recap! our painting holiday in france, june 2025
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| Our beautiful team of inspirational women this year |
How do you sum up ten unforgettable days of painting, exploring, and connecting in one blog post? It’s almost impossible to choose just one photo to represent each day — every moment held something special. Our time together was filled with laughter, inspiration, and the kind of joyful creativity that only happens when kindred spirits gather in a beautiful place.
We sketched in medieval villages and quiet landscapes, capturing stories in our sketchbooks while soaking in the atmosphere. We had plenty of studio time each day after our excursions, with many in the studio before breakfast or until late into the night. Each year my groups paint a lot, but this year it was next level!
Our hosts at Perigord Retreats made sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes. A bit like magic fairies. We shared delicious, soul-warming meals prepared by the incredible Katel and Noa — honestly, we ate so well we’re all still dreaming of their cooking! The wonderful Harrison and Pascal were endlessly accommodating and flexible, guiding us to picturesque spots to sketch and picnic.
Beyond the painting and the places, it’s the people who made this retreat so meaningful. We’ve formed friendships that go well beyond the time we spent together — we’re still chatting daily, sharing sketches, travels, ideas, and life from all across the globe. It was truly a retreat to remember.
A huge thank you...
Before I dive into the day-by-day stories, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came along on this adventure. Many of you travelled from far and wide, carving time out of your lives and trusting me to guide you through this creative journey — it means the world. Your openness, curiosity, and warmth made the retreat what it was. And Harrison and Katel at Perigord Retreats: thank you again for looking after us so generously, for your thoughtfulness, flexibility, and the care you put into every detail. This retreat was a joy from beginning to end because of all of you.
Here’s a little peek into what we got up to, day by day…
DAY 1 - CAHORS
What a perfect way to begin. Our first morning was market day in Cahors, and we wandered at our own pace through stalls overflowing with local produce (I can still smell the strawberries!) and all kinds of beautiful French treasures.
Afterwards, we drove up to a nearby hilltop to take in the sweeping view over the town and spot the bridge I’d chosen as our first sketching subject. I pass this bridge every year on the train as I travel from the Pyrenees to the retreat, and it was such a joy to finally sketch it, together.
We enjoyed a relaxed picnic lunch in the shade, then made our way down to the river for an afternoon of sketching.
I always love the first day of a retreat — there's such a mix of excitement and nerves. New faces, sketchbooks just opened, art supplies being unpacked, and that familiar first-page hesitation. Everyone’s just a little outside their comfort zone, adjusting to the rhythm of sketching in a brand new place. But it only takes a little nudge from me, and off you go — capturing your first memory on paper. And it’s only day one!
DAY 2 - VINEYARDS
DAY 3 - KAYAKING & SKETCHING CHATEAU DE BEYNAC
DAY 4 - STUDIO & LAVENDER FIELD
DAY 5 - ROCAMADOUR
Sunday means Rocamadour. It’s a day I look forward to on every retreat — truly one of the highlights. Rocamadour is an extraordinary place, built dramatically into the side of a limestone cliff, with layers of medieval architecture rising above the gorge. At the top is the château, offering breathtaking views over the Alzou Valley. Below that, nestled into the rock face, is the sanctuary — a complex of chapels including the famous Notre Dame with its Black Madonna, a pilgrimage site for centuries.
We took time to explore, sketch, and soak it all in. Our sketchbook spreads from the day tell it all.
DAY 6 - Chateau des Milandes
This year, I made sure we had the whole day to enjoy the Château des Milandes — and I’m so glad I did. Once the home of the legendary Josephine Baker, the château is a treasure trove of history and beautiful gardens.
We spent the morning exploring at our own pace, taking in all the rich details and stories the château has to offer, before gathering for lunch at the lovely on-site café. Then, in the afternoon, we settled into a peaceful spot beneath the magnolias — the perfect setting for a leisurely sketching session.
By Day 6, there’s a noticeable shift in energy. Everyone is relaxed, confident, and more sure of their sketching voice. With just a gentle nudge from me here and there, everyone chose their own subject — from architectural details to garden views — and dove into their sketchbooks with purpose and joy. It’s one of my favourite moments of every retreat: watching that quiet confidence emerge and seeing each artist’s unique style begin to really shine.
DAY 7 - LES JARDINS D'EAU, CARSAC
Monet moments! Our visit to the water gardens in Carsac felt like stepping straight into an Impressionist painting. We arrived at the perfect time of year — I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many varieties of waterlilies in bloom, some of them impressively large and all of them utterly enchanting. The gardens are designed around a series of tranquil ponds, connected by winding paths and wooden bridges, with lush greenery and colourful flowers all around. It’s peaceful, shady, and exceptionally beautiful — an ideal place to slow down and sketch.
For our morning session, we focused on capturing the soft light filtering through the trees and the magical reflections dancing across the water’s surface. There’s something meditative about sketching here — the gentle rustle of leaves, the buzz of bees, the stillness of the ponds, the croak of the frogs. We left feeling calm, inspired, and creatively recharged.
DAY 8 - STUDIO PAINTINGS
On the final day of the retreat, we set our sketchbooks aside and shifted our focus to creating a larger, more finished piece. Each artist chose a photo or sketch from the past few days to develop into a full painting — a chance to reflect, revisit a favourite subject, and bring together everything we’d explored during the retreat. I guided the group through the differences between sketching and painting, how to approach composition and storytelling, and the importance of tonal value studies before diving in.
This year, everyone chose to paint relatively large — working on quarter sheets — and, fittingly, most were inspired by the tranquil beauty of the water gardens we had visited the day before. The atmosphere was focused but joyful, and the paintings that emerged were truly beautiful: expressive, personal, and full of heart.
We ended the retreat with our traditional mini exhibition — sketchbooks open, finished paintings proudly on display, and glasses of bubbles in hand. It’s always such a moving moment, seeing the body of work created over our ten days together. There was warmth, admiration, and more than a few cheers as we each shared our favourite memories and paintings from the week.
A final shared dinner around the table, full of happiness and laughter and more courses than I can remember… and then came the bittersweet goodbyes. I couldn’t have been prouder of this group of inspiring, creative, brave women. What a journey we had together!
Thank you to everyone!
PS
I haven’t even begun to do the food justice! Honestly, I think most of us took as many photos of the meals as we did of the scenery — every dish was a work of art. Katel and Noa truly outdid themselves; their cooking was thoughtful, nourishing, and absolutely delicious every single day. If I had to give this retreat a theme, “sketching and feasting” wouldn’t be far off. They deserve a Michelin star — or at least a cookbook deal! But this post is already long enough… so read their Google reviews to see what I'm talking about ;-)
PPS
I already know a few of these beautiful people from last year and this year will be coming back next year. 2026 is filling up fast. Contact me if you'd like to join us.
