2026 RETREAT SOLD OUT. JOIN THE WAITLIST.
Creative Renewal: A Maine Retreat with Cig Harvey
Join us for a transformative creative retreat led by acclaimed photographer and writer Cig Harvey.
Cig Harvey
Known for her exquisite books and impactful writing, Cig inspires students to think outside the box and explore their unique artistic expression.
In this nurturing environment, you’ll unplug from daily distractions and reconnect with your inner muse.
The beautiful 16-acre estate offers serene opportunities for reflection and creativity, surrounded by nature’s beauty.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll receive expert instruction in photography, and engage in writing exercises, such as mind mapping to deepen your unique artistic voice.
Enjoy activities such as group critique of your images, gentle yoga and meditation, all led by Cig; plus sauna sessions, forest therapy and swimming, all designed to foster shared inspiration among participants. All activities are optional - this is your time!
Whether you’re an emerging artist or an experienced photographer, this retreat is crafted to help you explore new perspectives and capture the extraordinary in everyday life.
Under Cig’s expert guidance, you will leave feeling empowered and inspired.
Don’t miss this chance to connect with nature, enhance your craft, and build lasting connections with fellow creatives.
Reserve your spot today and join us for 4 days of inspiration in beautiful midcoast Maine!
LIMITED TO: 8 PARTICIPANTS
DATE: Thursday, May 28, 3:30pm to Sunday, May 31, 2:30pm, 2026
WHAT’S INCLUDED: 4 days of expert photography and writing tuition by acclaimed artist, Cig Harvey. Plus optionally, take advantage of our on-site sauna, lake activities including kayaks and swimming, yoga sessions led by Cig, who is a certified yoga instructor and forest therapy led by Kerry Payne, who is a certified Shinrin Yoku guide.
TUITION: This program is $2,995 per person and includes tuition, workshop materials, studio hire, gear loaners, daily refreshments and some group meals.
ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL: Travel to and from Maine and accommodation are NOT included but wonderful nearby recommendations can be made. Food & beverage outside of shared meals noted in the itinerary, miscellaneous expenses, equipment, and insurance are not included. Because of our rural setting we do recommend you have a car for the duration of the workshop.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to renew your spirit, connect with nature and spark your creativity while studying with Cig Harvey in a beautiful private lakeside estate setting.
WHERE: Blenheim Park, Bremen, Maine. Approximately 1hr north of Portland Maine, 3hrs north of Boston and 7 minutes drive from downtown Damariscotta.
QUESTIONS? EMAIL WORKSHOP PRODUCER KERRY PAYNE STAILEY
Cancellation & Withdrawal Policy
Life happens — and while we hope you’ll be able to join us as planned, we understand that sometimes changes arise. If you need to cancel your registration, the following policy applies:
45 days or more before the workshop start date:
We’ll refund your full payment, minus any processing fees paid to online service providers.30 to 44 days before the workshop start date:
You’ll receive a 50% refund of your tuition.Less than 30 days before the workshop start date:
We’re unable to offer a refund, but you may transfer your spot to another person.
Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
Because we’re a small business and operate on limited enrollment, we’re not able to offer exceptions to our cancellation policy — even for illness, injury, or last-minute emergencies. For that reason, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in the event you’re unable to attend.
Many plans cover cancellation due to unforeseen events, travel delays, medical needs, or even COVID-related disruptions. If you’re looking for a place to start, here are a few student-friendly providers:
TravelInsured.com — Flexible plans with Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) options
Allianz Travel Insurance — Trusted provider with good coverage for trip interruption
World Nomads — Especially popular with creatives and independent travelers
InsureMyTrip.com — Comparison site to help you shop multiple plans at once
Please read the fine print carefully to ensure the coverage suits your needs, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
BLENHEIM PARK MAINE
OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKESIDE SETTING:
The workshop will be held in beautiful Midcoast Maine at Blenheim Park set on 16 landscaped, lakefront acres. It’s located about 1 hour north of Portland, Maine and about 7 miles from the charming town of Damariscotta.
In addition to an inspiring workshop with likeminded artists, our lakeside setting will do wonders for your spirit too. We’ll sprinkle in activities to help make this not only a wonderful time to advance your artistic vision, but a great opportunity for you to ‘reset’ from the daily grind, while building lifelong connections with other artists who share your interest in creating this type of work. Blenheim Park is home to Maine’s largest cherry orchard, cherry blossoms, lawns, woods, and manicured gardens.
Getting Here
Blenheim Park Maine is located in Midcoast Maine, on 16 landscaped, lakefront acres in the town of Bremen — about 1 hour north of Portland, and 7 miles from the charming town of Damariscotta.
Three airports serve the Midcoast region:
Portland International Jetport (PWM) – ~60 miles / 1 hr 15 min. Offers the most flight options.
Bangor International Airport (BGR) – ~81 miles / 2 hours. Served by Delta, US Airways, and Allegiant.
Knox County Regional Airport (RKD) – ~27 miles / 40 minutes. Daily Cape Air flights from Boston Logan (BOS) on Cessna C402 twin turboprops. Note: Luggage is limited to one 50-lb checked bag, one carry-on, and a personal item.
A fourth option is to fly into Boston Logan Airport (BOS) and make the scenic 3-hour drive up the coast to Blenheim Park.
