Art on the Farm High School Program in Ireland

I was lucky enough to experience Art on the Farm at Cow House in July of 2023. Two years later and I still talk to some of the friends I made there almost daily. Being from so far apart we sometimes exchange letters and have met for holidays. I am at University now and nothing could have set me up for a creative degree as well as Art on the Farm. Spending everyday enveloped in discovering my practice and learning new skills while surrounded by incredible creative peers and tutors is something both experiences have shared.

When I look back at my time spent in Ireland I am baffled at how many rich experiences were packed into that one month. The whole farm is a beacon of love and creativity. I felt so incredibly safe and cared for- by week two it felt like a family and by the end it was so difficult to leave.

The environment was so stimulating, I was inspired the whole time and learned so much, both skill wise and about myself as an artist. Rosie had said in the application process how a lot of past students had said that they had never made so much art and she was entirely right. The sheer quantity I was able to create was so impressive and it felt natural and easy in the cowhouse environment. The teaching was of serious quality and I have so much respect for everyone who spent time helping us improve. At the time I had more confidence in photography and chose Painting so I could grow my confidence and left feeling very proficient and a love for the medium. Life drawing was also a massively useful skill we were taught towards the end.
I was also actually really grateful for the phone time restriction, I had plenty of time to keep up with family(and had the option of the landline regardless) but I found less screen time was hugely enriching and I was much more engaged than I would have otherwise been. It felt very healthy.

I can wholeheartedly say that going to Art on the Farm is one of the most important things I've done. And one of the most fun months of my life. It may seem like I'm being overdramatic but Rosie and Frank have created an incredible environment and they take so much care over everyone who stays at the farm

I have so many highlights, so many times of laughter and connection. We all did cold water swims alongst the ducks on the sunnier afternoons; we ate INCREDIBLE food everyday; we explored so many different cities in Ireland- and on one of our day trips Frank and Rosie treated us to Barbie tickets so we wouldn't miss the premier; we spent time in the woods and absolutely loved sharing rooms, and sharing clothes; we loved having access to the studio at all hours; and every time anyone had a birthday while with us an incredible personalised cake was made for them. Everyone in our year's art on the farm had so much love for eachother, we became so close and we all felt encouraged and special. We also loved the animals so much.

Cow House is vibrant and genuine. It still feels like a second home to me after two years. And Ireland will forever hold a special place in my heart. I now have friends all across the globe and an improved confidence in my art.

My experience at Cow House Studio was absolutely life-changing and has become one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. From day one, I felt welcomed into a warm and joyful environment, surrounded by people who shared the same passions and quickly became lifelong friends.

The program perfectly combines artistic creativity with the exploration of Ireland. Working alongside professional artists helped me improve my skills tremendously and discover a creative side of myself I didn’t even know existed. On top of that, the excursions to Dublin and other beautiful parts of the country made every moment full of inspiration and adventure.

The nature around Cow House is simply magical. Walking through the forests, swimming in the pond, spending time with animals like Ruby, their lovely dog, and enjoying the tranquility of the surroundings were a breath of fresh air away from the busyness of everyday life. And the food? Delicious, nourishing, and always made with love.

Frank, Rosie, and the entire team are extraordinary people, always ready to guide, listen, and support you every step of the way. Their dedication and expertise not only helped us grow as artists but also as individuals.

Student: What an amazing experience this (past) summer was. I had so much fun and learned so many art techniques through all the mediums we explored. Everyone was wonderful: welcoming and supportive. I felt truly included and immersed in the experience. The atmosphere of the studio is so accepting and inspires wonderful creativity. And the day trips were such a blast. So many great memories! Thank you Rosie & Frank and all our wonderful mentors. L.K. (age 15)

Parent: Cow House was impressively, everything it was cracked up to be. Very professional from the start: no-nonsense, extremely well organized, impressive credentials. All this with a local, non-pretentious vibe. A great value for the tuition, in our opinion. The art program was top notch, with lots of support from both the Studio and visiting artists. Food was local and homemade, students were included in the daily chores, had goal-setting and great supervision (some muttering about phones) and were even escorted to various towns and venues for weekend outings. This was our student's first foray abroad without her family: it was perfect. We felt she was safe, cared for, productive, and having a LOT fun. Highly recommended.

Cow House Art on the Farm was one of the most joyous and formative experiences of my life. I loved every second I was at Cow House, spending whole days in the fantastic dark room, exploring the magical forest, eating Caitriona's food (the most delicious I've ever tasted), swimming in the icy cold pond, and spending time with some of my favorite people in the world. I think I laughed more than I ever have in a month, during my time at Art and the Farm. Frank, Rosie, Róisín, and the rest of the staff were incredibly kind, compassionate, enthusiastic, and supportive in every moment. With their help and example, I thoroughly grew as an artist and as a person. I continue to be inspired by their generosity and artistic expertise in my daily life and I hope that many young artists have the same opportunity to experience the beauty and bliss of Cow House Studios.

CowHouse Art on the Farm has changed my life all for the better. The whole team really showed me just how beautiful life can be. For an entire month, I was surrounded by the loveliest people who are now life long friends, the most impressive landscapes, and incredible art. The food left me feeling healthier than I have ever felt before, and I made memories I will never forget. My love for art is deeper than it ever has been, and the experience left me confident in pursuing a BFA in college. Overall, cowhouse was one of the sweetest times of my life, and it was the most connected to others and myself I had ever been.

I originally went to the program because my mom really encouraged me to go, I was a little hesitant about the no phones, I was sad to not get a last summer with my senior friends, and I it seemed to expensive for me. I went anyway, and I really did fall in love, and I even fell in love with art again. I live a busy life and being given the opportunity to focus on nothing but art let me grow in unimaginable ways. I also met the most amazing people that I still talk with today. I definitely recommend, even if your scared, to still do it.

The Art on the Farm summer 2024 program was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had in my life and I’ll forever cherish all the memories and different things I was able to do while I was there.
To be in an environment where I had so much time to work on my art, and was surrounded by others with the same passion for it, was an amazing opportunity that only made my love for art grow even more. I was constantly learning new things, and trying out different ways of making and thinking about art that I had not before. This would not have been the same without the incredible support we had from Rosie, Frank, and the other artists on site, who had so much experience and knowledge to pass on. I am so grateful for their incredible hard work to go out of their way to make the program truly special, and for being inspiring mentors to us all.
Not only did I grow as an artist, but as a person too. While going to a new place with no one you know can be stressful at first, CowHouse was extremely welcoming and I soon felt comfortable and excited to know everyone. The connections I built with friends while I was there will forever stay with me.
The location itself was also great, and I loved going on walks to explore the beautiful nature we were surrounded by. In the program, we were able to visit famous sites, art exhibitions of Irish artists, and get to know Dublin. These excursions were really well balanced with the calm space around Cowhouse, whose beautiful setting, and nature, further helped me to create art without the distractions of busy, everyday life, and also inspired my artworks.
I really recommend this to anyone who loves art regardless of how much or little experience they are coming in with. Even if you are worried at first about being in a new place, with new people, like I was, Cowhouse quickly begins to feel like a home and time goes by so fast that you wish you could do it all over again.

I am writing this review on behalf of my daughter who attended the program in the Summer of 2023. They had an absolutely amazing time and learned so many valuable lessons about art and about Ireland! They also still talk about how delicious the food was and how much they liked the people and the instruction. I think it was a real confidence builder for them to go off on this program and discover new things. They are using a number of pieces from this experience in their college art portfolio and I believe this experience helped them with their high level of success on their AP exam in Art & Design as well. This experience helped advance their painting skills but also sparked a new love of photography as well.