Mulranny is a place that reaches into the bones, where wind shapes the salt marshes, where the sea breathes in and out, and where dark skies stretch like ancient legends across the Atlantic.
Guided by Jane Chipp, you are invited not just to visit, but to observe, collect, and curate, to combine art and nature and assemble your own Museum of the Wild: a personal archive of relics, textures, marks and stories gathered from the land.
Like the explorers and field-scientists of the past, we will gather fragments, document details, and preserve the essence of a landscape and its folklore. Only instead of storing these findings in scientific drawers, we will house them in a handmade museum-in-a-box, shaped by your hands and your time here.
Who is this retreat for?
Artists, collectors, wanderers, journalers, textile lovers, and anyone who craves a slower way of making, one built from touch, presence, and attention.
No experience required, only willingness to look closely.
Your Museum
Throughout the retreat, you will construct a box-based museum, a structure of compartments and spaces, into which you will slowly place each fragment, textile, drawing and relic you make.
What will fill your museum?
Weathered textile relics, co-created with nature — Plain fabrics will be taken into marsh, shoreline and wind, exposed to salt, sea spray, peat-water and rust. Nature will age, mark, stain and transform them. These textiles become evidence, like field samples, of your time in the wild.
Gathered specimens — On daily walks, we will notice and collect: feathers, shells, driftwood, lichen, seaweed husks, grasses, rusted fragments, stones shaped by tide. Each will be cleaned, labelled, and placed with intention, small artefacts of a living landscape.
Texture rubbings and colour notes — Quick studies, rubbings taken from rock or tree-bark, swatches of sea-grey, peat-brown, moss-green. These marks become small recordings of what stopped you in your tracks.
Collage and stitch — In the studio, we bring everything together, aged fabrics layered with drawings, fragments stitched into quiet compositions, works that feel unearthed rather than newly made.
Typical rhythm of your time with Jane
Morning walks - gathering objects, textures, stories
Studio time - stitching, collaging, constructing the museum
Quiet reflective pauses - looking outward, looking inward
Evenings outdoors - dark skies, shared folklore, slow conversation
You will leave with:
A completed Museum of the Wild, your personal archive of Mulranny
Textile relics transformed by sea and weather
A curated collection of labelled natural specimens
Drawings, notes, colour studies, your field journal on paper
A renewed way of noticing where land and story shape art
About Jane Chipp
Jane Chipp is a textile, collage, assemblage, and book artist who finds inspiration in the forgotten and the found.
Working from a garden studio near Plymouth, UK, Jane sensitively combines old photographs, vintage papers, and natural or household objects to create artworks that evoke memory, nostalgia, and storytelling. Her work incorporates ethereal images and rich, earthy textures, adding depth and atmosphere to each piece.
Never happier than when exploring flea markets, beaches, or forests in search of materials, Jane transforms found objects into deeply personal artworks. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in 2024. In 2021, Jane co-authored ‘Artful Memories: How to Make Unique Art with Old Photographs’, sharing her expertise in creating meaningful, layered compositions.
As a passionate educator, Jane teaches both online and in-person across the UK and overseas, guiding students in using found materials, image transfers, and textural techniques to tell their own stories, whether real or imagined.
Reviews
From all of us here at EOM
You are warmly invited to stay a while.
We invite you to imagine standing on the panoramic hillside of our studio, taking in the spectacular views of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick (Ireland’s holy mountain).
Open your heart to the profoundly moving drama of the constantly shifting Atlantic skies, reflecting an ever-changing light show on the bay. The wildness and grandeur of this spectacular area belie the peace and connection you will feel to Ireland and to this very special place.
Lie on a blanket in the heather and watch the stars emerge on a clear night, or walk along the rocky shores to gather shells, driftwood, and memories. Feel yourself letting go of the stress of everyday life as the mystery and beauty of this land awaken your senses.
This unspoiled landscape provides a haven of inspiration and experimentation, a place to stretch your skills in whatever medium you are working with, all within an amazing, state of the art studio.
Join us in Mulranny, Ireland.
