Our Art holidays in France offer relaxed and friendly painting and sketching time mingled in with good company, good French food and an experience of the French way of life.

Would you like to be taken to the most picturesque places in the centre of France? Would you like to spend time sketching and painting in chateaux gardens surrounded by roses? Would you like to spend a day in a forest over-looking a lake where you can enjoy a picnic lunch between sketches? Would you like to get back in the evening to to enjoy dinner and spend evenings painting, relaxing or simply chatting to your fellow artists? If you answer yes to any of the above questions then our painting and sketching holidays will really suit you.

It does not matter if you are a beginner or an accomplished artist. We provide beautiful picturesque locations for you to work in. We provide wonderful accommodation for you to relax and feel at home in. We provide delicious food (we cater for many diets). We take you out on picnics and to a restaurant (special diets permitting). We provide a further "French experience" by visiting markets and maybe a local fete, so that you go home brimming with ideas and inspiration and also feeling relaxed and ready to take on the world!

All you need to do is get here (if you are driving) - or fly to Limoges Airport and we will collect you. We can also collect from Chateauroux or Montlucon Train Stations - there is a connection from Paris for those travelling by Eurostar. You may want to bring a little spending money, but pretty much everything is included.

All this for only 680€ per week.

Your hosts on this course are Debbie and Anne - you can find out about them on our home page

MAKE A RESERVATION

A typical Art, sketching and painting holiday would be something along these lines (we are flexible to suit your requirements):

Day of travel: You will either arrive here under your own steam, or you can be collected from Chateauroux station or Limoges airport. You will be welcomed, allowed time to settle in and then relax over drinks and nibbles followed later by a meal.

Day One: Easy going morning, as you may be tired, but maybe a trip to a local market. Here, if you like, just unwind, maybe do a sketch or three. Followed by lunch out at a local restaurant. Afternoon at home, simply settling in and maybe doing a bit of sketching around the house gardens and country lanes.

Day Two:  Today we will go on a sightseeing / sketching / painting tour. We will have a picnic lunch and while out will visit several sights frequented by many famous impressionist painters. There will be plenty of time to paint, sketch, photograph or simply soak up the beautiful surroundings.

Day Three: This is a half day. Visit to local market (for shopping or sketching or both). Late lunch at home followed by relaxing afternoon. Maybe, if you like and weather permitting you could be taken to the local swimming lake, where you can also take the shoreline path for some superb places to sketch and paint. There is a cafe near the lake for refreshment. Or you may like to stay home and play with paint, in an experimental art afternoon - lets get mucky!

Day Four: Today we visit a local chateau and gardens for a day's painting (or photography, sketching etc). Picnic lunch.

Day Five: A trip to an area of history - here you will be able to sketch the medieval town centre, visit the superb museum of archaeology and then go on to the nearby riverside town for some superb townscapes and riverscapes.

Day Six: (last full day) Visit to some beautiful woodlands with a choice of short walks to explore with nooks and crannies and a bubbling a brook. Afternoon at home either relaxing or doing some painting.

Day Seven: A hearty breakfast then we take you back to the station or airport. If going to Limoges, and the flight times allow, and all agree, we can visit Oradour sur Glane before your departure.

The aim: You should go home with a sketch book full of material, maybe a completed painting or two and plenty of photos. You will also have enjoyed a superb relaxing holiday and experienced a bit of French life.

For those with digital cameras, each day, you can download to the PC and at the end of your stay, we will create a CD with all your images on - so no need to worry about buying extra memory cards.

All guests have access to the internet and PC. We have a library of books and other material for inspiration. For rainy days, we have plenty of indoor spaces to be able to paint and sketch. We can provide materials for sketching and painting for those that want to travel light.

This is not a course, it is a holiday, but we are more than happy to help out with tuition and guidance when requested. The most important thing is for you to have fun being creative and having a lovely time here in Central France being pampered.

Holiday Price & Booking

Sketching & Painting Holiday in Central France: 580€ per person - full board (no single person supplement).

You will be taken to some of the most picturesque places in the area to paint, sketch, photograph or just sightsee. This is a great holiday for "non-participating" partners as they can relax and sight-see a little while we are painting, but still be included in the restaurant meals etc.

Picnics, meal(s) out in restaurant and relaxation time included.

We provide some sketching materials and additional materials can be purchased on site at cost. Please bring your own paints and brushes.  Read our testimonials....

Not included in price: Transfer from and to either Limoges Airport or Chateauroux Train Station but it can be provided at an extra charge of 120€ / 60€ respectively.  Alcohol (other than wine with main meals) - though you are welcome to purchase and consume your own.

MAKE A RESERVATION:  You can pay by Credit or Debit card, French Bank Cheque or use your PayPal balance. Payment in sterling can be made by arrangement. We ask for a 100€ deposit per person (non-refundable) with balance payable 6 weeks prior to arrival.

For all visits, we recommend you take out separate travel insurance to cover you for loss, cancellation, sickness etc.

Step 1. Check the availability calendar (always up-to-date). You may choose any available dates that suit your plane/train schedules - however, if you'd like to confirm first by email please do so.

Step 2. Fill in your booking form IMPORTANT: by filling in this form you are making a booking and will be obliged to pay a deposit with 5 working days.

Step 3. Wait for a confirmation email and we will send you details of how to make payment - you will be asked for a deposit, then we will send a balance reminder 6 weeks before arrival.

If you want to mix and match our full board holidays please ask for a quote. IE: mix art and sightseeing.

TESTIMONIALS:

Go to Reservations Page for more information.

See our art gallery