Artists Retreat is managed by Simon, the Owner.
To check availability and to get the best possible price, contact Simon here:
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Your free gift when booking with us:
Free welcome drink
— Simon: “We did an audit on our carbon emissions — compared to a conventional house of the same size, you could offset the carbon emissions of your flight from Europe to Spain by staying with us for a week.”
Interview By: Welcome Beyond
— What was your inspiration to restore these 5 old farmhouses and open a retreat?
Simon: “We were living in London before and trying to get out of there with our twins. We’re very concerned with ecology and sustainability, so we were thinking we needed a project where we could achieve all those goals without too much intervention from government and the rest of it.
We looked in France and Northern Spain, but were always drawn back to Andalucia. We’re in the national park and they’re very supportive of what we’re doing. It’s the perfect environment.
We have the art and ecology residency for professional artists. All of those artists have environmental concerns, so this seemed like the perfect place to be able to do what we’re doing in terms of sustainability and studying directly the effects of climate change.”
We looked in France and Northern Spain, but were always drawn back to Andalucia. We’re in the national park and they’re very supportive of what we’re doing. It’s the perfect environment.
We have the art and ecology residency for professional artists. All of those artists have environmental concerns, so this seemed like the perfect place to be able to do what we’re doing in terms of sustainability and studying directly the effects of climate change.”
— View from afar
— What would you describe to be your philosophy?
Simon: “Sustainability through ecology and creativity. The house is completely powered by photovoltaics and wind power. Grey water is separated and goes to irrigate fruit trees in the orchard. Black water gets treated in reed beds. We harvest rainwater from the roof and store it underground.
We did an audit on our carbon emissions and compared to a conventional house of the same size, roughly speaking, you could offset the carbon emissions of your flight from Northern Europe to Spain by staying with us for a week. That includes our vehicles as well.
We’re also localvores, getting all of our food locally. We don’t offer food that’s out of season. It’s just a simpler, better way of life although it’s not without its struggles.”
We did an audit on our carbon emissions and compared to a conventional house of the same size, roughly speaking, you could offset the carbon emissions of your flight from Northern Europe to Spain by staying with us for a week. That includes our vehicles as well.
We’re also localvores, getting all of our food locally. We don’t offer food that’s out of season. It’s just a simpler, better way of life although it’s not without its struggles.”
— Exterior
— Was becoming off-grid difficult to achieve?
Simon: “I do a talk to universities in the UK two or three times a year and I’m quite open to the fact that we didn’t get everything right. But the place is evolving all the time.
In the future, the residency will become a foundation. We’re going to be able to get funding from local government and other funding bodies to have a building competition for graduate Spanish architecture students to design eco studios. There won’t be any services or electricity, other than battery powered. So, we’re kind of like an eco chic laboratory for contemporary art and architecture.”
In the future, the residency will become a foundation. We’re going to be able to get funding from local government and other funding bodies to have a building competition for graduate Spanish architecture students to design eco studios. There won’t be any services or electricity, other than battery powered. So, we’re kind of like an eco chic laboratory for contemporary art and architecture.”
—
— Please tell us a bit about the facilities and rooms you have at the farm.
Simon: “We have 7 bedrooms with a separate bathroom in each. We’ve designed them to be changeable, because we have groups as well as individuals who come. It could be two singles, three singles, a double, whatever in each room.
It’s a vernacular building, so one half of it is our own house, then we have the main studio, and the area on the right is the guesthouse, which has underfloor heating. It’s very luxurious but minimal.”
It’s a vernacular building, so one half of it is our own house, then we have the main studio, and the area on the right is the guesthouse, which has underfloor heating. It’s very luxurious but minimal.”
— Salon
— We love the combination of the old farmhouses and the modern interior design. How would you describe the style of the interior?
Simon: “I like the phrase new vernacular because the vernacular shape of the existing building, which we had to restore and be faithful to its design, is the unconscious work of farmers who lived here. The building merely had to represent shelter and functionality. So, when we reformed it and kept the traditional ceilings and stuff, we refined it, taking off the unnecessary edges, making it more minimal, and yet the space is extremely organic in its interior.
I should also add that the residency opportunity we have here is one where the artists we invite often interact with us and the guests. The guests get to interact with real professional artists from places like Australia, New Zealand, America and all over in Europe. Those artists leave a piece of work for us, which adds to our art collection. It’s all on display on the walls.”
