2012 ART COURSES AT LA RESIDENCE
with BEN BROTHERTON
all inquiries please either by telephone to 01273 640508 or
email to info@valenceresidence.co.uk. We'll phone you
or email you straight back! Thank you.
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ART COURSE 1: Saturday 2nd June - Saturday 9th June 2012
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£600 or 690€
(non-painting partners
25% discount =
£450 or 517.50€)
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£300/345€ deposit at time of booking
£300/345€ one month
in advance of course |
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ART COURSE 2:
Saturday
30th June - Saturday 7th July 2012
(places filling up)
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£600 or 690€
(non-painting partners
25% discount =
£450 or 517.50€)
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£300/345€ deposit at time of booking
£300/345€ one month in
advance of course
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ART COURSE 3:
8th/9th
September - l5th/16th September 2012 |
£600 or 690€
(non-painting partners
25% discount =
£450 or 517.50€) 
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£300/345€ deposit at time of booking
£300/345€ one month in advance
of course
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| SUNDOWNER |
“I had such a lovely time with you last week
......... Your art course holiday was extremely well structured and Ben an excellent and very patient tutor....
Thank you both for wonderful food and hospitality.” - Beryl Noakes, Somerset
"...thank you so much for giving me such a wonderful time. Your cooking
was fantastic and everything was so comfortable.” - Pamela Adams, Glos
"
...a very big thank you both for your kindness, generosity and wonderful sense of humour, to say nothing of the fabulous cooking!
I had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the
painting course." - Agnes O'Donnell, Kuwait
"You
made us so welcome and produced super meals. It was a pleasure to be in your lovely home……………..
We both enjoyed
the course and think Ben is a great teacher as well as being such a nice person. …………
we cannot wait to know your dates for next year and book our places!" Delphine Anderson, Exeter
"thank you and Stewart for a wonderful two weeks
with you. The painting was great but the hospitality was even better. I really did enjoy myself .... staying in the middle of a real life of a French village."
Paddy O'Reilly, Co. Carlow, Ireland
"I LOVED my stay with you and Stewart in Valence-sur-Baise! I had a wonderful
time, which I hope to repeat! " Virginia Bunker, Kuwait
"A huge thank you for making our stay in
France a truly magical experience! . . . I fell
in love with the area ....thanks for your hospitality, generosity, wonderful food, good company and
counselling! Please let us know when you have decided on next year’s dates." - Ros Nixon, Penzance
These are just some of the very
kind comments sent to us the last few years. We all had a very happy time and as you can see, everyone enjoyed the food
and hospitality.
We think the main attraction of our art courses is Ben's excellent teaching.
Everyone gets individual attention from beginners to more experienced artists. Our classes are small - usually no more
than 8 - and each artist is encouraged to follow their own style, working outdoors or in the studio. Everyone - even
the complete beginners - produced several really beautiful paintings by the end of the week.
The Art Course is fully inclusive of:
6 days' individual tuition by Ben Brotherton,
all accommodation and all meals, wine and refreshments throughout the 7 days of the
Painting Holiday
except one meal out at the
guests' expense (usually an all-inclusive set price meal at a local bistro).
Airport transfers are charged at 25 euros each way per couple or per group being collected
on the same flight
Breakfast
is served buffet style in the courtyard by the pool, or in your rooms if you wish. Lunch is usually one
main dish with salad, served with wine, followed by cheese and seasonal fruit. The evening meal is 4 courses,
wine and coffee.
The day usually starts with a brief lecture in the Art Studio,
then the students can spend the day either out on the ramparts or this year we've decided to take everyone out of the
village to the surrounding landscape of gently sloping hills striped with vineyards, over to the picturesque village of Saint
Puy with its far reaching views over to the Pyrenees, across the lush valleys.
Most evenings we saunter down the ramparts for an early evening aperitif as the sun goes down. We always mean
to play boules but good conversation and company gets in the way. We also take everyone out on excursions to some of
the local places of interest like the 12th Century Cistercian Abbaye de Flaran which has a most interesting collection of
20th Century art including Monet, Picasso, Cezanne & Rodin; also a museum devoted to the shrine of St Jacques of Compostela
as Valence-sur-Baise is on this historic pilgrimage route. There are several chateaux nearby where we arrange tours
and tastings of their local Floc, Armagnac and methode champenoise. The night markets have proved to be quite an attraction
too!
This year we've decided to have a celebratory night out, eating at one of the many reasonably
priced attractive brasseries in the area, where we can all enjoy a set price meal under the stars which will make a perfect
ending to a creative and happy week.
Tea and coffee facilities are available in each of the rooms, and throughout the day in the Art Studio.
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| last supper down at La Guingette |
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| your hosts Janice & Stewart - join us! |
ABOUT BEN BROTHERTON
Ben Brotherton
BA, MA was Artist in Residence and part-time art teacher at The King's School Canterbury between 2002 and 2007. As well as
classes for school students he ran evening classes for parents and school staff.
Ben also runs courses in Italy at
The Centro Verrocchio as well as teaching art throughout the year in France where he lives. He has exhibited in London with
The Royal Society of Oil Painters and Royal Society of British Artists and shows work regularly with Grandy Art. Work can
also be seen at:
www.terrain-vallonee.co.uk
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
We will be happy to organise your travel arrangements from your base in the UK and
hope you will allow us to coordinate your journey with the other students so that your journey here is as comfortable and
trouble-free as possible.
OUR NEAREST AIRPORT IS TOULOUSE SERVED BY EASYJET AND BRITISH AIRWAYS
WE
CHARGE JUST 25 EUROS EACH WAY FOR AIRPORT RUNS, BUT THIS IS PROVIDED YOU'RE TRAVELLING IN GROUPS,
OTHERWISE THE CHARGE
HAS TO BE HIGHER FOR SPECIAL JOURNEYS
You'll have a warm welcome when you arrive and we make every effort
to cater to all your needs to ensure an enjoyable stay with us. We believe in individual care and attention to all our guests
and will do our best to please you. Please let us know of any dietary requirements and any special requests. We can arrange
visits to our local doctor, osteopath, dentist, head masseuses and even the thermal spa in the nearby town of Castera Verduzan,
world famous for its relaxing spa baths and massage rooms.
The accommodation is in La Residence - a beautiful
house within the town ramparts close to the arcaded town square. It is a spacious period home with a courtyard and swimming
pool. There are 5 double rooms available which are ideal for couples or friends sharing.
Come and join us!
