Ashley Barron
Artist, Illustrator
“I saw my time at Valleyview as an opportunity to unplug and just be. I didn’t put any pressure on myself to produce art, nor did the retreat. Instead, my days were filled with reading and writing, reflecting and lots of walking on the beautiful trails that circle the property (with my camera and binoculars always in tow). It was the height of fall colour in the Caledon countryside. My daily task was to spot the many animals that called this patch of land home: deer, squirrels, horses in a nearby pasture, migrating songbirds and a flock of wild turkeys. Overall my week was quiet and cozy, analog, slow, circadian and filled with cups of tea. I left feeling so refreshed. Thank you Valleyview!