I should also add that the residency opportunity we have here is one where the artists we invite often interact with us and the guests. The guests get to interact with real professional artists from places like Australia, New Zealand, America and all over in Europe. Those artists leave a piece of work for us, which adds to our art collection. It’s all on display on the walls.”
— Salon
— To you personally, what is so special about the farm?
Simon: “Contemporary art having a political and creative issue. And it’s about the space, about refined aesthetics.
For example, we had a Belgian artist who paints very existential portraits of young girls, and they’re quite disturbing, I would say. Our artists always give a talk to the guests about their work. One particular guest, she was an ex-headmistress of a school in England hated this work; she thought the world isn’t like this, it is a happy place. Two hours later, having had this long talk with the artist and a group of other people, she changed her mind, stating that the work was amazing.
So, for me, it’s the transformation that’s interesting. That woman came with all kinds of prejudices and ideas, and she was turned around within two hours. If you can exploit that power to turn around people’s perspectives on all kinds of things to do with sustainability, with wilderness, about how you preserve landscapes, then I think we’re doing a good job.”
For example, we had a Belgian artist who paints very existential portraits of young girls, and they’re quite disturbing, I would say. Our artists always give a talk to the guests about their work. One particular guest, she was an ex-headmistress of a school in England hated this work; she thought the world isn’t like this, it is a happy place. Two hours later, having had this long talk with the artist and a group of other people, she changed her mind, stating that the work was amazing.
So, for me, it’s the transformation that’s interesting. That woman came with all kinds of prejudices and ideas, and she was turned around within two hours. If you can exploit that power to turn around people’s perspectives on all kinds of things to do with sustainability, with wilderness, about how you preserve landscapes, then I think we’re doing a good job.”
—
Simon's favourites:
Artists Retreat
Transportation
Eat & Drink
Activities
SightsInterview By: Welcome Beyond
— The location is just amazing, very remote and with stunning scenery. Please tell us a bit about what you particularly like about this part of Spain.
Simon: “It’s very little known and the weather is amazing. We’re in the Comarca de Los Velez which has fantastic history. We’re also in a national park — Parque Natural Sierra Maria - Los Velez — so there’s no danger of anybody developing nearby.
It’s also special because my wife and I honeymooned here. We’ve just always liked this semi-wilderness.
My wife’s family also has a big connection to Spain because her mother, aunt and uncle were all born in Barcelona, even though they’re English.”
It’s also special because my wife and I honeymooned here. We’ve just always liked this semi-wilderness.
My wife’s family also has a big connection to Spain because her mother, aunt and uncle were all born in Barcelona, even though they’re English.”
— Bathroom
— You also offer many different activities and creative courses such as photography, painting or the art of presenting food.
Simon: “The ‘Food of Art’ is a food illustration course. My wife used to be a food and travel illustrator. The course has to do with going to local markets looking for fresh produce, bringing it back, considering design and pattern and how you’d represent it. And also cooking it and making it into food for guests.
I’m not a professional photographer, though I can take photographs. My idea for ‘Digital Sierras’ is that the best way to take a photograph is to get yourself in the right place at the right time. I’m very good at predicting what the weather and light does here, and showing people how to observe the landscape.
My favorite painting course is called ‘Paint Safari’. I’ve got a Land Rover and we take guests cross country into the wilderness with our paints and easels. We have a little outdoor barbeque for a civilized safari-type lunch. If the guests want instruction, we’re there, but otherwise they can do their own thing.”
I’m not a professional photographer, though I can take photographs. My idea for ‘Digital Sierras’ is that the best way to take a photograph is to get yourself in the right place at the right time. I’m very good at predicting what the weather and light does here, and showing people how to observe the landscape.
My favorite painting course is called ‘Paint Safari’. I’ve got a Land Rover and we take guests cross country into the wilderness with our paints and easels. We have a little outdoor barbeque for a civilized safari-type lunch. If the guests want instruction, we’re there, but otherwise they can do their own thing.”
—
— What other courses and activities do you offer?
Simon: “Our most popular and my favorite course is called ‘Art Forms in Nature’ after Karl Blossfeldt, the German photographer from the 1900s who took microscopic photographs of plant forms.
Then, I also do a guided walking course. It’s actually a painting walking course. There are great roads high up in the Sierras here with varying degrees of difficulty and length. We stop to paint for a little bit and enjoy the landscape. You can see the sea on a clear day from the top of the Sierras since we’re only 80 kilometers from the coast. It’s also a great mountain biking and great riding area.
