5th to 12th September 2026

Art Retreat

An exploration in line, light & colour

A slower way of seeing.
A few days immersed in drawing, colour and quiet observation, set between vineyards, river and sky.

This retreat is designed as both a practice and a pause —
Time to look more closely, to work with your hands, and to reconnect with the act of seeing.

Meet Hanna

Hanna is a Swedish artist and educator who balances an active studio practice with over a decade of teaching. Trained in both art and pedagogy, her work as an artist deeply informs the way she teaches — thoughtful, observant, and intuitive.

For over twenty years, she lived and worked internationally, including extended periods in London and Nice. In France, she ran her own gallery and led art retreats, creating spaces for creative exchange in a refined, international setting.

Coming from a family of artists, she continues a strong artistic lineage while shaping her own evolving voice. Her work is grounded in drawing, with a focus on light, colour and perception — influenced particularly by Impressionism.

Her teaching is calm, precise, and deeply attentive — guiding without imposing.

A Different Way of Learning

“Exploring line, light, and colour — learning to see with the attentiveness of the Impressionists.”

At the heart of the retreat is a simple but transformative idea:

The Craft of Observation — from looking to truly seeing.

Rooted in the principles of Impressionism, the approach moves away from perfection and towards perception —
understanding light, simplifying form, and allowing meaning to emerge through the act of looking.

This is what makes the retreat feel different — quieter, more intuitive, and deeply personal.

A balance of structure and freedom.
Mornings grounded in technique, afternoons in exploration.

Each day builds gently — from drawing and form, to light, colour and composition — always returning to observation.

You will move between the house, the village, vineyards and markets —
working from real life, in real light.

There is no pressure to produce finished work.
The focus is on process, perception, and progress.

The Experience

Day 1 — Foundational Drawing

Morning — Seeing Form Before Detail (at the house)
An introduction to the retreat and its core philosophy: moving from looking to truly seeing.
We begin with the principles of observation and Impressionism, working through structural drawing in pencil — line, shape, volume and negative space.
Understanding how to simplify what we see into basic forms, and how to measure proportion and scale.

Afternoon — Observing Form in the Real World (Virebent)
An excursion to Virebent to study ceramic forms — focusing on shape, balance and proportion.
Returning to the house, we translate these observations into a still life drawing, with an emphasis on spatial awareness and clarity.

Day 2 — Depth & Volume

Morning — Depth Through Structure (at the house)
Architectural drawing in pencil, introducing perspective.
Working with horizon lines and vanishing points to build a sense of depth and space.

Afternoon — Volume Through Light (in the village)
Drawing a streetscape in charcoal.
Exploring tonal value — light, mid-tone and dark — and understanding the difference between cast shadow and form shadow.
Learning to simplify complexity into clear tonal shapes.

Day 3 — Observing Colour

Morning — Harmony Through Colour (at the house)
Introduction to pastel and colour theory.
Exploring complementary colours, warm and cool relationships, and the subtleties of colour within shadow.
Developing an understanding of colour temperature and harmony.

Afternoon — Vineyard Visit
An excursion to a local vineyard — a moment to slow down and observe more deeply.
A pause in the rhythm of the week, allowing perception to settle.

Day 4 — Guiding the Eye

Morning — Composing the Picture (at the house)
Working on composition: how to edit visual complexity, identify focal points and guide the viewer’s eye.
Understanding balance and visual pathways within an image.

Afternoon — Refining the Picture (in the village)
Painting a view in the village.
A midway critique and refinement session — adjusting, simplifying and strengthening the work.

Day 5 — Developing a Painting

All Day — Independent Practice
A quieter, more personal day.
Participants choose and develop their own subject, integrating structure, value and colour.

The process unfolds in stages:
— Structural drawing
— Value organisation
— Colour harmony
— Individual guidance
— Group discussion

Day 6 — Finding Inspiration

Morning — Observing the Real World (market visit)
Exploring the market — observing movement, colour, contrast and rhythm.
Selecting elements to inspire a still life composition.

Afternoon — Capturing Reality (at the house)
Creating a pastel still life using market produce and flowers.
Focusing on subtle colour transitions, edge control, texture and detail.

Final Reflection
A closing discussion:
What has shifted in how you see?
Where did discipline create freedom?
How will you continue this practice?

A Glimpse of the Week

Materials & Process

Exceptional materials are part of the experience.

Each participant is provided with a curated set of high-quality drawing tools— including charcoal, high quality sketching materials and a pastel set — carefully selected for their richness, texture and depth of colour.

Sourced from respected French and British makers, these are the same materials used in professional studio practice. They are yours to use throughout the retreat, and to take home afterwards.

It is a quiet but important part of the experience —
working with materials that respond beautifully to light, gesture and observation.

Life at the House

Days are anchored by long, relaxed meals.

Everything is prepared at the house using fresh, seasonal ingredients — simple, generous and thoughtfully made.
Wine is always part of the table.

It is not formal dining, but something more intimate —
shared meals that feel easy, warm and uncontrived.

Between sessions, there is space to rest, swim, walk or simply sit with a sketchbook.

A Slower Way of Seeing…

A few days shaped by light, rhythm and attention.
Drawing, colour, conversation — and the quiet luxury of time.

Small group, shared table, thoughtful guidance.
An experience that lingers long after the work is put away.

Booking & Pricing

The retreat takes place during the first week of September, when the light softens, the vineyards are full, and the pace of the valley begins to slow.

Private Bathroom Rooms

£3,000 per person
Single occupancy (one participant)

£5,000 per room
Two participants sharing (both attending the retreat)

£4,000 per room
One participant + one non-participant

Shared Bathroom Rooms

£2500 per person
Single occupancy (one participant)

£4000 per room
Two participants sharing (both attending the retreat)

£3,500 per room
One participant + one non-participant

Private Group Retreat

The house can also be booked exclusively.

For an established group, we can curate a fully tailored retreat — combining the course, accommodation and shared moments around the house.

Pricing on request

What’s Included

– Full 6-day art retreat programme
– All professional art materials (yours to keep)
– Accommodation
– All meals, with wine
– Transfers from Cahors

Not Included

– Flights and travel to Cahors
– Personal insurance

Early Booking

A 10% early booking rate is available for reservations confirmed before 31st May 2026

Availability

Places are limited to maintain a small and considered group.

Enquiries & Booking

For availability and bookings, please get in touch.