Rediscover your creativity and create memories to treasure forever.
What if you could take time to step outside of your daily life and give yourself space to truely release your inner creativity and connect with yourself?
We are searching for a small group of 8 to 14 people to join us this September to do just that.
Join us on an 8 day Immersive Art Retreat in the Andes Mountain’s hosted by award winning international abstract artist and coach Liz Murphy!
Through travel, art, horses, connnection to nature, self expression and wellness, we will spend time together ingniting our creativity.
Come with us for an unforgetable experience!
Eight unforgettable days of creativity, adventure, connection and discovery.
Join us on 4th to 12th September in Filandia, Quindio.
Hosted by internationally collected abstract artist Liz Murphy in partnership with Steel Horse Colombia, this unique retreat invites you to slow down, awaken your senses and experience one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes through the eyes of an artist. More than a painting retreat, it’s a creative adventure where awakening, exploration, play and connection take centre stage.
Ride horseback through the Andes, discover hidden waterfalls, explore colourful colonial villages, wander coffee plantations and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty of Colombia. Every experience becomes inspiration for joyful, expressive creativity.
Back in the studio, you’ll enjoy relaxed creative sessions using simple materials, playful techniques and guided demonstrations designed to help you let go of perfection, awaken your curiosity and rediscover the joy of making.
Set in a charming rustic Colombian finca, you’ll enjoy authentic hospitality, delicious local cuisine and the company of like-minded travellers.
You’ll return home with personal creations inspired by your journey, renewed creative confidence, unforgettable memories and, perhaps most importantly, a fresh way of seeing the world and representing it in two dimension.
What to expect:
Imagine eight unforgettable days where creativity, adventure, nature and connection come together in one of Colombia’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes.
Hosted at Steel Horse Colombia, this immersive retreat has been carefully designed to help you slow down, reconnect with your creativity and experience the inspiration that comes from exploring a country bursting with colour, culture and natural beauty.
Each day flows at a relaxed pace, balancing inspiring art workshops with memorable adventures, delicious local food and plenty of time to unwind.
Your creative journey with Liz Murphy includes a immersive, hands-on worskshops where you’ll explore expressive abstract techniques, experiment with new materials and discover the freedom of creating without pressure or perfection. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist, Liz’s encouraging and supportive approach will help you develop confidence, curiosity and your own unique style.
Beyond the studio, Colombia becomes your greatest source of inspiration.
Ride beautiful horses through rolling coffee farms and mountain trails. Swim beneath hidden jungle waterfalls. Wander the colourful streets of Filandia and Salento, where vibrant architecture, artisan shops and local culture awaken your senses. Walk among the towering wax palms of the Cocora Valley, visit an authentic coffee farm and experience the warmth and hospitality that make this region so special.
Throughout the retreat you’ll gather ideas, colours, textures and stories from every adventure, bringing them back into the studio to create artwork inspired by your own experiences rather than simply copying a reference image.
There is also plenty of space to nourish yourself. Begin the day with optional yoga overlooking the mountains, enjoy fresh farm-to-table meals, relax beside the fire in the evenings, connect with like-minded people, and embrace the slower rhythm of life in the Colombian Andes.
As the week unfolds, you’ll discover that this retreat is about much more than creating beautiful paintings. It’s about rediscovering playfulness, building confidence, finding inspiration in unexpected places and giving yourself permission to create purely for the joy of it.
By the end of your journey, you’ll return home with original artwork, new creative techniques, unforgettable adventures, meaningful friendships and a renewed sense of inspiration that will stay with you long after you leave Colombia.
Join us in Filandia, Quindio 4th – 12th September 2026
Meet Liz Murphy
Liz Murphy is an internationally recognised abstract expressionist artist, creative mentor and educator whose work has inspired artists and collectors around the world. With more than four decades of experience across graphic design, illustration, creative direction, interior design and fine art, she brings a rare depth of knowledge together with an infectious passion for helping others discover their own creative voice.
A graduate of Kingston University in England, Liz has enjoyed an extraordinary creative career that has included illustrating New York Times bestselling children’s books, leading award-winning creative teams, founding a successful interior design studio in New Jersey, and building an international reputation as a contemporary abstract artist. Today, her paintings are held in private and public collections across the world, including President Bill Clinton’s Harlem office, and in 2025 she was recognised as one of Feedspot’s Top 50 Abstract Art Influencers.
Despite these achievements, what truly sets Liz apart is not simply what she has accomplished—it’s how she teaches.
Her philosophy is beautifully simple: creativity isn’t reserved for a talented few; it’s something we all possess. Through her warm, encouraging and intuitive approach, she helps people quiet their inner critic, let go of perfection and rediscover the joy, confidence and freedom that come from creating authentically.
Liz is also the creator of her signature 3C Method—Colour, Contrast and Composition—a powerful framework that helps artists develop both technical confidence and an authentic personal style. Her workshops are renowned for their relaxed, supportive atmosphere, where curiosity is celebrated, experimentation is encouraged and every participant feels empowered to explore without fear of judgement.
Throughout this retreat, Liz will guide you in drawing inspiration from Colombia’s spectacular landscapes, vibrant culture and unforgettable adventures. Together, you’ll transform the colours, textures and emotions of each experience into expressive, deeply personal works of art.
Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the very first time or returning to a lifelong passion, you’ll leave with far more than new artistic techniques. You’ll return home with greater creative confidence, fresh inspiration and the freedom to see both the world—and yourself—through the eyes of an artist.
https://www.lizmurphystudio.com
“My greatest joy isn’t creating paintings—it’s watching someone realise they are far more creative than they ever believed possible.”
Meet Yvette Lovelock
Yvette Lovelock, founder of Steel Horse Colombia, first discovered South America over a decade ago during an eight-month solo motorcycle journey across the continent. After thousands of miles of adventure, she arrived in the colourful mountain town of Filandia and instantly knew she had found somewhere extraordinary.
Drawn to the breathtaking landscapes, lush cloud forests, year-round spring climate and the warmth of the local community, Yvette decided to make Colombia her home. She lovingly restored an old finca, transforming it into Steel Horse Colombia—a peaceful mountain sanctuary where guests from around the world come to reconnect with nature, experience unforgettable adventures and discover a different way of living.
Today, Yvette combines her passion for horses, adventure and personal growth by creating immersive experiences that inspire confidence, connection and transformation. She believes that some of life’s greatest breakthroughs happen when we step outside our comfort zones, embrace the natural world and reconnect with ourselves.
Yvette met Liz Murphy three years ago during a trip to the United States and immediately recognised something special in her approach to creativity. She was deeply inspired by Liz’s unique ability to use art as a gateway to freedom, intuition and self-expression—helping people let go of perfection, awaken their imagination and reconnect with the creative spirit that exists within us all.
Together, Yvette and Liz have created this immersive retreat to combine adventure, horses, creativity and nature into an experience designed to leave you feeling deeply inspired, rejuvinated and transformed.
This isn’t about learning to paint. It’s about rediscovering the joy of creating.
For eight unforgettable days, you’ll immerse yourself in Colombia’s spectacular landscapes, connect with like-minded people, and discover that inspiration is everywhere—hidden in mountain trails, jungle waterfalls, colourful villages, horseback adventures and the quiet moments spent with a paintbrush in hand.
You’ll leave with far more than beautiful artwork. You’ll return home with renewed confidence, lasting friendships and a fresh way of seeing both the world and yourself.