Four Day Painting Retreat - Acrylic Painting - All Levels
Four Day Painting Retreat
Four Day Painting Retreat - Acrylic Painting - All Levels
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4 Day Painting Retreat
Your Retreat
Acrylic Painting - All Levels - in the Haut-Languedoc
Late Spring 2025
Acrylic Painting
Enjoy a fantastic few days of painting in beautiful surroundings, guided by an experienced tutor in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. This four-day retreat is designed for artists of all levels who want time to paint, learn, and enjoy the pleasures of creative life in a traditional French village.
Hosted at Riverside Studio in Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare, the retreat combines relaxed days of painting with plenty of individual guidance. The emphasis is on getting out and about around the village with gentle excursions, good food and easy companionship.
Your retreat begins the evening before the first full painting day, allowing you to settle in, meet fellow participants and ease into the experience.
Your retreat starts the night before with dinner at the L’Ortensia, a wonderful local restaurant recognised in the Michelin Guide for its excellent cuisine. Its a chance to mingle and meet your fellow artists. Then three days of relaxed painting in and around the village.
Each day begins with fresh croissants and coffee, followed by generous lunches. Evenings are unhurried, with time to sample local delicacies, enjoy a glass of wine at the village bar, and explore the charm of village life at your own pace.
Itinerary
Day One - Arrival 4/5pm (depending on flight)
Taxi pick up from Bezier airport (By arrangement)- If you are not driving to Riverside Studio we can we can organise a shuttle bus/taxi pick up from Bezier Airport.
Taxi pick up from main train station 'Gare de Bezier' (By arrangement). If you are arriving by train we can also organise a pick up, and in both instances you will be driven to your accommodation in St Gervais-Sur-Mare which is about a 50 minute drive away.
If you are driving to Riverside Studio there is plenty of parking adjacent to Riverside studio in the village square.
Evening meet and greet 8pm
This is a chance to get to know your fellow artists and studio host over an apéritif and a relaxed meal at the wonderful L’Ortensia restaurant, with its beautiful views over the village. Your meal and apéritif are, of course, included in the price, and as the evening unfolds we hope you’ll begin to unwind, mingle, and perhaps enjoy a chilled glass of rosé on the terrace.
It’s also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have before we begin in earnest the following day.
Day two, three and four
9.30am
Croissants and coffee at Riverside studio where your tutor will discuss the programme and answer any questions.
10am
Morning painting with informal guidance, allowing for studio work or working outdoors.
Initial morning sessions are especially supportive for those new to painting, while more confident painters are free to wander through the scenic nooks and crannies of the village and work independently if they wish.
12 Noon
Buffet lunch (or picnic if we are on an excursion).
1pm
Afternoon painting in and around the village or an excursion to either a nearby vineyard , local ruin or place of interest.
3.30pm
Review of the day at the Studio, relaxed discussion about accomplishments, queries and plans for the next day.
4pm
Free time to relax, have drinks in the friendly village bar or explore the area with new friends.
Day four at 4pm - Light hearted prize giving/questions answered/ and fond farewells.
Departures
If you are not driving and need a shuttle bus/taxi pick up to take you to Bezier Airport or to Bezier train station 'Gare de Bezier' we can arrange this for you by prior arrangement.
Information sheet Retreat details will be sent to you in advance of your trip in a informative information sheet to answer all of your questions and there is also a 'Whats included' and 'Additional information' sheet detailed below.
About Your Tutor
Phillip Allison - Artist
Your tutor Phillip Allison works primarily with acrylic, oil and charcoal but has great versatility with his talents extending to film production and music. As a local artist he moved from the UK in 2014 after retiring from a 30 year career in Fine Art education.
Since graduating in 1985, he has worked extensively as an artist and lecturer, undertaking numerous art residencies and exhibiting his work in both France and the UK including London's Royal Academy.
Phillips approach to art is that its an expression of being alive, and he delights in working within the beautiful surroundings of St Gervais Sur Mare.