We also do an art and ecology course, and we’re developing more. For example, we just initiated a competition. It is about the contrary nature of climate change. We’ve had about 40 applicants from all over the world. We supply the winner with a studio, bed and board for two weeks.”
Then, I also do a guided walking course. It’s actually a painting walking course. There are great roads high up in the Sierras here with varying degrees of difficulty and length. We stop to paint for a little bit and enjoy the landscape. You can see the sea on a clear day from the top of the Sierras since we’re only 80 kilometers from the coast. It’s also a great mountain biking and great riding area.
We also do an art and ecology course, and we’re developing more. For example, we just initiated a competition. It is about the contrary nature of climate change. We’ve had about 40 applicants from all over the world. We supply the winner with a studio, bed and board for two weeks.”
—
— To you personally, what has been the biggest reward about renting out your farm?
Simon: “I think, without a touch of modesty, it’s the fact that when I come back to the house, I can come around the side of the mountain and look down and still think it’s amazing, and that we stayed true to the materials, design and aesthetics.
We also get very nice feedback on the food for example. Donna, my wife, is a great chef, though she wouldn’t admit it.”
We also get very nice feedback on the food for example. Donna, my wife, is a great chef, though she wouldn’t admit it.”
— Salon
— Are most of the guests creative?
Simon: “It’s for all, complete beginners and otherwise. We get a significant amount of people who are between 30 and 50 who’ve taken one route in life and decided that they actually have a creative inner person they want to tap into.
We also get graphic designers and web designers. They’ve gone into industry and every creative person in their heart wants to be completely free, so it’s a great opportunity for them to let loose. I’m very conceptually minded, so it’s good for them to push the boundaries of what they can do or want to do.”
We also get graphic designers and web designers. They’ve gone into industry and every creative person in their heart wants to be completely free, so it’s a great opportunity for them to let loose. I’m very conceptually minded, so it’s good for them to push the boundaries of what they can do or want to do.”
— Terrace
— What’s the best time of year to visit?
Simon: “This Christmas has been fantastic, but it depends from what perspective. If you want to come to a creative course, the best time to come is from September through June. It’s often better in the winter.”
—
— Thank you, Simon!
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Service
Catered
Accommodation type
B&B / Guesthouse
Location
Remote
Special requirements
Not suitable for young children
Please enquire about pets
Wheelchair accessible
No smoking, please
Transport
Car recommended
Private parking
No public transport
Prices are an indication only. The final quote will be the same low price as booking your vacation directly.
There are no fees to book. Please check directly with the owner for special arrangements or information not listed here.
Bedrooms
0 Single bedroom
1 Double bedroom
0 Twin bedroom
0 Room w. multiple beds
Additional:
0 Sofabed
0 Extra bed (on request)
0 Air mattress (on req.)
0 Baby cot/crib (on req.)
Bath/shower rooms
1 Bathroom (ensuite)
0 Bathroom (shared)
0 Shower room (ensuite)
0 Shower room (shared)
0 Toilet (ensuite)
Additional:
0 Toilet (shared)
Other rooms
-
0 Kitchen
0 Kitchenette
0 Cooking area
0 Living room
0 Dining room
0 Other rooms
Prices for 2 sharingperson
Lowest price
Highest price
Price per night
€ 85
€ 85
Single occupancy per night
€ 60
€ 60
Size: 30 square meters. 7 units available.
The guesthouse is designed to be a year round retreat and accordingly we have made the living space confortable to suit.
We have underfloor heating throughout maintaining a pleasant ambient temperature day and night. There are also wood burning stoves for those who like a fireside.
All our bedrooms have attached bathrooms with ‘wet rooms’ and a selection of ecologically safe soaps and shampoos if you should care to use them.
Creative courses run for a week and are full board with refreshments at meal times.
Our food is made from locally grown produce, simple and delicious, reflecting our love of Spain and some of the flavours from our wider travels.
Price includes breakfast. Lunch is €10 per person, dinner €18 per person including wine.
Your free gift
Free welcome drink when booking through Welcome Beyond.
Best rates
You pay the same rate as booking with the property directly. There are no booking fees or extra costs to you. That’s guaranteed!
Direct owner contact
Use the ‘Contact’ button on the left to get information about availability and rates from the owner directly — and also receive the link to the property website with further details.
Our helpline
If you need help, call us on +49 163 737 2509 (Mo-Fr, 10am-10pm CET)
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
Outside these times leave us a message and we’ll call right back.
