2027 Retreat · April 22-25, 2027
The Spring Atelier:
Come make art with me.
Three days in the cottage studio at Château de Borie.
Six artists. Spring in the south of France.
For three days this spring, I'm opening up my cottage atelier at Château de Borie to just five other artists.
This isn't a traditional art workshop. We'll be working side by side, each making our own art, experimenting with different materials and seeing where the work takes us.
I'll share the way I approach my own paintings as we go — limited palettes, layers, contrast, composition, the law of opposites, turning things around and, quite often, painting over something and starting again. I'll demonstrate what I'm doing, talk about why I'm doing it, and be there when you want another pair of eyes on your work.
You don't need to work like I do, use the same materials or have the same level of experience. Complete beginners are just as welcome as people who have been making art for years.
I'll supply acrylic paints and wooden panels. You can bring any favourite materials you'd like to use.
We'll make art, eat very well, spend Saturday afternoon wandering Penne-d'Agenais, and enjoy being at the château in spring.
Six artists around the studio table. Come be one of them.
“Not a workshop. A working studio — a safe place for discovery.”
Rooms & investment
Premium
€2,050 solo, per person
Cygne, Étoile, Gingko, Rossignol, Jasmin — all rooms are on the second floor, each with a private bathroom down the hall; Jasmin is a third-floor room with a full ensuite.
Standard
€1850 solo, per person
Magnolia, Colibri, Chouette, Renard, Lapin, Paon — cozy third-,floor rooms each with a private bathroom down the hall.
What’s included
- Round-trip transport from Agen train station
- 3 nights, single occupancy
- All meals, beverages, and wine
- Acrylic paints and wooden panels
- Studio time with Abby
- Saturday excursion to Penne-d'Agenais
- Personal art supplies beyond those provided
- Saturday lunch in Penne-d'Agenais
- Personal purchases
- Travel insurance
- Flights and travel to Agen
Your host
Abigail Carter
Artist · Host · Château de Borie
Abby came back to painting the way most things happen in her life — through loss. Widowed at 35, she found her way through grief first with words, publishing her memoir The Alchemy of Loss: A Young Widow's Transformation in 2008. Years later, after a second heartbreak, it was colour that found her. She filled an empty studio with light and acrylic paint and started again from scratch.
Her approach to painting mirrors how she writes: in layers, with honesty, painting over what doesn't work and letting something new emerge from underneath. She works in acrylics, with limited palettes, strong contrast, and a willingness to start over. She now paints in the cottage atelier at Château de Borie — the same studio you'll be working in.
Who this weekend is for
You've always wanted to make art but never quite permitted yourself.
You're an experienced artist looking for unstructured time and good company.
You want a small group — never more than six — and a pace that lets you actually get into the work.
You'd rather be making something than sitting in a lecture.
The weekend, day by day
Thu 22 Apr
Arrival
Arrive at Château de Borie before 4:00 pm. Settle in, meet the group over dinner.
Fri 23 – Sat 24
Studio days
Morning and afternoon sessions in the cottage atelier, at your own pace. Wine, meals, and evenings together at the château.
Sat 24 Apr
Penne-d'Agenais
A morning session in the atelier, then an afternoon excursion to Penne-d'Agenais — lunch on your own, a wander through the bastide village. Back to the château for a farewell dinner.
Sun 25 Apr
Departure
Depart before noon.
Getting here & getting around
Book your own flights into Toulouse or Bordeaux, then a roughly 90 min, train to Agen — or fly into Paris and take the 3-hour TGV from Montparnasse. We recommend arriving a day early in Toulouse if you can, to shake off the jet lag before the week begins.
Transportation is provided for all group excursions, so a rental car isn't necessary. Trip and medical cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. The château is multi-level with stairs throughout, so comfortable, unassisted walking is a must — and you'll likely meet Lulu, the resident Boston terrier.
Cancellations & refunds
A deposit holds your seat. Here's exactly how refunds work as the date approaches.
Deposit is fully refundable up to this date.
Full refund if your spot is filled from a waitlist; otherwise 50% refund, or a 12-month credit transfer to a future retreat.
No refunds. We strongly recommend trip and medical cancellation insurance.
Six seats. Three days.
Art, meals, and a château in spring.
Have a question before you commit — about your experience level, a room, or the dates? Reach out directly and we'll help you figure out if this weekend is right for you.