Flora in Focus — Australian Florals in Acrylic
with Hayley Kruger
16–19 April 2027
2 days tuition | Acrylic | Australian Florals | All Levels
A colourful two-day acrylic painting retreat with Hayley Kruger, exploring Australian native flowers through bold shapes, beautiful colour relationships, layering and expressive brushwork.
Residential retreat at Greenhills Art Centre, Western Australian Wheatbelt
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2 Days Tuition
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Acrylic Painting
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Australian Florals
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All Levels Welcome
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Residential Retreat
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Maximum 12 Participants
Flora in Focus — Australian Florals in Acrylic
Spend two immersive days exploring the distinctive shapes, colours and character of Australian native flowers.
Australian flora offers extraordinary painting possibilities — dramatic forms, unusual colour combinations, layered foliage and textures unlike flowers found anywhere else.
Hayley will guide you through developing an acrylic floral painting from composition and early colour decisions through to layering, brushwork and selective detail.
Rather than trying to reproduce every petal and leaf, you’ll learn to identify the larger shapes and relationships that make the painting work.
Through demonstrations, discussion and individual guidance, Hayley will encourage you to develop greater confidence with acrylic paint while creating a floral painting that feels fresh, colourful and expressive.
During the Retreat You’ll Explore
Choosing & Simplifying Your Subject
Learn how to look beyond detail and identify the shapes, movement and structure that make a floral subject compelling.
Composition
Explore ways to crop, arrange and position your subject to create a stronger, more engaging painting.
Colour Mixing
Develop richer, more harmonious colour mixtures and gain greater confidence adjusting hue, value and intensity.
Building the Painting
Work from the initial drawing and first layers through to progressively developing form, depth and detail.
Light & Shadow
Discover how light and shadow can give flowers and foliage volume, atmosphere and presence.
Layering Acrylics
Explore the versatility of acrylic paint through transparent and opaque layers, building richness without losing freshness.
Brushwork
Use different brush shapes and marks to describe delicate details, broad forms and the varied textures found in flowers and foliage.
Finding the Finishing Point
Learn how to refine the important areas of a painting without overworking everything.
Your Retreat Schedule
Friday 16 April
Arrival & Welcome Dinner
Arrive at Greenhills from 4pm, settle into your room and meet Hayley and your fellow participants.
Guests staying on from Feathered Friends can enjoy a relaxed day at Greenhills before the second retreat begins.
That evening, we'll head to nearby Lake Kimberley Bar & Grill at Whitegum Farm for a relaxed welcome dinner together.
Friday dinner and drinks are not included in the retreat price and are paid directly by guests at the restaurant.
Saturday 17 April
Australian Florals — Day One
A full day of tuition, demonstrations and individual guidance with Hayley.
Sunday 18 April
Australian Florals — Day Two
Continue developing and resolving your floral painting with Hayley’s guidance.
Monday 19 April
Breakfast followed by departure.
Want the Full Hayley Kruger Experience?
Stay for Both Retreats
Begin with Hayley’s Feathered Friends — Australian Birds in Acrylic retreat immediately before Flora in Focus.
Stay at Greenhills for the complete experience and enjoy:
6 nights at Greenhills
4 days tuition with Hayley
2 days Australian Birds
2 days Australian Florals
A relaxed studio day between workshops
All meals and refreshments at Greenhills, except Friday dinner
13–19 April 2027
Participants attending both retreats can enjoy Friday as a slower studio day — continue working independently, explore Greenhills or York, or simply relax between workshops.
VIEW THE AUSTRALIAN BIRDS RETREAT
About Hayley Kruger
Hayley Krüger is an award-winning Western Australian artist based in the Swan Valley, where she works from her home studio surrounded by the natural environment.
Originally from South Africa and with a background in graphic design, Hayley has spent the past decade developing a distinctive body of botanical and still-life paintings inspired by native Australian flora, seasonal fruit and bird life.
She is particularly drawn to the sculptural beauty of banksias, gum blossoms and eucalyptus, combining bold colour with delicate detail and a strong sensitivity to light.
Hayley’s work has been exhibited in Australia and internationally and is held in private and corporate collections. Alongside her studio practice, she enjoys teaching and helping others discover confidence and enjoyment through painting.
