The Loire is a painter’s paradise. Our relaxing and inspiring courses with internationally renowned artist and tutor Mark Warner, are designed to help both experienced painters and beginners experiment and develop their painting. All this while relaxing at the beautiful Chateau Vary in the Loire Valley.

The views of chateaux stretching along the Loire river have captured the imagination of painters for centuries. From the fortress of Angers, the symmetry of Saumur, the elegant spires of Azay-le-Rideau and the crumbling ruins of Chinon castle, the majestic Loire flows through a series of magnificent backdrops that provide stunning landscape subjects.

The course runs from Sunday 3rd September to Sunday 10^th September 2023. 

Mark Warner - Course tutor 

Mark is an experienced practicing artist and tutor based in Shropshire, United Kingdom.

His course at Chateau Vary in the Loire valley will focus on aspects of colour, line and composition. With a relaxed yet informative manner, Mark will demonstrate how not to be afraid of using colour in the landscape and how drawing and sketching can inform and further your ‘plein air’ painting. You will have fun experimenting with techniques and processes during a productive and relaxing week in a truly fantastic location.

He will provide daily demonstrations on location while offering ample personal tuition.

Sketching is at the heart of his work. It is integral to the development of a piece, sometimes forming part of the painting itself. 

He continues to draw inspiration from the landscape and adores using colour while interpreting the light, contrast, weather and a love of the materials.

He runs numerous painting workshops as well as having tutored painting holidays in UK, France and Italy. A regular demonstrator for Art Societies, Mark delivers his vibrant compositions with confidence, experience and a sense of humour.

Mark has numerous works in private collections and galleries in the UK and abroad. 

Website: www.brushmark.co.uk

Twitter: @markwarnerart

Instagram: @artmarkwarner

Email:brushmarkuk@gmail.com

Chateau Vary

Provides accommodation of the highest quality either in the 8 en-suite chateau rooms or in the cottages set in the grounds. It has recently undergone total refurbishment to an exceptionally high standard. Genuine reviews posted on Booking.com show an average score of 9.6 from 110 guests.  Vary is set in its own grounds of 50 acres, which is a mixture of garden, lawns, forest and farmland. It provides a unique setting for a stay in the Loire Valley. It has an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool, access for forest walks, table tennis, jet spa, petanque court, use of bikes…..www.chateauvary.com/

Itinerary

Sunday ^3rd Reception drinks and dinner.

Monday 4^th - Chateau Vary Landscapes – selection of compositions from around the chateau grounds. Looking at composition/structure with lunch at the chateau.

Tuesday 5^th - Painting in the Vineyard – painting/sketching at a local Vineyard. Lunch at the Vineyard plus wine tasting.

Wednesday 6^th - Angers – free day. Possibility of visiting Angers castle, Cathedral, Musée de Beaux Arts. Lunch taken in Angers.

Thursday 7^th - Chateau Azay-le-Rideau/Chateau Villandry. Lunch at the Chateau. 

Friday 8^th - Saumur – painting on the banks of La Loire . Picnic lunch by the river.

Saturday 9^th - Completion of Chateau landscapes, evening display and reception, farewell dinner.



3rd September:

Depart Manchester 11.00arrive Nantes 13.30 

Depart Stansted 13.05 arrive Nantes 15.30

10^th September:

Depart Nantes 14.00 arrive Manchester 14.35 

Depart Nantes 16.00 arrive Stansted 16.25 

Current Flight Prices

Transport UK – Nantes with Ryan Air (17/11/22- Flights currently less than £33 (Manchester one way) and Stanstead less than £23 one way.

Chateau Vary - Nantes Airport transfer included for the above flights.

Costs

The course fee covers all aspects of your holiday:

1 person €1990 chateau €1840 cottage.

€100 reduction for 2^nd course participant sharing a room.

€200 reduction for 2^nd non-course participant sharing a room.

·       all tuition fees and accommodation 

·       local transportation (including transfers to and from Nantes airport; including our painting excursions).

• all meals including breakfast, gourmet picnics on location, pre-dinner aperitifs, dinner at the chateau or at the local restaurants with regional French dishes and wines.

Payments:

€500 non-refundable deposit

Balance due 1^st July

Rooms allocated on a first come first served basis.

To make your booking contact Bénédicte at 

info@chateauvary.com