Rental cars are available at all airports (RKD has a Budget rental car desk only). Participants will carpool to field locations when needed.
Weather & What to Expect — Bremen, Maine
Spring (March–May)
Early spring tends to be cool and crisp, with milder afternoons by late April and May. Expect a mix of sun, clouds, and occasional showers.
Avg Highs: 50°F–65°F
Avg Lows: 30°F–45°F
Recommended: Layers, waterproof shoes, and a warm outer layer for mornings and evenings.
Summer & Fall (June–October)
Warm, bright days and cool, coastal nights define summer and early fall. September and October bring crisp air and, of course, beautiful foliage.
Avg Highs: 70°F–80°F
Avg Lows: 55°F–65°F
Recommended: Light layers, a rain jacket, and a cozy layer for evenings by the lake.
Winter (November–February)
Winter is cold but beautiful, with soft coastal snowfalls, bright sun, and occasional wind.
Avg Highs: 28°F–40°F
Avg Lows: 15°F–30°F
Recommended: Insulated, waterproof boots, traction devices (like Yaktrax or microspikes), warm layers, gloves, hat, and waterproof outerwear.
General Notes on Terrain
Most walks are short and on easy terrain, though some outings may involve a walk of up to a ½ mile. Please bring sturdy, weather‑appropriate footwear.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR, CIG HARVEY
Cig Harvey is a British born artist and writer, who lives in Maine, USA, working in large-format color photography and creative non-fiction. She uses both images and language to explore sensory experiences and elevate the everyday. Rich in implied narrative, deeply rooted in the natural world, her work is devoted to the topic of what it is to feel.
She has published many sold out books: You Look At Me Like An Emergency (Schilt Publishing, 2012); Gardening At Night (Schilt Publishing, 2015); You An Orchestra You A Bomb (Schilt Publishing, 2017); Reveal (with Andrea Modica & Debbie Fleming Caffrey; Yoffy Press, 2020); Blue Violet (Monacelli / Phaidon, 2021); and Eat Flowers (Two Ponds Press, 2021). Her next book will be published by Monacelli / Phaidon in 2025.
Cig is represented by Robert Mann Gallery (New York), Peter Fetterman Gallery, (Los Angeles), Jackson Fine Art (Atlanta), Robert Klein Gallery (Boston), Dowling Walsh Gallery (Maine), and Bildhalle (Switzerland & The Netherlands). She has exhibited worldwide including at Paris Photo, Art Miami, and AIPAD (New York) for the past twenty years.
Her photographs and books are in the permanent collections of many museums and private collections across the world including The Library of Congress (New York); Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, Massachusetts; Philadelphia Museum of Art, (Pennsylvania); Yale University; Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, Texas); the Farnsworth Art Museum (Maine, USA); the International Museum of Photography and Film at the George Eastman House (New York), and the JPMorgan Chase Art Collection.
Cig had her first solo museum show at the Stenersen Museum in Oslo, Norway (2012), and a mid-career solo exhibition at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Maine, USA (2019).
An installation of Cig's work was part of two contemporary exhibits exploring the theme of humans and nature at the Fotografiska Museum of Photography in Stockholm (2023). and Fotografiska New York (2024). A verison of this show will travel to Fotografiska Tallinn, Estonia in the summer of 2024.
She was awarded the Prix Virginia Laureate (2018), and the Maine in America Award by the Farnsworth Art Museum (2021). She was a nominee for the John Gutmann Fellowship, the Santa Fe Prize, the Prix Pictet, and a finalist for the BMW Prize, the Estee Lauder Collection, the Karl Lagerfeld Collection at Paris Photo, the Clarence John Laughlin Award, and The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. She was the JP Morgan Laureate at Paris Photo (2022). Eat Flowers won the Fine Press Book Association Judge's Choice Award for Best Book in Show at the Manhattan Fine Press Book Fair (2022). She was the recipient of the 2023 Visionary Award, given by Maine Media to recognize and celebrate artists making extraordinary contributions to the fields of visual arts.
In 2023, Eat Flowers, a documentary film about Cig by River Finlay, premiered at prestigious film festivals worldwide winning many awards including Special Jury Prize at the Sante Fe International Film Festival for Documentary Short, the Audience Award at the Indy Shorts, the Festival Jury Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Best Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the Alexandria Film Festival and the 2023 IDA (The International Documentary Association) Best Short Documentary: Shortlist.
Cig is a member of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and the Society of Professional Journalism (SPJ). She regularly contributes to the New York Times.
Cig Harvey lives in a farmhouse in Maine with her husband Doug and daughter Scout. The slow passing of time and the natural surroundings of her rural home has made her alert to the magic in the mundane.
Kerry Payne Stailey
A NOTE FROM YOUR HOST, KERRY PAYNE STAILEY: “I’m thrilled to welcome the incomparable Cig Harvey to our teaching roster and cannot wait to be a part of the magic that is made during your week with her. To have this estate filled with photographers sharpening their artistry and enjoying the beauty of Maine is a dream come true.”
Kerry is an Australian born, Maine based photographer and educator whose work has been published widely and exhibited internationally. She has studied photography, documentary film making and writing at the International Center of Photography, School of Visual Arts and New York University, and she has consulted to many highly respected photographers and photo educators in the course of her career. Now based in Maine, she, along with her husband Justin, owns and operates Blenheim Park Maine.