Painting and Printmaking in the Occitanie
A weeklong residential art and culinary experience in the South of France
My friend, artist Rebecca Holtom and I invite you to join us on a week long residential art workshop and culinary experience in the South of France. Our first one in May was a great success and we had five very happy participants.
Based in and around two neighbouring villages in the Occitanie region of SW France; Arboras where Kate and Rebecca became friends as children in the 1970s and where Kate has a house and studio still. And Montpeyroux (3km down the hill) where Rebecca has lived permanently since the 1990s.
During the weeklong workshop we spend the mornings out in the local landscape sketching, drawing and painting; the afternoons we head into the studio to learn different printmaking techniques. Using our morning sketches as inspiration to learn monoprint, linocut and drypoint etching techniques.
Phil sketching at the 'Pont du Diable'
"Thank you Kate and Rebecca for a great week. It was lovely meeting everyone and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed the workshops, food, wine, location and conviviality!"
Phil - May 2023
ALL INCLUSIVE
- 6 hours of guided artwork a day
- All your art materials and use of studios and equipment
- Full board in a private room in a local gite
- Continental breakfast, lunches & evening meals of delicious French cuisine (including wine) - all locally sourced
- Gallery visit with lunch at a restaurant in Montpellier
£1095
YOU NEED TO ORGANISE YOUR OWN TRAVEL AND INSURANCE
Sarah, May 2023
Now booking
Autumn 2023
October 6th to 12th
October 17th to 23rd
Spring 2024 (£1,195)
April 12th to 18th
April 23rd to 29th
Numbers stictly limited to 6 per workshop, book early to avoid disappointment.
Want to join us? - EMAIL ME now to book.
Follow us on instagram @art_in_the_occitanie
The Artists
Rebecca Holtom
Rebecca Holtom is a painter and printmaker who has lived in the Occitanie since 1990. She studied Fine Art at Norwich School of Art, since which she has worked as an artist as well as teaching many types of artistic creativity to children and adults for many years; printmaking, painting, drawing and papier mache.
You can find out more about Rebecca and her work on her WEBSITE
Kate Guy
Kate Guy studied Graphic Design Norwich School of Art and also holds a PGCE in Art and Design from Middlesex University. She was Head of Art and Design at a large Academy school in North London for 14 years and now teaches printmaking to small groups of adults and children as well as running her own design business.
You can find out more about Kate and her work on her WEBSITE
Elaine working in the studio in Arboras
"I booked onto the Residential art and cuisine experience (as a total novice) on a whim after meeting Kate at a craft fair. What a great decision that was!
Spending the week in the most scenic french countryside, surrounded by vineyards and birdsong with a really lovely group of people was very special.
Thank you Kate and Rebecca, for a week that I will not forget and enjoyed so much. A slower pace of life with time to get absorbed into creating"
Spending the week in the most scenic french countryside, surrounded by vineyards and birdsong with a really lovely group of people was very special.
Thank you Kate and Rebecca, for a week that I will not forget and enjoyed so much. A slower pace of life with time to get absorbed into creating"
Elaine - May 2023
All the meals are made from fresh local produce, most of it coming from Rebecca's beautiful kitchen garden
THE DAY
Breakfast is provided in the gite, also there is a boulangerie a 2 min walk away in the village and an epicerie (grocer's) with cafe that opens at 8.30am
Approximate timings...
9 am to midday - morning session
12.30 pm - lunch
2 pm to 6 pm - Afternoon Session
8 pm - Dinner
I really liked the way there was a different plan for each day - both in terms of the type of project and seeing a new village/viewpoint. It was nice to explore a new bit of the region each day, and have that fresh in our minds as inspiration for the afternoon.
Sarah - May 2023
ITINERARY
This will give you an idea of how it works and what we do each day but may vary slightly.
Day One - Travel and acclimatisation day
You need to get to Montpellier or Beziers airport or train station, we will collect you and bring you to the village and settle you into the gite
From 6 pm - Aperif Dinnatoire, a local tradition - it starts with a cold glass of wine, beer, pastis or non-alcoholic drink and blends into a delicious rolling buffet of a meal. Get to know the group and the artists, discuss plans for the week.
Day Two
Morning
We will visit a local market, soak up the atmosphere, have a coffee in a cafe and do a little sketching and/or take photos
Afternoon
We will head to Rebecca's large kitchen garden for a BBQ lunch. The afternoon will be spent drawing and watercolour sketching surrounded by her fabulous vegetables and flowers.
Day Three - Monoprinting
Morning
Landscape drawing in the vineyards and olive groves that surround the village of Montpeyroux. Followed by a picnic lunch 'au plein air'.
"As well as working in two amazing art studios learning art techniques and experimenting, we had the opportunity to visit outdoor locations with our picnic chairs under our arms, sitting to draw/paint wherever took our fancy, be it a vineyard, beside the river or in Rebecca’s beautiful garden. So idyllic."
Elaine, May 2023
Afternoon
We will head back to the studio where Rebecca will run the first print workshop - developing and experimenting with monoprint techniques and materials.
Rebecca's studio in Montpeyroux
Day Four - Linocut
Morning
Drawing and watercolour sketching at the river (swimming optional). The famous local landmark 'Le Pont du Diable', a historic bridge over the Herault river.
Afternoon
Up to Kate's studio in Arboras for lunch in the road and linocut printing.
Kate's studio in Arboras
Marilyn's Linocut of the Landscape
Elaine's first ever linocut showing the view from Arboras
Day Five - Gallery visit
Trip into the well preserved medieval centre of Montpellier. We will have time to explore the town, visit a gallery and have 'Plat du Jour' lunch in a local restaurant.
We will return to Montpeyoux at about 4pm for a bit of studio time before the evening meal
I loved our tram visit to Montpellier, looking around the museum and having lunch at a local restaurant and our impromptu visit to the 1000 year old Olive tree.
Every mealtime was a treat with everyone sitting around Rebecca’s kitchen table chatting and enjoying freshly prepared local food and wine, on 3 evening’s prepared by guest chefs. We were truly spoilt and ate so well .
Day Six
Drawing, painting or printing in the studio or in the landscape followed by a BBQ lunch in the courtyard of Rebecca's house/studio
Day Seven
Travel Day
Flights usually leave in the afternoon so we will have a final lunch in Rebecca's courtyard and then we will drop you back at the airport or station of your choice
Want to join us? - EMAIL ME now to book.
Follow us on instagram @art_in_the_occitanie
Deposit needed to secure your place with full payment a month before the start date.
Sunset from Arboras