Spring in Provence: A Women’s Creative Retreat
May, 2027
Art * Cuisine * Culture
Hosted by photographic artist Raina Stinson & PHYLLIS BROCK
May 9th to May 15th, 2027 SOLD OUT
May 23rd to May 29th, 2027
Roussillon, France
Limited to 7 participants
Ground into well-being, awaken your creativity, and connect in the beauty of Provence with like-minded women.
Escape to the beauty of Provence for a week of creativity, connection, inspiration, and discovery. This intimate retreat is designed for women who are ready to slow down, nourish their well-being, explore their creativity, and experience the magic of southern France in an authentic and meaningful way.
Hosted by mixed media artist and international award-winning photographer Raina Stinson and educator and community builder Phyllis Brock, this immersive experience combines creative exploration, local culture, friendship, and personal renewal.
During our week together, you will:
Stay in a private Provençal villa nestled among vineyards in the stunning Luberon Valley
Explore photography using your iPhone or DSLR camera—no experience required
Experiment with watercolor, collage, visual storytelling, and other creative practices
Visit local artisans, markets, and some of Provence's most beautiful villages
Discover hidden gems and authentic experiences beyond the typical tourist path
Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, local wines, and the relaxed rhythms of Provençal life
Practice mindfulness and creative observation while immersed in breathtaking landscapes
Connect with a small group of like-minded women through shared experiences, laughter, and meaningful conversation
Return home feeling refreshed, inspired, creatively energized, and deeply connected
Whether you consider yourself an artist, photographer, creative soul, or simply someone seeking a beautiful and enriching experience, this retreat welcomes you exactly as you are.
Join us for this very special and unique creative retreat!
Only 7 spaces available for this exclusive retreat.
6 nights, 7 days
€4800 for a private room with an ensuite bathroom
€4500 Shared room with ensuite bathroom
What is included
All transportation during our retreat – pick-up will be in the town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
All creative activities, classes, and entry fees to planned outings
6 nights lodging at the Villa in Roussillon
Breakfasts (6)
Lunches (4) 2 lunches on your own
Dinners (6)
Local wine is provided with lunch and dinner
DOES NOT INCLUDE
All transportation to/from Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Before and/or after dinner drinks (wine is included during the meals)
To secure your spot
A non-refundable deposit of €600 is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. The balance is due January 1st, 2027. Due to the logistics & upfront costs of creating an exceptional workshop experience like this, we are unable to offer refunds on payments made. We encourage you to purchase travel insurance for unforeseen events that may arise.
How to get here
The closest airport is Marseille (MRS), or you can take the high-speed TGV train from Paris to the Avignon TGV station. (3 hours train ride)
PLACES we will VISIT
Roussillon
Goult
Pernes les Fontaines
Saint Dider
Saint Saturnin Les Apt
Villar
Menerbes
Saint Hillaire
Bonnieux
Lourmarin
**Please know that due to weather or other unforeseen reasons, activities and locations may change. If this is the case, an equally enjoyable activity and location will be arranged.
Our lodging for the week
A peaceful, authentic Provence farmhouse villa nestled amongst vineyards and fields below the village of Roussillon
Your Hosts:
Five years ago, Phyllis took a mindfulness photograph course with Raina, and they became fast friends.Phyllis was enthralled with Raina’s approach to mindful photography, seeing Provence through the lens of an iPhone, an ideal way to deepen the experience and beauty of Provence! From that friendship, this retreat was born! As a team, they radiate warmth, humor, and a shared love for exploration and creativity. Their combined energy sets the tone for a retreat that’s as joyful and enriching as it is inspiring.
Meet Raina Stinson
Raina is an international award-winning photographic and mixed-media artist who has been a full-time resident of France for the past 8 years. A trained meditation and mindfulness teacher, she combines photography, mindfulness, and artistic exploration to help women slow down, see more deeply, and reconnect with their creativity.
With an insider's knowledge of Provence, Raina delights in sharing the region's hidden treasures, local culture, breathtaking landscapes, and authentic experiences beyond the typical tourist path. She also enjoys introducing guests to creative practices, including photography with both iPhone and DSLR cameras, collage, handmade books, lumen prints, and encaustic photography.
Known for her warm personality, infectious smile, and unforgettable laugh, Raina has a gift for making people feel welcome and at ease. She is passionate about meeting new people, fostering meaningful connections, and creating experiences that inspire creativity, friendship, and personal growth while immersing guests in the beauty and magic of Provence.
Her retreats offer more than a creative getaway—they are an invitation to experience Provence through the eyes of a local, the heart of an artist, and the mindful presence of a dedicated teacher.
