Art in the Occitanie
Painting and Printmaking in the Occitanie Landscape
A week long residential art workshop and culinary experience in the South of France. Based in and around the stunning village of Arboras in the Occitanie region where my family has had a house since the 1960s.
During the weeklong workshop we spend the mornings out in the local landscape sketching, drawing and painting; the afternoons we head into the studio to explore different printmaking techniques. Using our morning sketches as inspiration to experiment with monoprint, linocut and drypoint etching techniques.
NOW BOOKING
Numbers strictly limited, book early to avoid disappointment.
Suggested travelRyanair - Luton to BeziersEasyjet - Gatwick to MontpellierTrain to Montpellier Sud de France
Spring 2026May 8th to 14th - FULLY BOOKEDMay 22nd to 28th
Autumn 2026October 5th to 15th (date change due to flight availability)October 16th to 22nd
What is included?
6 hours of guided artwork a day
All your art materials and use of studio and equipment
6 nights in a private room in a local gite
A breakfast 'starter pack' is provided in the gite (Coffee, tea, bread, milk, yogurt, fruit) with opportunities to replenish or stock up with your favourite French goodies at the local market.
Lunches & evening meals of delicious locally sourced French cuisine (including wine) are provided at our house/studio.
£1,245
YOU NEED TO ORGANISE YOUR OWN TRAVEL AND INSURANCE
Please READ OUR Ts & Cs before commiting to coming
Arboras is a hillside village and so quite steep, the houses mostly have steep stairs.while no one has yet had an issue some older artists might find it challenging - if in doubt please ask!
Had a fabulous experience with Kate on her art course in France, learning a variety of new techniques and I fell in love with Lino printing. Kate was a brilliant teacher and wonderful host. It was a magical, relaxing and creative experience. Everyone else on the course was lovely and such fun to learn and do art with other people. I would highly recommend this course/holiday.
Amy, October 2024
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Fabulous week of printing ... Our accommodation and the art studio had wonderful views over the plain from the mountain top village in which we were based.
Home cooked French food, trips to a market and vineyard were also included which was only enhanced by the wine and sociable artists we met.
Denise - October 2024
A week of art instruction in the South of France?
If that gets you thinking, well I can tell you it was marvellous! It was just the perfect combination of learning new art techniques, eating amazing local food (beautifully prepared), making new friends and all in the lovely surroundings of the mountain village of Arboras. I would highly recommend it to anyone who would like to sketch from a hammock, looking out on a mountain view surrounded by birdsong. Bliss!
Julia, May 2025
"As well as working in two amazing art studios learning art techniques and experimenting, we had the opportunity to visit outdoor locations with our picnic chairs under our arms, sitting to draw/paint wherever took our fancy, be it a vineyard, beside the river ... So idyllic."
Elaine, May 2023
"I booked onto the Residential art and cuisine experience (as a total novice) on a whim after meeting Kate at a craft fair. What a great decision that was!
Spending the week in the most scenic french countryside, surrounded by vineyards and birdsong with a really lovely group of people was very special.
Thank you... for a week that I will not forget and enjoyed so much. A slower pace of life with time to get absorbed into creating"
All the meals are made from fresh local produce
"I really liked the way there was a different plan for each day - both in terms of the type of project and seeing a new village/viewpoint. It was nice to explore a new bit of the region each day, and have that fresh in our minds as inspiration for the afternoon"Sarah - May 2023
ITINERARY
This will give you an idea of how it works and what we do each day but may vary slightly. n.b. this schedule below does not include the trip to a gallery, we will fit that in if there is a suitable show to go and see.
Travel day
You will arrive at Montpellier or Beziers airport or train station, we will collect you and bring you to the village. You can then settle into your gite and we will all meet up for supper, introductions and an outline of what we have planned for the week.
A SENSE OF PLACE
Day One
Afternoon
Introduction to MONOPRINTING - responding to the environment with colour -
Creating prints which can also be cut up for collage and/or overprinted with linocuts / etching / drawing
Day Two
Morning
Heading out into the landscape with drawing boards and chairs to draw in the countryside surrounding the village. Followed by a picnic lunch 'au plein air'.
Afternoon
We will head back to the studio we will use the sketches to develop and explore LINOCUT printing. Learn the principles of relief printing and create a simple small single colour print.
Day Three
Morning
LINOCUT 2 - working back in the studio we will continue with simple print and/or add a second colour
We will head down to the river for a picnic lunch at the famous local landmark 'Le Pont du Diable' (The Devil's Bridge) a historic bridge over the Herault river.
Afternoon
At the river, drawing, painting or cutting lino in the sunshine - the only way to do it!
Swimming optional, if it is warm enough it's a wonderful spot for a bit of wild swimming.
Day Four
Day Five
Collating work and collaging
By this point artists are often immersed in their personal project and so will be working independently in the studio or out in the countryside. All the tutors from the week will be on hand with further instructions and guidance as needed.
Depending a little on the weather we can also make various trips to local places of interest
Just up the river from the 'Pont du Diable' is 'St Guilhem le Desert', a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful villages in France. We can explore the streets, have a coffee under a 500 year old plane tree and visit the 12th century abbey.
Spring - we can visit the local iris farm and see the fields full of these magnificant blooms in 100s of varieties
Afternoon / early evening; we will put up our creations in a mini exhibition
Final dinner all together - BBQ in the road
Travel Day
After breakfast we will drop you back at the airport or station of your choice