Her workshops are relaxed and encouraging, combining demonstrations with plenty of individual assistance so participants can develop their work at their own pace.
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Follow Hayley
Keep up with Hayley's work, workshops and painting practice:
Facebook | Instagram | Website
The Greenhills Experience — More than a Workshop
A retreat at Greenhills is designed to give you something difficult to find in everyday life — uninterrupted time to paint.
Your stay includes comfortable private accommodation in our historic homestead, meals and refreshments at Greenhills apart from Friday dinner, two full days tuition with Hayley and access to our large dedicated art studio.
With no daily travel, cooking or household distractions, your time can revolve around painting, learning, sharing meals and enjoying the company of a small group of fellow artists.
The surrounding Wheatbelt landscape, gardens and quiet country atmosphere provide the perfect setting for a retreat inspired by nature.
Your Retreat Includes:
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three nights private accommodation at Greenhills
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two full days tuition with Hayley Kruger
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all meals and refreshments at Greenhills, except Friday dinner
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morning and afternoon tea
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studio access throughout your stay
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demonstrations and individual guidance
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all linen and towels
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maximum of 12 participants
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airport transfers where applicable.
On Friday evening, the group will dine at Lake Kimberley Bar & Grill at Whitegum Farm. Friday dinner and drinks are at guests' own expense.
Who Should Attend?
This retreat is suitable for painters of all experience levels.
You do not need previous experience painting flowers.
Hayley’s teaching allows participants to work at their own level while gaining confidence with acrylics and exploring Australian flora as a painting subject.
The retreat will particularly suit artists who would like to:
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develop confidence using acrylics
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explore native Australian flowers
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strengthen composition
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become more adventurous with colour
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simplify complex botanical subjects
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develop expressive brushwork
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enjoy two uninterrupted days of painting.
Materials
This retreat will be taught in acrylic.
Participants will receive a complete materials list before the retreat, including Hayley’s recommended colours, brushes and painting surface.
You are welcome to bring acrylic paints and brushes you already enjoy using.
Your retreat
$1,260 per person — private room
Your retreat includes three nights private accommodation, two full days tuition with Hayley, all meals and refreshments at Greenhills except Friday dinner, and studio access throughout your stay.
A 20% deposit secures your place. The full balance is due eight weeks before the retreat. Monthly payment plans are available by prior arrangement.
Coming with a friend?
Save 10% each when sharing one of our limited twin rooms, subject to availability.
Twin Share — $1,134 per person
Independent Stay option
For participants who live locally or prefer to arrange their own nearby accommodation, a limited number of Independent Stay places are available, subject to availability.
You'll still join us for tuition, meals and refreshments at Greenhills, studio access and the social side of the retreat — you simply arrange your own accommodation or bring an approved self-contained caravan or motorhome.
Independent Stay — $900 per person
Price includes GST.
Friday dinner and drinks at Lake Kimberley Bar & Grill are at guests' own expense for all accommodation options.
Spend Two Days Painting Australian Florals with Hayley
Two days of tuition.
A small group.
No everyday distractions.
Just painting, conversation, good food and the opportunity to explore Australian flowers through colour, shape and acrylic paint.
16–19 April 2027
Places are limited.
Stay for Both Hayley Kruger Retreats
Why choose just one?
Combine Feathered Friends — Australian Birds with Flora in Focus — Australian Florals and spend six nights immersed in painting at Greenhills.
13–19 April 2027
4 days tuition plus a relaxed studio day between workshops
Australian Florals + Australian Birds
6 nights accommodation
All meals and refreshments at Greenhills, except Friday dinner
$2,720 per person — private room
Price includes GST.
Twin Share — $2,448 per person
Independent Stay — $2,000 per person
Subject to availability.
Friday dinner and drinks at Lake Kimberley Bar & Grill at Whitegum Farm are not included in the combined retreat price and are paid directly by guests at the restaurant
Which option would you like to book?
Feathered Friends — Australian Birds — 13–16 April
Flora in Focus — Australian Florals — 16–19 April
Both Hayley Kruger Retreats — 13–19 April
Book Your Greenhills Retreat
Complete the form below and we'll send your deposit invoice to secure your place.