A ten-day pen and watercolour retreat in southwest France
1–10 September 2027
Imagine staying in a beautiful French château, spending your days sketching historic villages, dramatic rooftops and wonderful old architecture—and returning each evening to a delicious dinner with a small group of fellow artists.
Join me, Patty Edge—The Sketching Doc—for ten relaxed and inspiring days of pen and watercolour sketching in the beautiful Périgord and Quercy regions of southwest France.
Hosted by Harrison and Katel of Périgord Retreats, this is much more than a painting holiday. With our accommodation, excursions and most meals taken care of, we’ll be free to explore, sketch and enjoy this very special part of France together.
A taste of the retreat
The example itinerary includes opportunities to visit and sketch:
The medieval streets and market of Sarlat
The dramatic cliffside village of Rocamadour
Beautiful Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
The panoramic hilltop village of Domme
Château des Milandes
A historic fortified watermill
The château, its grounds and surrounding landscape
There will also be opportunities to sketch outdoors and work in the château studio.
The final itinerary will be arranged by Périgord Retreats and may vary according to local conditions, the weather and the needs of the group.
What you’ll learn
Using my clear, step-by-step approach, I’ll help you tackle your chosen scene with confidence—from deciding what to include and creating an interesting composition to developing expressive linework and adding fresh, lively watercolour.
We’ll explore how to:
Simplify complicated buildings and busy scenes
Find a composition that tells the story of a place
Create expressive pen lines without becoming lost in detail
Use colour and shadows to add depth and atmosphere
Keep your watercolour fresh rather than overworking it
Develop your own way of seeing and sketching
I’ll demonstrate my process and provide both group tuition and individual guidance along the way. The atmosphere will be relaxed, encouraging and supportive, with plenty of room to experiment and enjoy your sketching.
All levels are welcome.
What’s included
The retreat includes ten days and nine nights on the château domaine, daily tuition and excursions, most meals, transfers from and to the local railway station, and use of the château grounds, swimming pool and tennis courts.
Full accommodation options, prices, terms and booking information are available from Périgord Retreats.
Come and sketch France with me
This will be a wonderful opportunity to slow down, immerse yourself in an extraordinary part of France and fill your sketchbook with the places and memories we discover together.
I would love you to join me.
