I have tutored successfully on many painting holidays in the UK, France and Italy for a number of years.

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Below are two Painting Holidays for 2022 (July and September)

Please drop me an email if you have any questions...

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JUST RELEASED

PAINTING HOLIDAY IN A LOIRE CHATEAU!

4TH - 11TH SEPTEMBER 2022

Painting at Chateau Vary in the Loire Valley 4th – 11th September 2022

I am excited to announce that I have been put together a Painting Holiday with Paul & Benedicte at Chateau Vary in the beautiful Loire Valley, France. (September 2022)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     This holiday will enable you to experiment with sketching and painting in a truly gorgeous location, while sampling a bit of luxury in a beautifully renovated French Chateau.

What's more flights to Nantes are currently (at the time of writing) less than £30 each way!!

The itinerary has been thoughtfully put together to include locations such as other chateaux, gardens, and the river Loire.

I will demonstrate how not to be afraid of using colour in the landscape and how drawing and sketching can inform and further your ‘plein air’ painting. You will have fun experimenting with techniques and processes. If you have ever wanted to try painting outside or indeed develop this further, come and join me in September 2022.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Chateau Vary – Loire Valley

It provides accommodation of the highest quality either in the 8 en-suite chateau rooms or in the cottages set in the grounds. It has recently undergone total refurbishment to an exceptionally high standard. Genuine reviews posted on Booking.com show an average score of 9.6 from 110 guests. Vary is set in its own grounds of 50 acres, which is a mixture of garden, lawns, forest and farmland. It provides a unique setting for a stay in the Loire Valley. It has an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool, access for forest walks, table tennis, jet spa, petanque court, use of bikes, etc….

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The views of chateaux stretching along the Loire river have captured the imagination of painters for centuries. From the fortress of Angers, the symmetry of Saumur, the elegant spires of Azay-le-Rideau and the crumbling ruins of Chinon castle, the majestic Loire flows through a series of magnificent backdrops that provide stunning landscape subjects.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

• Joseph Mallord William Turner 'Saumur, Loire Valley' (Not mine!)
• This depiction of the old bridge and château of Saumur as seen from the west is one of several colour studies of this town which Turner worked up from his 1826 tour of the Loire Valley

Itinerary

Sunday 4th Reception drinks and dinner.  

Arrive and settle in.

Monday 5th Chateau landscapes

A selection of compositions from around the chateau grounds. Looking at composition/structure with lunch at the chateau.

Tuesday 6th Local landscapes

Painting the rolling fields surrounding the chateau. Lunch at the chateau

Wednesday 7th Saumur  

Painting from the river towards the chateau. Picnic lunch by the river.

Thursday 8th Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau

Villandry & Azay-le-Rideau. Visiting and painting the castles and gardens. Lunch in Azay-le -Rideau.

Friday 9th Angers

Free day. Possibility of visiting Angers castle, Cathedral, Musée de Beaux Arts. Lunch taken in Angers.

Saturday 10th Completion of Chateau landscapes

Evening display and reception, farewell dinner.

Transport UK – Nantes with Ryan Air

Manchester and Stanstead (Available to book now)

(21/11/21- Flights currently less than 30€ each way)

4th September:

Depart Manchester 13.10 arrive Nantes 15.40

Depart Stansted 13.35 arrive Nantes 16.00

11th September:

Depart Nantes 16.10 arrive Manchester 16.40

Depart Nantes 16.25 arrive Stansted 16.45

Chateau Vary - Nantes Airport transfer included for the above flights.

Costs

The course fee covers all aspects of your holiday:

1 person €1990 chateau €1840 cottage.
(Remember this is in Euros so at the time of writing €1990 = £1669 and €1840 = £1543)

€100 reduction for 2nd course participant sharing a room.

€200 reduction for 2nd non-course participant sharing a room.

• all tuition fees and accommodation

• local transportation (including transfers to and from Nantes airport; including our painting excursions).

• all meals including breakfast, gourmet picnics on location, pre-dinner aperitifs, dinner at the chateau or at the local restaurants with regional French dishes and wines.

Payments:

€500 non-refundable deposit

Balance due 1st July 2022

Rooms allocated on a first come first served basis.

Participants are advised to purchase a holiday insurance. Covid regulations will apply.


To book or see more about the course/venue on their website click here... https://www.chateauvary.com/com/painting

It can be found on their 'Accommodation' drop down tab or in their 'Blog' section.

To make your booking contact Bénédicte at info@chateauvary.com
If you could also copy me in to any correspondence that would be great. (or drop me a line if you have any questions)

It should be a fantastic week!

Any questions just ask.

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Mark

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Art Retreat with Mark Warner

(Westcott Barton, North Devon)

Course Date: Friday 15th – Monday 18th July 2022

Please book direct with Westcott Barton (See form and details below)

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We’d love to welcome you to the Westcott Barton painting retreat with Mark Warner.

A weekend where we will be inspired by the magnificent 95 acre estate and look at how you canuse drawing to develop your painting while analysing colour, composition and contrast within a landscape.

Mark is an artist and tutor with many years of teaching experience. Demonstrating for Art Societies and on workshops and painting holidays in the UK and France/Italy.

He has a large range of knowledge and expertise in painting and drawing which is delivered in a thoughtful and enthusiastic way. Mark adores using colour while interpreting thelight and a love for the materials. He exhibits in both England and Wales andhas many works in private collections.

Mark is as passionate about supporting people in their creative journeys. Come and join him to explore the use of colour in the Landscape at Westcott Barton, North Devon.

Overview

Upon your arrival on the Friday afternoon, at around 3pm, you will be greeted by the team at Westcott Barton.

The weekend will begin with a relaxed afternoon settling into the accommodation and viewing the immediate grounds whilst getting to know your tutor and fellow students. A demonstration will be given by Mark, followed by a group dinner.

Breakfast will be served at 8.30am and students will then gather in the studio at around 9.30am.

Tea coffee and biscuits are freely available to help yourself to during studio sessions.

Lunch will be served at 1pm with afternoon tutorials commencing from 2-5pm, followed by agroup dinner at 6.30pm.

Our courses are limited to 10 participants per retreat to ensure your tutor has the ability to provide you with personal advice and support during your time here.

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Painting Media

- All media welcomed.

- Mark will be demonstrating with Acrylics.

Skill Level

- All abilities welcome.

You will need to bring:

- The media you like to work with (paints, paper, brushes, palette, etc), plus a A4/3 sketchpad and graphite 2B/3B pencil. An up to date materials list will be sent to you nearer the time.

- A freestanding easel is recommended and a chair if you prefer sitting to work.

- A limited number of easels are available to loan if requested prior to arrival and still available.

This course includes:

- 3 nights’ accommodation

- Evening meals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

- Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday

- Breakfast before departure on Monday at 10am.

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Cost of Weekend Course

INTRODUCTORY OFFER

Single occupancy in secure room: £440.00 per person. Located in a shared building and amenities.

Shared twin room: £395 per person (minimum booking for two). Sharing with a friend or with another guest looking to share a room. In either case, both individuals are participating in the retreat.

Non-participating partners sharing a course participant's room are welcome: £320 per person andincludes meals. This option is subject to availability.

Retreat Booking Form

The form can either be printed and completed by hand or filled out on your computer (AdobePDF reader required). If the latter, please make sure you save the PDF once you have added your details and then email this back to us.

RETREAT BOOKING FORM (PDF) - please right click and save to your computer.

Travel Arrangements

Please refer to our Location page for directions, if coming by car. If you are planning to travel by another means of transport please contact us for assistance.