A Day of Connection

with Roam & Wonder, Proud Phoenix Club & Lady Gabe

On Sunday 26th July, Roam & Wonder hosted their most recent day retreat at the beautiful Elkstone Studiosin the Cotswolds - and it was a day that none of us will forget in a hurry.

In collaboration with Proud Phoenix Club and Lady Gabe the day was built around one simple but powerful idea: connection. Connection to nature, connection to yourself, and connection to others. What unfolded was something that felt genuinely special from the very first coffee to the final farewell.

The Morning - Coffee, Community & the Cotswolds

Guests arrived at 9.30am to the warm welcome of KNEAD Bakery, where the first of many coffees was waiting. Set outside in the morning air, it was the perfect way to ease into the day - conversation flowing easily, new faces becoming familiar ones, and a gentle sense of excitement for what lay ahead.

Once everyone had settled in, the group headed out for a five mile guided walk through the stunning Cotswold countryside surrounding Elkstone. The landscape did exactly what nature always does - it opened people up. By the time the group returned to the studios, something had already shifted. The walk had done its quiet work.

Lunch - Roots & Seeds Kitchen Garden

Back at Elkstone, guests had a chance to change, breathe and soak up the surroundings - whether that meant finding a spot in the tipi or spilling out into the garden. Lunch arrived at 12.45pm courtesy of Roots & Seeds Kitchen Garden, and it was nothing short of beautiful.

With the tables beautifully dressed, the centre pieces were gorgeous flowers from Amy Pope of Grandmas Garden- a detail that felt both considered and quietly intentional, because those same blooms would find their way into the afternoon's artwork. Guests sat down to beautifully plated salads that felt as nourishing as everything else about the day - fresh, seasonal and made with genuine care.

James & Proud Phoenix Club - Why We're Here

One of the most meaningful parts of the day came from James at Proud Phoenix Club, who shared the story of why he started his journey and what brought him to this collaboration with Roam & Wonder. It was honest, considered and exactly the kind of conversation that reminds you why gathering with people matters. James has a rare ability to make a room feel seen - and the energy in that space reflected it.

The Workshop - Lady Gabe

The afternoon belonged to the remarkable Hannah Gabriel - Lady Gabe - whose intuitive painting workshop brought everything together in the most unexpected and moving way.

With warmth, creativity and genuine skill, Hannah guided guests through a process that invited them to think about their past, present and future selves - and to express that through mark-making, colour and mixed media on their own A5 canvas. No artistic experience was needed, and that was exactly the point. What emerged were works that were deeply personal, quietly surprising, and in many cases, genuinely moving.

Guests left not just with a beautiful piece of art to take home, but with a set of techniques and a new relationship with creative expression that felt like a real and lasting gift.

The Moment It All Came Together

By the time 4.30pm arrived, the room had that particular quality that only the best days produce - nobody quite wanted it to end. Guests left with their canvas, their limited edition Connection t-shirt, and something a little harder to name but easy to feel.

Connection to nature. Connection to themselves. Connection to each other.

That was always the intention. And on Sunday 26th July, at Elkstone Studios in the Cotswolds, it was exactly what happened.

Roam & Wonder would like to thank Elkstone Studios, KNEAD Bakery, Roots & Seeds Kitchen Garden, Amy Pope at Grandmas Garden and of course, James at Proud Phoenix Club and the extraordinary Hannah Gabe for making this day everything it was. And most of all, thank you to every guest who showed up - for themselves and for each other.

Watch this space for the next Day of Connection.

Join our mailing list / Follow us on Instagram @roamandwonder.retreats | @proud_phoenix_club | @ladygabe