Set in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, Essence of Mulranny Studios provides a sanctuary for creativity—where the rugged beauty of Ireland’s west coast becomes both backdrop and inspiration. Surrounded by stone walls, sea air, and the deep-rooted myths of the land, you’ll find the perfect setting to truly immerse yourself in your work and your growth.
Local Villages
Meet the local people, warm, friendly and always happy to chat and share a story or a cup of tea. While you're here, take some time to explore the charming village of Westport, where you can shop at the quaint stores and perhaps stop by a local pub or two.
Connect with Nature
Finding something to inspire you is not hard with the richness of the various eco systems surrounding Mulranny - from marine to mountain landscapes, with grasslands, bog and heather hills - this enchanted land casts a spell on any artist.
Enriching Excursions
Visit historic sites. Learn about the infamous Irish Pirate Queen and visit one of her many castles. Hear the story of our Stone Age ancestors and experience the myths and magic of Irelands spiritual roots while standing in one of the ancient stone circles. This is indeed a land of legends!
Find Your Inspiration
Make sure to pack your camera and sketchbooks because you're about to embark on a journey that will capture your heart and fill your mind with boundless inspiration. Prepare to be swept away by the sights, sounds, and stories that make this place truly magical.
Your Time with Jane at EOM
Your 8 days will be a beautiful blend of studio time, delightful excursions, cultural experiences and of course, plenty of free time to rest and explore!
You can arrive, unpack your suitcase (and your art supplies) and truly relax, at the gorgeous Essence of Mulranny Retreat center, operated by yours truly. We will be visiting enchanting villages, strolling along the beautiful coastline, touring ancient castles and ruins, picnicking in the heather fields and creating all along the way! The creative inspiration will be all around you!
Your general itinerary for your time in this magical place.
There may be a few changes here and there, depending on weather usually but we will let you know.
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We will collect you all at Westport Train station at 4pm and whisk you away to Mulranny, about 30 mins drive. After a champagne reception, we will gather for dinner and sharing and get you settled in to your rooms at EOM or DeBrun house.
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The MAC studio will be open from 9am to 8pm and is a short walk from the residence areas Class will be from 9:30am to 4pm.
We will serve lunch at 1pm each studio day at the MAC.
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This day is an all day trip to Achill Island. Lunch will be at a lovely little restaurant (your expense)
Dinner will be served back at EOM.
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Class will be from 9:30am to 4pm.and dinner will be at a lovely little pub in the Village (included)
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We often have a special entertainment on this evening but it depends on availability. We will let you know.
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1⁄2 Studio day and a trip to local attractions including Westport and the Old Irish Goat center. Dinner will be at the Famous Nevins restaurant (your expense).
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1/2 Studio day and finishing up work. Delicious dinner with wine and sharing.
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The bus will take you to Westport train station for a 9:45 departure to Dublin or the Galway bus.
Your home for the week.
This beautiful learning center is complete with well equipped mixed media/encaustic art studio, private bedrooms, a cozy gathering room with fireplace and group kitchen for those midnight snacks!
All meals will be included and prepared by an on-site private chef and will focus on delicious, healthy cuisine. For larger groups we house students in the village, in apartments with spectacular views.
June 21st - 28th, 2027
A Museum of the Wild: Curating Mulranny
with Jane Chipp
US $4,295 for a private bedroom & bathroom
US $3,995 for a private bedroom/shared bathroom
Included in your retreat:
Workshop instruction
Some supplies (will be specified closer to trip)
7 nights lodging
Transportation from Westport to the Studio (it is recommended to fly into Dublin airport and get a train to Westport where we will meet you to take you to Mulranny).
All meals except - 1 lunches & 1 dinner
All tour & excursion fees
New friends and an art tribe!
Not Included:
Travel costs / Airfare
Passport fees, photos and processing where applicable
Additional nights lodging
Ready to reserve your spot?
A US $500 deposit will secure your place.
It is advisable to have insurance to cover your travel to Ireland and to cover your workshop fees for your possible cancellation in the event of illness. There are no exceptions for this policy. Read the cancellation policy here.
$500.00