Spring in Sicily May 19-22, 2026 w. Bea Lubas & Signe Bay

WELCOME

This year’s Spring in Sicily Creative Workshop is a special edition.

For the first time, I’ll be hosting the workshop together with Bea Lubas, whose visual sensitivity and creative eye I’ve long admired.

Together, we’re creating four very special days in Sicily and we will guide you through a carefully curated programme focused on food, interior, still life, styling, photography, video, creativity, talks and laughter - all rooted in the rhythm and richness of beautiful Catania and surroundings. We’ll visit markets, an organic wine producer up on the Etna mountain - and even see a few old, patinated palazzos for sale - to take in the atmosphere, to shoot... and to dream.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE - LA DOLCE VITA

Catania is not just a location to me. It’s a place I’ve returned to again and again over the last 25 years. I have family here, I speak the dialect, and I know the small streets, the patinated palazzos, the markets, rhythms, the hidden corners, the light and the vibrant Sicilian life that just fills you up on so many levels.

This workshop is my way of inviting you into that world. Not as a tourist, but as someone who gets to experience Sicily from the inside. Embark on this photographic journey with us and discover why Sicily has been inspiring artists for centuries.

We will talk about working as commercial and editorial photographers, about entrepreneurship, about AI, how to find your creative voice and we’ll share our experiences as self-employed with you. We will gather and learn about each other and our paths in life.

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR

This workshop is for you if you’re curious, creative and drawn to visual storytelling - no matter if you work professionally with food, photography, interiors, branding or simply feel a strong pull towards creating.

Maybe you’re self-employed.
Maybe you work with food, flowers, design or communication.
Maybe you’re simply someone who wants to explore your creativity in a deeper, more intuitive way.

You don’t need to be ‘at a certain level’.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.

What matters is that you’re interested in getting inspired on all levels and learning through experience, atmosphere and presence.

We’ve had participants who shoot with professional cameras, others who work with their iphone or sketch ideas on paper. What they all have in common is a love for aesthetics, storytelling and the wish to grow creatively.

If that sounds like you, you’ll feel right at home.

What former students said

“I’ve participated in several of Signe’s workshops in Sicily. Why? They are so talented in so many ways and the time spent in these workshops is immersed in beauty from start to end. New experiences, new friends, more knowledge and wonderful food. So, I recommend to everyone: Go!!! “ - Kajsa

“To say that it is a photography and videography workshop is a huge understatement. It is an experience for all the senses and you return home enriched both professionally and personally on so many levels.
Thank you for sharing your passion for light, art, food, beauty, wine, people and life with us.’ - Sara

WHEN

Tuesday 19th - Friday 22nd of May, 2026

WHERE

The workshop palazzo is a very short trip from the airport of Catania (Fontanarossa), approx. 15 min. by car. You can take both taxi or bus or Uber. So very easy!

The workshop venue is an antique palazzo with the most amazing ceiling frescos in the middle of the old and beautiful historic centre of Catania. The whole palazzo is exclusively for our group during the 4 days. Some of you will sleep in the palazzo and some will sleep in a nearby apartment, and teachers and assistants are staying in a nearby apartment too. Part of the workshop-palazzo is with original interior, part is with modern furniture. We will teach our classes in the old part. The palazzo is located in the middle of La Pescheria, the antique food market of Catania and right around the corner we’re at Piazza Duomo.

More practical info will follow one month prior to the workshop.

THE PROGRAM

The workshop runs over four days and is built around an inspiring rhythm, with space for both learning and immersion.

Day 1 (May 19th)

Arrival at the palazzo in Catania in the late afternoon (check in 17-17.30 o’clock). We begin with welcome aperitivi and snacks, at the palazzo, and together we can get to know each other a little better and share who we are and what expectations we have for these days.

In the evening we have a delicious welcome dinner made by our in house chefs and create wonderful memories, new contacts and the beginning of new network. We will sleep well in either double or single rooms at the palazzo or in the next door apartment and wake up well rested and with new ideas.

Day 2 (May 20th)

We will have a wonderful breakfast at the palazzo. After breakfast, we head to the local markets to explore colors, produce and atmosphere - and to shoot and gather inspiration along the way. We’ll have a few tastings, of course.

Back at the palazzo, we’ll work with still life, styling, photography: Composition, colors and light. How to set up a small scene and capture the best light in even small surroundings.
We’ll photograph, experiment and create imagery together.
After lunch, it will be time for a small siesta.

In the afternoon, we’ll dive into food styling and storytelling, followed by dinner and inspiring conversations around the table.

Day 3 (May 21st)

This day is dedicated to inspiration, creation and refinement.

We’ll go on a tour up on the Etna Mountain to visit small villages and see a few beautiful and patinated palazzos for sale, then visit a local wine producer and taste and explore Sicilian food and wine culture. Along the way we will work with both photo and video.