Meet Phyllis Brock
Phyllis loves bringing women together to share beauty, laughter, and discovery. Originally from Montreal, Canada, she has lived in Silicon Valley for more than thirty years, where she had an exciting career in high tech and is currently a University Professor. Her true joy has always been connecting people and creating experiences that spark friendship and inspiration.
A lifelong traveler, Phyllis has traveled to over 50 countries and has been passionate about organizing retreats and memorable journeys for friends for over four decades. Eight years ago, she fell in love with Provence — the magnificent light, stunning hilltop villages, treasured markets, and leisurely pace of life. Phyllis has returned to Provence each spring for a month, getting to know the region extremely well.
Phyllis brings her background as an MBA professor in Leadership and Global Business to her retreats, adding personal growth and meaningful connections. What Phyllis treasures most is the magic that happens when women come together in a beautiful place — sharing stories, exploring new paths, and finding moments of joy and reflection. Friends describe Phyllis as warm, curious, and endlessly adventurous — someone who sees beauty everywhere and delights in helping others do the same.
Testimonials
"Raina's Creative Retreat in Provence was one of the most enriching and inspiring experiences I've ever had. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed, supported, and completely immersed in the beauty of Provence.
The food was absolutely incredible. Having a personal chef prepare fresh, delicious meals each day was such a treat and made me feel truly cared for throughout the week.
Raina's photography instruction was eye-opening. She helped me see photography in a completely new way, whether using my iPhone or a camera. What made the experience unique was how she seamlessly integrated mindfulness into photography and travel. I learned how to slow down, be present, and observe my surroundings more deeply. It wasn't just about taking photographs—it was about learning to truly see.
The villages, markets, and hidden locations we visited were stunning and felt far removed from the typical tourist experience. Through Raina's deep knowledge and love of Provence, I felt like I was experiencing the real heart and soul of the Luberon Valley.
What surprised me most was how much the retreat expanded beyond photography. We foraged for natural objects, explored collage and mixed-media techniques, and experimented with creative processes that opened up entirely new ways of expressing ourselves. Raina's approach encourages curiosity, creativity, and play, regardless of your experience level.
Most of all, Raina is fun, engaging, generous, and genuinely passionate about what she does. Her infectious laugh, warmth, and enthusiasm create an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable, inspired, and connected.
I left feeling creatively renewed, deeply relaxed, and grateful for the friendships, experiences, and memories I made. I cannot recommend this retreat highly enough."
Diane, Oregon, USA
I have recently returned from the Provence Lavender Photography Tour. I highly recommend this tour! We visited lavender fields, explored medieval villages, gazed at the moon and stars. We feasted on fresh produce and French bread from the village markets as well as gourmet fare at restaurants with breathtaking views. We drank in the perfume of the lavender and the Spanish broom. We foraged for herbs and flowers on the steep hillsides of the stunning medieval village of Brantes to make a delectable lunch that we savored on a terrace built into the rocky slope overlooking spectacular Mont Ventoux. We reveled in the stimulating conversation spurred by the incredible kinship we developed with fellow travelers--new-found friends. And in every part of our amazing adventure, under Raina’s expert tutelage, we experimented with different ways to document in photographs the story of our journey. On reflection, I am reminded of a quote from Marcel Proust: "The real voyage of discovery consists of not seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." Merci beaucoup to Raina for giving me the opportunity to see with new eyes!
Anne Newtown, Houston, Texas
I just returned from a small-group tour lifestyle and photography tour in Provence. I’ve traveled to France often and this is, by far, the best-guided experience I have ever had there The focus of this tour was lavender in bloom and photography, but I’m very confident that touring with Raina in Provence would be EXCEPTIONAL no matter what the focus was. Here are some highlights of the experience:
- All logistics, accommodations, and meals were handled from arrival to departure. That’s a real treat! Nothing to worry about!
- Beautiful, charming B&B that felt very private, had perfect owner/hosts, lovely breakfasts, and great views.
- FANTASTIC choices of restaurants (and a chef’s private home) for our lunches and dinners, exposing us to the cuisine of different villages in the area, some restaurants with breathtaking mountain landscape views from our table! Each meal was unique and highlighted local, in-season elements, and EVERY menu selection exceeded my expectations.
- Unique, local daily experiences, foraging in a quaint village for fresh herbs, veggies, fruits and flowers for a private, Chef-prepared lunch in the chef’s home, a private tour of a lavender farm and distillery, and much more!
- Extraordinary photo-taking venues on our schedule every day, with continuous hands-on guidance from Raina about looking for great shots, framing shots, setting our cameras and iphones (yes, iphones!) for the best shots, and then using editing apps to maximize the impact of our photos. My confidence in my ability to take exceptional photos has grown exponentially!
Carol Abott, Colorado, USA