Course Content
This painting holiday is centred on enjoyment, taking time to slow down, and discovering the beauty of the local surroundings, with gentle guidance and encouragement from an experienced tutor.
Riverside Studio is set beside a river in the historic village of Saint-Gervais-sur-Mare. The area offers abundant inspiration, from medieval buildings and ancient bridges to a small hilltop castle, lush green trees, open pastures and bracing mountain views.
Working at an unhurried pace, participants are encouraged to explore paint freely, respond to their environment, and enjoy the process of image-making in a supportive, relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Additional information
Flights
From the UK , Ryanair has regular flights to Bezier from Stansted and Luton, as well as Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester. Bezier is the closest airport to Riverside Studio and about 50 minutes away.
There are also regular EasyJet and British Airways flights to Montpellier which is about 1hr 20 minutes from Riverside Studio with direct trains to Bezier.
Both airports are served by regular flights from other numerous European destinations.
Airport/train station transport (By arrangement)
Riverside Studio can arrange for a group pick up from Bezier Airport. Pick ups will usually be late afternoon (depending on flight time) followed by a second en-route pick up at Bezier's main train station.
If you are arriving on an earlier flight you can either wait to be picked up at Bezier airport or take the red shuttle bus into Bezier town centre (about 25 minute) where you can see the sights before we collect you from the main station.
We will then drive you to your hotel/guest house or Airbnb in St Gervais Sur Mare. Where you can change/freshen-up in plenty of time for the meet and great dinner at the Ortensia Restaurant.
A return shuttle/taxi to Bezier can also be arranged on the final day of your retreat (late afternoon) again making a drop off at the airport and train station.
Accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation available within the village, from the elegant Hôtel L’Ortensia to equally charming guest houses, apartments, Airbnbs and chambres d’hôtes. Accommodation is booked and paid for directly with the provider, either on arrival or in accordance with their own terms and conditions. A list of trusted providers can be found at the top of this web page.
Non-painting Guests
We welcome non-painting guests if you wish to bring a friend/partner. They can join course lunches/meals by prior arrangement and pre-payment.
Art Supplies
To help make your creative experience relaxed and stress-free, we’ll send you a suggested materials list ahead of the course, including any specialist items recommended by your tutor.
In general, participants are encouraged to bring their preferred paints, brushes and sketchbooks or paper, so you can work with materials you know and enjoy.
Riverside Studio provides craft tables, palettes, water pots, easels, and a small supply of paper for those who prefer not to bring everything with them.
A lightweight apron or old shirt is also recommended for comfortable working.
A limited range of art supplies will be available to purchase at the studio, including watercolours, acrylic paints, brushes and paper.
Meals
Food and wine is exceptionally good in the South of France and our lovely little village is no exception. From fresh Croissants in the local patisserie to rich red tomatoes picked from smallholdings along the river, everything smells and tastes divine.
Breakfasts (included)
Riverside Studio daily breakfast includes – croissants coffee, and preserves which is available all morning.
Lunch,s (included)
Riverside Studio daily buffet lunch includes hearty mouth-watering dishes. Some days we will lunch on the village square and play boule and other days we may have a picnic outside in a local vineyard. But rest assured you will have plenty of time to relax and chat with new friends.
Aperitif and Dinner
Meet and great dinner at the L’Ortensia, a local restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide and recognised for its excellent cuisine.
Other dinners are at guests own expense, and you can choose from a variety of dishes at the local bar/bistro and pizzeria as well as produce from a fabulous patisserie and boulangerie. There are also many restaurants just a short drive or taxi journey away in neighbouring villages - Lamalou le laines or Bedarieux
Bringing Artwork Home
We can arrange for wrapping and shipping of any oversized artwork that students want to keep.
Art Gallery and Selling Your Art
Any paintings left by students may be hung in the ground floor gallery or advertised on our website with donations made to local charities for every painting sold.
Cancellations and Refunds
Your reservation is fully refundable if cancelled at least six weeks before the start of the retreat. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within six weeks of the course start date.
Have Questions
We are happy to help you with any questions you have or to plan your visit. Please get in touch with us.