Set adrift and return to Self
PORTRAITURE AT SEA
Embark on a guided journey where fine art, psyche integration and nature intertwine. Traveling portrait artist Ceilidh Courtney captures the essence of your being in oil & pigment, aboard your private yacht or one arranged for the sole purpose of your commission. The result - a portrait as a timeless artefact of your inner world, created in deep presence with the elements as sacred witness.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ceilidh Courtney is a Swiss - South African classically trained portrait artist and Jungian coach whose practice is rooted in fine art, archetypal psychology and reverence for the living intelligence of nature. Her work invites a return to Self through a quality immersive experience at sea.
Ceilidh creates portraits that become spiritual masterpieces: painted mirrors of the Self, infused with essence, memory, and meaning. Each piece is a collaboration between the visible and the invisible; between artist and subject; between presence and paint.
Trained in Old Masters techniques (solvent-free), she studied at various institutions collecting the pieces that inform her work today. Ceilidh has spent time studying at Central Saint Martins, with esteemed portrait artist Andrew James and at the Aegean Center for Fine Arts in Paros. Her lifelong immersion in Jungian depth work informs her unique ability to see and feel beyond appearance - capturing the symbols, stories, and soul of each individual she paints.
When not at sea Ceilidh can be found traveling the globe as she works seasonally between her studios in Cape Town, South Africa and Paros, Greece.
THE OFFERING
Portrait Retreats
Various bespoke portrait commissions created aboard private & charter yachts - The scope of the commission is discussed in-depth and can be created in various mediums meeting the client where they feel most comfortable. Mediums: Charcoal, pastels and solvent-free oil paint with handcrafted oil and rare pigments.
The raw materials for the oil paintings are alchemised with the client in mind resulting in a consciously crafted medium.
Private Yacht
Client's owning a vessel, Ceilidh boards for a curated portrait retreat at sea. The voyage unfolds gently. Sketches, photographs, shared silence, symbolic conversations gliding toward a deeply personal work of art unfold.
Chartered Yacht
Client's in need of a private yacht, Ceilidh draws on her years in yacht charter management to curate and manage an exquisite bespoke journey aboard a hand-selected vessel, designed entirely around your needs and artistic vision.
Aqua–Terra Commissions
Following the voyage, you may choose to continue the creative process in a land-based studio - depending on the scope of the commission. Ceilidh is well-versed in the islands of the Cyclades, Croatia, the Caribbean (from the Leeward and Windward Islands to the Western Caribbean and Central American coast), the Florida Keys and The Bahamas. All available, but not limited to, locations for an Aqua–Terra Experience.
TESTAMONIAL
“What started as a fun, lighthearted artistic adventure turned out to be one of the most quietly transformative experiences I’ve had in recent years. I had the privilege of sitting for Ceilidh over two days - a process that felt more like an inward passage than just a portrait session. It was an exercise in patience and a rare chance to find stillness; a time when my thoughts were both held gently and free to wander.
As a retired barrister, I’m used to careful observation, but Ceilidh’s way of seeing goes beyond what’s visible. Her presence is gentle and unassuming, yet deeply attuned. The inner conversation I had while being quietly observed and held in her attentive presence felt like a journey in itself. I decided not to look at the painting until it was finished. When I finally did, it was surprising and strange all at once. Each time I looked, I saw something different: a softer, deeper part of me I didn’t know was there. The painting changed with every glance, revealing more layers.
Being truly seen is a vulnerable thing. Ceilidh holds the space with so much care and respect. I’m looking forward to working with her again someday, when time allows for a deeper experience!
- Client, London
References Available Upon Request