How can you successfully combine a residential painting workshop and a holiday? Is it possible to create a place that welcomes painters and their non-painting partners? We created Perigord Retreats to give our guests an opportunity to do both. We wanted to give all types of painters the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Perigord & Quercy regions of France in a way that allows you to paint as and when you wish, in the studio or en plain air. Whether you’re a beginner, experienced or professional painter, our workshops are designed to be stimulating and enjoyable for everyone.

Whether you’re a beginner, experienced or professional painter, our workshops are designed to be stimulating and enjoyable for everyone.

For everyone:

• Daily excursions to the most beautiful villages and landscapes in France
• locally sourced and cooked food
• access to 5 acres of garden on the Perigord Retreats property
• enjoy the quiet and tranquil location, in the middle of the countryside
• An indoor swimming pool and outdoor Jacuzzi/spa to enjoy and reflect upon the day

For painters:

• enjoy the medieval towns and villages, panoramic landscapes and vividly coloured flowers.
• enjoy 24/7 exclusive access to our studio, leave your work in progress and come back to it as and when you’re motivated
• Full support for all choices of medium – watercolour, acrylic, pastels and oils

For non-painters:

• explore the most beautiful villages and towns in France
• visit local chateaux and taste the local Bergerac and Cahors wines
• canoe on the river Lot & Dordogne
• Take a bike and explore whilst enjoying the lovely fresh, clean air and weather

We’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some American artists such as Ivy Newport, Alain Picard and Kellee Wynne Conrad. We’ve also worked with some Australian artists such as Ev Hales and Helen Beaver.

In terms of guests, we’ve welcomed everyone from Hollywood actors to creative directors of a well well known global company.

Our workshops are different because we are a close knit family – we help each other and help you too. You may arrive as strangers but you will definitely feel like part of the family when you depart. Each workshop we astonish ourselves that we can continue to make friends each trip and often our friends return for a repeat art holiday.

We are not a five star hotel full of corporate entities. What we offer is a personal touch where you get to feel comfortable in your surroundings and very at ease and relaxed with us. You can travel alone without any worries and feel safe and secure with the knowledge that we will help you on arrival. You do not have to keep packing and unpacking, once here you are settled for the foreseeable future. Your art materials can all stay in the same place in the studio which gives you more time to enjoy what you want in the art workshop.

Comments from our guests extend to feeling a sense of familiarity and belonging never before realised at a painting workshop. A stroll down to the deciduous wood in the hamlet with one of our dogs trailing behind is a very familiar sight as well as sharing food with the hens who willingly provide our daily eggs.

We would love you to sign up to our monthly newsletter so that you can stay up to date with what’s new in our world. We like to share everything that happens at Perigord Retreats with our community – new projects in the garden, guest-blogs from our guests and of course, some interesting painting stuff!

We would love you to sign up to our monthly newsletter so that you can stay up to date with what’s new in our world. We like to share everything that happens at Perigord Retreats with our community – new projects in the garden, guest-blogs from our guests and of course, some interesting painting stuff!

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