🖌️ Nature & Wildlife Illustration Retreat with Zoe Lawrence

Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Lake Eacham – North Queensland

Reconnect with nature and awaken your creativity in the heart of North Queensland’s Lake Eacham World Heritage region. Join artist and NatureArt Lab tutor Zoe Lawrence for a 5-day immersive art and nature retreat at the beautiful Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges.

🐦 What You'll Experience:

• Learn to illustrate native birds and marsupials in coloured pencil, including the elusive Victoria’s riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae), Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus maculosus), Krefft's Glider (Petaurus notatus) and Striped Possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata).
•  Explore anatomy and sketching techniques with live observation opportunities -watch for early riflebird courtship displays and enjoy regular Krefft's glider and striped possum sightings.
• Develop your skills in texturing, shading and natural patterns through focused exercises and create two finished illustrations of our feature species.

🌿 Your Retreat Includes:

• 5 days of art, nature and science workshops
• 4 nights accommodation in twin share or double rooms (single supplement available)
• All meals, professionally catered using local, waste-wise ingredients
• Guided nature walks, including optional nocturnal spotlighting for gliders, owls and possums, and early birdwatching walks
• Expert guidance from Zoe Lawrence, entomologist, Alan Landford, and NatureArt Lab director Julia Landford (nature journaling insights)

🧭 What to Bring:

• Sturdy walking shoes, water bottle, sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
• Your nature journaling kit and any preferred art supplies (a full materials list will be provided)
• Moderate level of fitness required for **optional forest walks**

Whether you're a seasoned artist or new to nature journaling, this retreat is a nurturing space to connect art and science, surrounded by one of Australia’s most biodiverse regions.

🎨 Spaces are limited. Don’t miss this chance to sketch, learn, and unwind in nature!

Dates: 2 - 6 November 2026 (4 nights, 5 days)

Accommodation: Chambers Lodge, Lake Eacham, North Queensland

Transport Option: We can arrange a private Cairns Airport pick up for participants to Chambers Lodge at 1.30pm on 2 November, and a transfer back to Cairns Airport from Chambers on 6 November. The cost is $80 per person each way. 

Cost: Total price $3,400.00. Deposit $850.00 (25% of total payment, non-refundable), Balance of $2550.00 per person is payable by 20 August 2026. Single supplements are available on request - please contact us at [email protected]

To secure your place for this artist retreat, we suggest booking early; Bookings close on 20 August 2026. 

Our team: 

Julia Landford - Tour Leader

Julia Landford is the 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).

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 [email protected] if you have any questions.

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