French Painting Holiday Gascony

What You'll Do

Discover rural France with a painter’s eye during this unforgettable 7 night painting holiday in Gascony; stay in a stunning farmhouse, while seeing and tasting all the region has to offer with first class tuition during ‘en plein air’ and studio sessions as you take your art skills to a new level.

Dates for 2022

8th July
24th August

Get away from it all on this 7 night painting holiday in south west France. Meet new people or bring your friends on this delightful art holiday that takes you fresh from the natural beauty of the French countryside into the large ‘grenier’ studio for a wealth of painting tuition and 1 to 1 guidance during your creative holiday to focus on relaxation and improving your art.

Frequent excursions to nearby beautiful towns or villages and other inspiring points of interest will give you the opportunity to paint ‘en plein air’ as well as discover the cultural highlights of the region.

In addition to discovering the fundamentals of composition and drawing, you will be taught to know and work with your colours, blending, and guided up into the finishing touches, focusing on what works for you and what techniques you need to enhance to give you the confidence to take your artistic skills to a new level even after your holiday is over.

Artists Antony Williams and Caroline Bays are both renowned in the artistic communities of the UK and Europe, and their work can be found internationally. They have decades of experience in teaching and helping students find what works best for themselves and how to express themselves through their own artistic individuality and mediums.

Your art holiday hosts, Claire and Martin, are the backbone of your French home away from home, making sure every comfort is met and that you have all of the fine cuisine that you can fit in. Although they do make sure you have a quality breakfast and lunch each day, the real treat comes during your 4 course dinners after aperitifs, seated in the dining room with regional wines and great company.

The farmhouse accommodation has recently been renovated to bring out its natural charm, making use of the barn space into an open plan kitchen, a lovely studio, as well as providing some ensuite rooms, along with spacious family rooms to accommodate all needs. With Egyptian cotton linen and sheets, WiFi throughout, and even a wood burner for the cooler nights, the space is as lovely inside, as it is out, with the rolling vineyards, terraces, and pool; all there for your relaxation and inspiration.

Experience
Highlights

Plenty of excursions to nearby points of interest & chance to paint 'en plein air'.

5 days of world class, individualized tuition in oils and acrylics.

Accommodation with a pool and all meals and wine included.

Experience Itinerary

Arrival & Accommodation

– Arrive and take the time to settle into your accommodation

Accommodation

Your accommodation that has been renovated with every detail in mind, you will find yourself surrounded by rolling acres of vineyards, a luxurious pool and plenty of outside space. In addition, feel free to play some games or sit by the pool with a good book.

Please note that if there are no rooms available in the main house, the hosts will use a local chambre d’hôte run by an English owner which is just a 3 minute drive / 20 minute walk away; there are 2 ensuite double rooms and 1 ensuite twin room and transport to and from will be provided and included in the price.

– Surrounded by acres of vineyards, the 19th century accommodation is a lovingly restored Maison du Maître
– The property has 5 rooms for guests to use (3 are ensuite); some with double beds, some with twin, based upon your needs
– The rooms are spacious and stylishly and lovingly decorated
– Full open kitchen, dining room and living room to relax in
– Modern bathrooms throughout
– Just a 2 kilometre walk away, you will find the local village with a shop, pharmacy, bar and hairdressers
– If there are no rooms available in the main house, the hosts will use a local chambre d’hote run by an English owner which is just a 3 minute drive / 20 minute walk away; there are 2 ensuite double rooms and 1 ensuite twin room and transport to and from will be provided and included in the price
– Accommodation is included for 7 nights / 8 days
– Relaxing TV room as well as a separate sitting room
– Large attic studio for you to use as an artist space
– WiFi throughout
– Egyptian cotton linen and towels provided
– Library of books and games for your down time, along with a table tennis table, rope swing, bicycles, badminton set and football net, as well as the 12m x 6m pool
– Please note that there are 3 friendly family dogs who will be sharing your accommodation but will not enter your bedrooms unless invited
– Transportation to the nearby village of Viella is available whenever you need it
– Check in anytime after lunch on day 1 and checkout by 10am on day 8, but feel free to hang around depending on your flight or train times

A Typical Day

– 9am: Greet the morning with a beautiful breakfast spread
– 10am-1pm: Have an excursion and discover a new place or subject to draw or paint ‘en plein air’ with expert instruction*
– 1-5pm: Enjoy lunch before heading to a favourite spot or the studio to focus on what you started that morning; your tutor will be there to help you focus and offer 1 to 1 guidance
– 7-8pm: relax and enjoy aperitif by the pool before dinner
– 8pm: Join everyone in the dining room for a beautiful 4 course dinner with wine, and catch up on your day

*More or less time may be spent at a particular place, depending on the guests’ needs; typical excursions will include landscapes such as rural, i.e. vineyards, rivers, lakes, and some will be small towns/villages and markets, giving you plenty of diversity

Departure

– After breakfast, pack your bags and prepare for your transfer to the airport

South West, Gascony

Location Information

Within easy access to Bordeaux and Toulouse airports, this stunning, historic farmhouse lies in the heart of Gascony, tucked away from city life, yet surrounded by rolling vineyards and the village of Viella right on your doorstep. Try the local Armagnac, explore the walking trails and nearby rivers, or get lost in a medieval village while you learn to relax in this pastoral paradise of the French countryside.

Nearest airport:

Lourdes ( 1 hour)
Bordeaux (2 hours)
Toulouse (2 hours)

Nearest train station:
Mont de Marsan (40 minutes)

Pre-booked transfers:
Transfers are included in the price from Lourdes airport, as well as from Mont De Marsan train station.

FAQs

- Suitable for all painting levels from beginners to advanced
- No minimum or upper age limit (as long as minors attend with family)
- Non-participating partners welcome

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help
- The gite has four steps into the front, and one step at the rear door
- There is a room on the ground floor of the gite available with a toilet and shower next door (shared)
- If one does have a wheelchair, your host will take it into consideration for the day excursions and would be happy to accommodate

- Your hosts have made sure there is plenty to do in your free time, with a pool, table tennis, outdoor lounge areas, hiking trails, as well as games and books
- Take a walk, ride a bicycle, or get a lift into Viella and explore
- Your hosts can recommend some wineries and nearby medieval points of interest and help you get there

- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you

Your hosts supply everyone with an easel, boards and stools and our tutors will give advice on what brushes and paints will be needed. Please let us know if you need to borrow some.

from £800 pp