Our painting weeks at Baron Figues are run with hand-picked visiting artists from the region. We don’t do one-size-fits-all teaching: when you book, we ask about your medium, your level, and what you want to get out of the week, then match you to the artist whose style and approach best fits. Watercolour, oils, acrylics, mixed media, en plein air — different artists, different specialisms. Maximum six guests so you get real time at the easel with the tutor.
What's included
- Seven nights in a private en-suite bedroom at the farmhouse
- Five half-days of guided studio time with a visiting artist (~12.5 hours)
- All meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner — with regional wines at dinner
- All drinks (wines, Armagnac, champagne, aperitifs, soft drinks)
- Excursions to local villages, markets, and an Armagnac distillery
- Use of the studio, easels, and most basic supplies
- Complimentary transfers from Agen train station
- Airport transfers on request
We don't have a house style and we don't have a single resident teacher. The light here brings out something different in every painter who visits — and we want our guests to find their own version of it. So we work with several artists across the region, and we match each guest to the one who'll move their work forward.
Read the full guide
How the artist matching works
When you book, we ask a few simple questions: what medium you paint in (or want to learn), your rough level (genuine beginner / improver / experienced), and what you’d like to focus on for the week — landscape, still life, figure, abstract, plein air, technique-building, finishing pieces.
We then match you to one of the visiting artists we partner with. They’re working artists in their own right, and each has a distinct teaching style. You’re paying for genuine tuition, not a hosted holiday with a paintbrush.
Mediums and styles we cover
Across our network of visiting artists you can book a week in:
- Watercolour — landscape, light studies, plein air across the Gascon countryside
- Oils — traditional studio practice, glazing, alla prima, portrait-friendly
- Acrylics — versatile medium for mixed-ability groups
- Mixed media & collage — looser, exploratory, ideal for unblocking
- En plein air — taking the easel into vineyards, sunflower fields, village squares
- Drawing & sketchbook practice — bookable as a foundation week or alongside paint
A typical painting week
- Thursday — Arrival, accueil at Agen station, welcome aperitif, studio tour, dinner.
- Friday — Morning studio session: introductions, your starting point, first piece. Afternoon at leisure.
- Saturday — Plein-air morning at a nearby vineyard or bastide. Afternoon free or studio time.
- Sunday — Studio session with deeper technique work. Afternoon visit to an Armagnac distillery.
- Monday — Day at leisure or independent painting in the gardens.
- Tuesday — Final studio session: finishing pieces, group critique. Farewell gala dinner.
- Wednesday — Breakfast and departure with your finished work.
Why Gascony for a painting holiday
Provence has the queue of easels and the lavender-cliché problem. The Dordogne is well-trodden. Gascony — between the Pyrenees and the Atlantic — is quieter, less photographed, and has a softer, more variable light that watercolourists in particular love. Sunflower fields in July, vineyards turning in October, mist on the meadows in May. The landscape rewards patient, observational painters.
Materials and what to bring
Easels, drawing boards, palettes, table-top setups, and most consumables (water pots, jars, basic papers) are provided. We ask guests to bring their own paints and brushes — partly for familiarity, partly because most painters have strong views about their kit. We’ll send a recommended materials list specific to your booked artist about a month before arrival.
Getting here
Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) and Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) airports are both around 90 minutes by road. We accueil all guests at Agen train station at no extra cost — the TGV from Paris drops you there. Airport transfers can be organised moyennant a small additional fee. Self-drive directions are sent after booking.
Frequently asked questions
I'm a complete beginner. Can I still book a painting week?
Yes. Tell us your level when you book and we'll match you to an artist who teaches beginners well. Most of our visiting artists work across levels in the same week — small groups make that workable.
Do I have to know my medium when I book?
No, but we'll need to settle it before we match you to an artist. If you're unsure, watercolour or acrylics are usually the friendliest entry points and the artists who work in those mediums tend to teach the broadest range of techniques.
Can my partner come if they don't paint?
Absolutely. A non-participating partner rate is available — they get the accommodation, meals, drinks, and time at the property and on excursions, without joining the studio sessions. The pool, gardens, and day trips are open to everyone.
How much painting time do I actually get?
Five half-days of guided sessions, roughly 12.5 hours total. Plus the studio is yours to use during free time — many guests paint in the mornings before sessions, in the gardens between meals, or quietly after dinner.
What do I take home?
Whatever you make. Most guests finish 3-6 pieces in a week — a mix of warm-up studies, plein-air sketches, and one or two more finished works. We help you transport canvases or rolled paper safely.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Vegetarian and gluten-free are fully covered. Vegan, lactose-free and other allergies can be accommodated with advance notice when you book.