Painting Retreats
All-Inclusive, Custom built and hosted by Perigord Retreats.
All Inclusive Painting Retreats
We take care of absolutely everything. Bring your paint brushes and a good sense of humour, we’ll take care of everything else!
Visit the Perigord & Quercy Every Day
Every day, we will show you the most beautiful parts of the Perigord & Quercy. Villages, landscapes, panoramic views and much more.
Eat Locally Sourced Food
Everything that you eat at Perigord Retreats is locally sourced. We only deal with top quality food!
Enjoy painting at Perigord Retreats without worrying about logistics or language barriers.
At Perigord Retreats, we keep the artist’s best possible experience in mind at all times. Our goal is to ensure that you walk away from a 10-day retreat with life-long memories. When you’re back at home on a rainy day, you’ll be able to think about that painting trip you took to Perigord Retreats.
We will take you to and from the airport. Every day, we’ll take you to one of our hand-picked locations that are perfectly suited to artists, where you can paint en plein air, take photos to paint in our studio later or just enjoy the experience of this part of France.
You have no need to worry about speaking French, our guides speak french fluently.
Want to see more about painting in the Perigord?
Join our free online community
We created a free community for all artists of all disciplines… What brings us together? A love of the Perigord & Quercy regions of France. We share a lot of reference photos, mini-challenges & much more.
What makes a painting retreat so good?
For many people, a painting retreat in Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime type of trip. We understand this and it’s what motivates us to ensure that your trip is one to remember.
Shared experiences are responsible for deepening and strengthening connections between people. We often hear stories about how people who didn’t know each other people a trip end up being friends for life.
It’s the same for the instructor. More often than not, you already know the painting instructor and this trip gives you guys a real opportunity to develop a close relationship with them and take a lot more painting knowledge home with you.
We also understand that people do not wish to paint 24/7, which is why we make a lot of other options available to you throughout your stay.
Our Story
Group Painting Retreats for Painters across the world
In early 2015, we made the life changing decision to emigrate. To cut a long story short, we put our family home on the market in early spring and were in France in early summer!
We didn’t know exactly where we wanted to live. We didn’t know exactly what type of property we wanted.
After 4 months of searching, we fell in love with the Perigord & Quercy. An unplanned and improvised visit to a local estate agent later, we visited our new home for the first time. We immediately loved it. Something just clicked…
The process of closing on a property is quite slow in France. It was over 3 months before we finally got the keys! Enough time to go back to England, finish a few errands and arrange transport of our possessions!
We finally got the keys on November 21st 2015. On day one, we got to work. We already had our vision, it was just a case of implementing it. A little bit of work refreshing parts of the interior… A lot of work on the gardens outside! Read about our endeavours here.
Don’t take our word for it, listen to our guests!
“I just returned from my first workshop at Perigord Retreats. I cannot express how absolutely wonderful we were treated. From the accommodations, to the touring to the workshop .. and last but not least, spectacular gourmet delicacies prepared and served by the most gracious hostesses, Angela and Chloe.
“I can’t rave about Perigord Retreats enough. The place is run by the Turner family, and each of them works to make this place fabulous. Angela, the mom, is a force of nature, with unbounded energy dedicated to meet each individual’s needs while always smiling and filled with warmth. Her cooking is extraordinary, preparing gourmet meals for the group every day, and even making accommodations for special dietary needs. She is ably assisted by Chloe. Her son Harrison and husband Adrian are usually the drivers for daily outings to the towns and sights in the area that are picture perfect and wonderful to paint. They bring humor and charm to each adventure. Perigord even has a swimming pool, a refreshing treat at the end or start of a hot, busy day. I was concerned about spending 10 days here, not knowing what I was getting into. I came away thrilled by a perfect vacation, filled with the peace of the country, the delight of great food shared on the porch where we could smell the scent of lavender and watch the rising or setting sun, and the excitement of daily trips to places of unparalleled beauty. Thank you all for an unforgettable experience!”
Our blog
We’re always updating you with new projects, paintings and videos from retreats
A Basic Introduction to 6 Key Composition Techniques Every Painter Should Master
Whether you’re returning to art after a few years or embarking on a second career as an artist, the fundamentals of composition remain central to creating impactful artwork. Composition refers to how the elements within a painting are arranged, and it’s often what...
Whispers of the Past: Unveiling Quercy’s Enchanting Myths and Legends
Whispers of the Past: Unveiling Quercy's Enchanting Myths and Legends It's amazing when you get to visit a new place. Tick off all the big sites, leave out a couple that look less interesting. We know the deal. But it doesn't end there. The best part of visiting a new...
The Black Madonna – Rocamadour
Greetings, seekers of the extraordinary, pilgrims of the peculiar, and aficionados of the mysterious! Get ready to embark on a journey that transcends time and tradition, as we delve into the enigmatic realm of Rocamadour's Black Madonna. Buckle up, because this isn't...
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn how our retreats function
How do i join a retreat?
Our retreats are usually hosted by a professional artist who brings a group of their students with them. You are welcome to join one of these groups or ask your favourite artist to host a retreat here!
What is the accommodation like?
In general, every guest has their own bedroom and bathroom. If you’re coming with your partner or a close friend, you will have the option to share a bedroom and/or bathroom. You can see more abou the accommodation here.
How much are the retreats?
Each trip is custom-built for each professional artist who hosts a trip with us. For details about a specific trip, get in touch with us on our contact page.
Can my non-painting partner come?
Absolutely, yes! There is SO much to experience here! Often, the non-painters partners end up having as much, if not more fun that the painters!