Creative Retreat in the French Countryside - September 17th to 23rd 2026

An Artful Escape to the French Countryside: A Creative Retreat in France

There is something about the French countryside that invites us to slow down.

Perhaps it is the softening light at the end of summer, the ancient stone buildings that seem to hold centuries of stories, or the quiet rhythm of village life—a rhythm measured in morning coffee, long lunches, market days and walks through fields and gardens.

This September, we are inviting a small group of creative souls to step into that world for a very special week in France.

From 17–23 September 2026, artist, Ally and Paula, your host are offering an intimate six-night creative retreat in a beautiful fourteenth-century priory in the countryside near Poitiers and St. Loup.

Surrounded by historic architecture, gardens and the landscapes of rural France, the retreat has been created as a space to pause, reconnect and rediscover the pleasure of making.

It is not about arriving as an accomplished artist. Nor is it about perfection.

It is about curiosity.

About learning to look a little more closely. To notice the colours of the landscape, the texture of an old stone wall, the shape of a flower, the treasures discovered at a French brocante, or the small details encountered during a day in the countryside.

And then, slowly, to translate those impressions into something of your own.

A Week to Create Differently

Throughout the retreat, Ally will guide guests through an intuitive and expressive approach to art-making.

Together, you will explore colour, mark-making, layering, collage and mixed media, discovering new ways to respond creatively to the world around you.

Rather than imposing a particular style, the emphasis is on helping each person develop confidence in their own visual language—to trust instinct, experiment freely and create work that feels personal and alive.

Over the course of the week, each guest will create a handmade concertina art book, gradually filling its pages with collected memories, colours, textures and impressions.

Part sketchbook, part artwork and part visual diary, it will become a unique record of your time in France—something to take home and return to long after the journey itself has ended.

Creativity Beyond the Studio

Of course, inspiration in France rarely stays within four walls.

There will be opportunities to work en plein air, immersing yourself in the surrounding countryside and learning to capture not simply what you see, but how a place makes you feel.

The week will also unfold through experiences that are wonderfully, unmistakably French.

Wandering through local villages.

Searching for forgotten treasures at French brocantes.

Discovering vineyards and local wines.

Sharing seasonal, farm-to-table meals around the table.

Exploring gardens and landscapes.

And enjoying the simple luxury of having nowhere else you need to be.

These moments become part of the creative process too.

A colour noticed in a market stall. An old piece of fabric discovered at a brocante. The faded surface of an antique door. A landscape glimpsed from a country road.

The retreat is designed to allow all of these experiences to quietly find their way into your work.

A Historic Home for the Week

For six nights, the group will make their home in a magical fourteenth-century priory set within the French countryside.

With its medieval architecture, character-filled interiors, gardens and swimming pool, the property offers the rare pleasure of living, however briefly, within the history and atmosphere of rural France.

There will be time for guided creative sessions and exploration, but also time simply to be.

To read in the garden.

To linger over dinner.

To swim.

To talk.

To wander.

And perhaps, for the first time in a while, to hear your own creative voice a little more clearly.

Come Alone—or Bring Someone You Love

The retreat is intentionally intimate, creating a warm and supportive environment where ideas can be exchanged, friendships can form and everyone is encouraged to work at their own pace.

You are very welcome to come alone. Many people do.

You may also choose to share the experience with a friend or partner, with options available for those who would like to accompany you while pursuing their own adventures in the French countryside.

Because ultimately, this week is about more than making art.

It is about giving yourself permission to step away from ordinary life for a moment.

To experience France slowly.

To become curious again.

To make something without worrying whether it is perfect.

And to return home carrying not only a handmade book filled with memories, but perhaps a renewed sense of confidence in your own creativity.

Come as you are.

Leave with something truly your own.

Chateau at Saint Loup

French Creative Retreat 2026

Dates: 17–23 September 2026

Location: French countryside near Poitiers and St. Loup

Hosts: Ally + Paula

The six-night retreat includes guided creative sessions, selected art materials, accommodation, seasonal meals, studio access and plein-air experiences, along with excursions into the surrounding countryside, including local villages, French brocantes and vineyard visits.

Places are intentionally limited to preserve the intimate nature of the experience. For booking, please follow this link: colouredspace.com/p/french-retreat-2026 or contact Paula via email, psdormer@gmail.com