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Renee Walden

I'm going back to France - and I'd love you to come

Published 7 days ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

I just got home from my 5th retreat in France, and I'm already thinking about next year. That's the thing about this place. You leave and immediately start planning how to get back :-)

I'm returning to Perigord Retreats in June 2027 — and bookings are open now.

The Dordogne in late June is extraordinary. Medieval castles reflected in slow rivers. Honey-stone villages where the light turns gold in the afternoon. Rocamadour clinging to its cliff face. Markets spilling colour into cobbled squares. Lavender fields in bloom. And Harrison and Katel, our incredible hosts, who have been spoiling my groups for years and somehow make every retreat feel new.

Some guests come once and talk about it for years. Some keep coming back - three of this year's group were returning for a second time. Many are talking of a reunion in 2028. That tells you something.

A recap of this year's retreat with a short video here...

Credit : Beautiful paintings in the header above done, on this year's retreat, by the talented Magdalena Truger.

What Deborah said of this year's retreat ... "I am so struck by my awesome experiences at the retreat, everything truly exceeded my expectations! What a wonderful group of people I met. Amazing how we all come from such diverse backgrounds around the world, yet we have so much in common - a love of art and the joy of creativity. All my thanks to Renee, Harrison and Katel for making everything perfect. I don’t know how you do it all."

The details

Where: Perigord Retreats, Gourdon, France
​When: 21 - 30 June 2027
​Small group: Usually 12 - 14 people
​From: 4,000euros per person (includes accommodation, most meals, painting excursions, train station transfers, and daily tuition)

Early bird offer​
Book before 16 July and receive a free year's subscription to my Patreon (worth US$190).

What's included: accommodation and meals, excursions beautiful places to paint, one-on-one feedback every day, 24/7 studio access, pick up and drop off at Gourdon train station. All levels welcome. Non-painting partners welcome too.

INSPIRATION WALL

This is ten days of painting on location and in the studio, filling a sketchbook, eating extraordinarily well, and not having to think about anything except painting the story of your travels.

Any questions? Just reply to this email — I'm happy to chat through whether this retreat is right for you.

Warmly,
​Renee

P.S.
If you know of someone who would enjoy this retreat, then please forward on this email. Thank you!

Renee Walden

Artist. Tutor. Sketchbook traveller

Helping others capture their memories in colour is one of the greatest joys of my artistic journey. On watercolour art retreats and in workshops I've watched people grow braver, laugh louder, make friends, and fill pages with art they never thought possible. I'm right there alongside them — and it's magic.

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