In the very late afternoon, after siesta, we’ll focus on editing - how we shape our images in Lightroom and how to edit videos (reels) in Edits. We will also come around editing apps for both still and video. while talking about how to keep your style consistent in portfolio and grid. For those interested, Signe will show how she designs and makes videos in AI.

The day ends with a farewell dinner and time to reflect, share and connect.

Day 4 (May 22nd)

We will have our last breakfast together at the palazzo for this time, and it’s time to say goodbye.
Check out at approx. 10 o’clock.

What former students said

“Thank you for sharing your creativity and expertise in a fun way, watching you was a dream come true” - Renee

’Thank you for this amazing experience! Lovely days and evenings with a ot of laughter, good talks, colorful creativeness and beautiful people (in every way). And the food and wine!’ - Lotta

PRICE

Price for the workshop in double accommodation (two seperate beds): 2150 €
Price for the workshop in single accommodation: 2450 €

If you would like to pay in two installments, 50% when signing up, and 50% March 1st, then select that option from the drop down menu below.
If you have any problem, or prefer to pay via bank transfer, write us at: info@signebay.com

VAT notice:
Danish VAT (25%) is added at checkout for customers based in Denmark.
EU business customers will be invoiced without VAT (reverse charge).
If you are an EU business, please enter your VAT number at checkout or contact us if in doubt.

INCLUDED

3,5 days all inclusive workshop with the best food (from local produce).
The workshop is a complete experience from arrival to departure and seats are very limited. The enrollment fee includes single or double occupancy in the beautiful workshop palazzo or the nearby apartment, right in the historical centre of Catania, all meals, drinks, snacks, classes, training, workshop materials, excursions, and transportation during the retreat + a goodie bag on arrival.
Not included: Airplane ticket, transportation to and from the airport to the palazzo.

LANGUAGE

The workshop language is easily understood English, but we also speak Italian, Danish, French and quite a bit of German, so everyone is welcome.

You will receive welcome letter with all workshop info and tips on Sicily and Catania one month prior to the workshop.

BRING

Bring the device you shoot on; Whether it be your DSLR, compact camera or iPhone. If you’d like to edit photos during the workshop, you can bring your laptop. if you prefer to shoot on a tripod, you can bring that as well. We also have a couple to lend out.

QUESTIONS

We can assure you that we do out very best to give you a unique experience that will give you so much on many levels. Both professionally and personally. If you have any question prior to booking your spot, please don’t hesitate to contact us: info@signebay.com

Programme may be due to smaller changes. More accurate programme and info letter will be sent to attendees one month before the workshop.

OUR TEAM

As always we bring our talented cook and food stylist Louise Bondebjer to the workshop and alongside our Italian assistants, she will create and make sure that everything looks and tastes like a dream! Our nonna will cook for us as well, from her own kitchen, and our local assistant and family member Francesca will take care of us all and everything logistical as she has done now on all our retreats in Sicily together with Claudia.

YOUR HOSTS & TEACHERS

Bea Lubas
Bea Lubas is an internationally recognised food photographer, author and Lightroom Ambassador, known for her eye for detail, deep passion for light exploration and creating story-driven imagery.

Bea’s work has appeared in a variety of magazines, food brand projects,
and exhibitions in New York, London, and Italy.
Her creative talent has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition
in the BBC Fresh Talent Award, Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year,
and UK Blog Awards.
Through her educational content Bea shares her passion with creatives around the world,
encouraging them to notice the extraordinary in the everyday and approach food photography with creativity and intention.

Signe Bay:
Signe is a photographer, stylist, designer and creative director with a deep love for atmosphere, storytelling and natural light.

She works with international brands like Georg Jensen, Handvärk and WMF. Her work has been featured in VOGUE, New York Magazine, and numerous other international publications.

With years of experience as a stylist, photographer and creative director, and always has been drawn to the art of composition, light and atmosphere, Signe now also does AI-designed visuals, concepts, videos and stills for brands and design studios.
Signe is an educated teacher and worked as such, before she went fulltime as a single mum into styling and photography 10 years ago to decide the pace of life herself. Being able to create atmospheres and working with natural light is her passion, as well as connecting with other creatives. Thus Signe organizes a couple of exclusive workshops a year to gather likeminded and to inspire. These workshops are about stepping away from the everyday, finding new perspectives and building a community of creatives who lift each other up.

Terms:

CANCELLATION BY YOU AND REFUNDS
Due to logistics and all our partners involved, the workshop is non refundable. However, if you should be prohibited from attending, we will do our best to help find another participant, but unfortunately we can not guarantee it. We recommend to get a travel insurance in case of flight cancellation or other unforeseen events.