate the great work done and all the progress made.
A festive homemade Italian dinner to celebrate all together!
N.B. Please note that accomodation is not included.
If you’d like a list of b&bs, hotels, rentals etc. which are walking distance to the Inky Larks studio, fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page. We’ll be very happy to send it to you!
Birgitta Sif
Birgitta writes and illustrates charming, award-winning books that are published all around the world by Walker Books, Frances Lincoln and Macmillan to name a few.
She’s a lecturer on the famous MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, and she also hosts the AOI (Association of Illustrators) meetups.
Two of Birgitta’s books, “Oliver” and “Frances Dean”, are endorsed by Amnesty International for their messages of freedom, self expression and equality.
With internationally acclaimed illustrators, such as Quentin Blake, Axel Scheffler, Chris Riddell, Jackie Morris, Beatrice Alemagna and Oliver Jeffers, Birgitta illustrated the picturebooks “Kind” and “Dreams of Freedom”.
Birgitta’s Picturebook Retreat
Friday 17th – Wednesday 22nd May 2024
SOLD OUT!
Join Birgitta at the Inky Larks studio: we’ll sketch in the beautiful Roman piazzas and make picturebooks on the roof-top terrace!
You’ll storyboard your picturebook and dig deep into how to:
- structure your plot and develop your characters,
- bring your story to life through text and image,
- illustrate impactful book covers,
- build up and strengthen your storytelling skills.
What’s included?
5 and 1/2 days at the Inky Larks studio to delve deep into your picturebook project and complete your dummy book
Welcome drinks at our family home on the first night
5 Hands-on Picturebook Making sessions with Birgitta
3 Sketching Outings: an introductory tour of the sites around the Inky Larks studio, a visit to a museum or gallery, and an afteroon exploring the gorgeous alleways and piazzas of Rome.
3 Feedback sessions with Birgitta where we share our work, and get support and inspiration
Breakfast every day on the roof terrace: freshly baked cornetti, coffee and tea.
On the last day: drinks at Ottimo Massimo (a lovely independent children’s bookshop) where we read out our completed dummy books, and celebrate the great work done and all the progress made
A festive dinner to celebrate all together!
N.B. Please note that accomodation is not included.
If you’d like a list of b&bs, hotels, rentals etc. which are walking distance to the Inky Larks studio, fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page. We’ll be very happy to send it to you!
Read what students said of Birgitta’s retreat in 2023:
Reviews of Birgitta’s retreat
After the retreat I felt 100% satisfied with the guidance and tuition. I was now at the point where I could realise my project and prepare it to present to publishers/ agents. In fact one of my stories has now been submitted to publishers. Writing can be a solitary experience. But the Inky Larks retreat has brought me together with like-minded, talented people from around Europe. I enjoyed the breakfasts on the terrace overlooking old Rome, the camaraderie, gathering each morning round the big work table strewn with children’s books! – Cheryl
I’d just begun to form an idea of the book when I came. I struggled to convince myself that this simple idea could become a book. But during the retreat, not only was I able to create a clear storyline, but also make preliminary sketches for a dummy. I enjoyed the retreat very much, from the morning chats to the fun activities Birgitta brought to the outdoor sketching and to the intensive working sessions at the studio. What I liked the most is the small group – we got to know each other well and we were able to listen to everyone’s story and give suggestions. – Mimi
Dorien Brouwers
Dorien Brouwers is a picture book author and illustrator, who works predominantly in watercolour and ink.
Dorien’s distinctive style – rich in texture and detail – has garnered much recognition. Her book ‘Sail’ won the Cross category at the World Illustration Awards in 2022 and was shortlisted for the prestigious Bologna Illustrators Exhibition.
Dorien’s work is published by Penguin Random House (UK), Hachette Book Group (US), Lemniscaat (The Netherlands), and she’s now working on books for Thames & Hudson.
Dorien’s Picturebook Retreat
Friday 12th – Wednesday 17th April 2024
SOLD OUT
(Join us from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair!)
Dorien will be on hand every day to help you explore and grow your creative voice.
She’ll run 5 picturebook workshops on how to make an attention-grabbing dummy book, from layout through to planning, pacing and composition.
PLUS a completely NEW Printing workshop! We’ll sketch together and then make a print from your favourite drawing. You’ll be learning a fabulous technique for your illustrations, while also crafting a precious Inky Larks keepsake.
Finally, Dorien will share her personal experiences with working for publishers in many different countries and advice on how to get your foot in the door in the first place.
What’s included?
5 and 1/2 days at the Inky Larks studio to delve deep into your picturebook project and complete your dummy book
Welcome drinks and a homemade Italian dinner the first night
5 Picturebook Making sessions with Dorien (each session is 90 minutes long)
3 Outings: a walking tour of the beautiful sites around the Inky Larks studio, a visit to a museum or gallery, and an afteroon sketching around the centre of Rome
2 Group Feedback sessions where we share our work, and get support and inspiration
2 Individual sessions with Dorien: one at the beginning of the week to get your picturebook started, and one at the end of the week to see your progress and plan what to do next
Breakfast every day on the roof terrace: freshly baked cornetti, coffee and tea
On the last day: drinks at Ottimo Massimo (a lovely independent children’s bookshop) where we read out our completed dummy books, and celebrate the great work done and all the progress made
A festive dinner to celebrate all together!
N.B. Please note that accomodation is not included.
If you’d like a list of b&bs, hotels, rentals etc. which are walking distance to the Inky Larks studio, fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page. We’ll be very happy to send it to you!
Reviews of Dorien’s Retreat in 2023
“It was wonderful and so much better than I could have hoped! The balance of group sessions, individual work and outings was the perfect balance for me. Having so many books to look at was really helpful as I tried to find the voice of my main character. Honestly, I can’t think of anything that could be improved upon!” – Saira
“I enjoyed the vibe of the rooftop studio, it was really a retreat in the sense that it felt like some kind of secret getaway where you could make beautiful things with a small group of like minded people. Most of all I loved the encouragement that both Dorien and Diletta gave us. Not only was it very instructive but it also gave me the confidence and support to improve the story and finish the storyboard in a really short time. Diletta was always there to cheer you on and Dorien shared lots of her experience and pointed out possibilities for the story and storyboard that helped me take it to a ‘next level’.” – Xandra
“Your retreat was perfect for me. There seems nothing to improve.” – Ilse
English 
Italian