Why not combine your holiday in Normandy with learning a new creative skill? Here in the hamlet of La Foucaudiere, set in the rolling Normandy countryside, we offer both one day art and craft courses and individual art tuition. You will have the opportunity to develop your artistic skills in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. We adopt a flexible approach and cater for all levels of ability.

Alison, who runs the workshops at Orchard Arts, studied Visual Communication at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design where she specialised in Illustration. She has taught Art in many secondary schools in the U.K loves to share her passion for all aspects of the creative arts with her students. Her particular interests are printmaking, photography and textiles but she is always experimenting with new techniques and media. With her guidance and encouragement you will be inspired to develop your creative skills with confidence.

We also offer self catering and bed & Breakfast accommodation. Please click here for details.

Art Activities for children are held every Wednesday morning during July and August from 10am to 12pm. Children love to have the opportunity to be creative and these sessions are a great success. We offer a range of activities including collage, painting, fabric dyeing, printing, mosaic and felt making.

All ages are welcome but we do ask that children aged 7 and under are accompanied by an adult.

The cost for each session is 10 Euros. The cost for an additional child is 5 Euros. Why not book a family session for only 35 Euros (based on 2 adults and 2 children).

Have you always wanted to learn how to draw or paint? It can be hard to know where to start but we aim to help you develop your skills by tailoring individual tuition to suit your requirements. Why not contact us to find out more!

Individual art tuition is available and is tailored to suit your requirements.
Cost: 15 Euros / hour.

Why not come with your friends? Up to 4 students /group.
Cost: 10 Euros per person / hour.

Day workshops run from 10am to 3pm. Cost: 35 Euros.

Mini workshops run during July and August from 10am to 12.30pm. Cost: 20 Euros.

Tea and coffee provided. Please bring a packed lunch to the day workshops.

Workshop Information

FELTMAKING
Using wet felting techniques you will learn how to transform colourful merino wool fibre into felted fabric.
Felted Landscape:
A perfect introduction to feltmaking; you will 'paint' with the wool fibres to create a 2D landscape, which can be embellished with glass beads and stitching.
Felt flowers:
You will learn how to create a 2D flower, which can be embellished with glass beads and stitching. You will also find out how to add a stem and extra petals to create a 3D flower. Felted flowers make a pretty brooch, hair clip or can be used to embellish felt bags or wall hangings.
Felt Bags and Purses:
This is a brilliant workshop if you have some experience of feltmaking and want to extend your skills. You will learn how to make a seamless felted purse or small bag. You will be shown how to make felted fastenings and how incorporate a handle into a bag.

PRINTMAKING
No drawing skills are needed to produce interesting and original prints, which can be framed for your wall or can be used to make original greetings cards.
Introduction to printmaking
You will make a printing block from Styrofoam board and will be shown how to introduce colour into your print using watercolour backgrounds and tissue paper.
Collograph printing
Using thick card as base you will build up interesting surface textures by collaging with paper and fabric. Using your collaged printing block you will create unique textured prints.
Lino printing
For this printing technique you will cut into a soft lino surface to create your design. You will produce a series of coloured prints.

MIXED MEDIA
This workshop is excellent for anyone who is interesting in painting but is daunted by the prospect of a blank sheet of paper. Working from a photograph or a sketch you will use collage materials to build up an interesting surface to work on. Then using cardboard and thick brushes you will apply layers of ink and paint to produce your finished painting.

MAKING SKETCHBOOKS
You will learn how to make accordion and sewn sketch books using handmade decorative paper for the cover. You will create lovely little books to give as gifts or to use yourself.