Colours of the Mediterranean Sketching Workshops
2027-06-09 18:00 - 2027-06-13 16:00 (Europe/Paris) | Collioure, Collioure, 66190, France
Indulge in 4 glorious days sketching by the sea along the Vermillion Coast not far from Spain! Your workshops are based in the quaint and colourful town of Collioure, which is a treasure trove for sketchers! It has a small port, beaches, cobbled streets, a popular market and iconic views around the old chateau. Our sketchbooks will be filled with colour as we study boats, water and the hustle bustle of the busy cafés that surround the beach.
For many decades Collioure has remained a very popular destination for artists – rich in history it offers a huge variety of subjects for painting and drawing and in fantastic light.
Over the course of these 4 days we will also spend time in the nearby coastal villages of Port-Vendres and Banyuls-sur-Mer. Port-Vendres is a larger town with a busy fishing port and renowned for its numerous fish and sea food restaurants. Banyuls-sur-Mer is considered a jewel of the Mediterranean with a stunning coastline and the famous old vineyards on the slopes of the Catalan which source the fortified wine, Banyuls.
Each of the charming locations gives you the chance to experience a real taste of Catalonia in the south of France. It will be a wonderful few days to relax and immerse yourself in drawing and painting with a small group of like-minded people.
This creative break is suitable for anyone new to urban sketching or artists with some experience but looking for a looser watercolour style.
Suggested hotel a short walk from the station and the port:

Hotel Mediterranée

You will need to bring your own sketching materials (paper, paints etc) and list of recommended items will be provided on request. Maximum group size: 8 sketchers.
Workshop price*: 395€ – price is reduced for early-bird bookings !
*A non-refundable deposit of 125€ will secure your place.

USk Languedoc-Roussillon
2027-06-16 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-07-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-08-18 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-09-15 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-10-20 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-11-17 10:00 - 13:00, 2027-12-15 10:00 - 13:00, 2028-01-19 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Paris) and 38 more dates
For details see the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/urbansketcherslanguedoc/events

French Village Sketchbook - August 2027
2027-08-27 09:30 - 2027-08-29 15:30 (Europe/Paris) | Quarante, Quarante, 34310, France
Join me to sketch life in France as it happens in and around this charming wine-making village where I live. This is the time of the grape harvest – the days are warm and the vineyards are buzzing with activity as local winemakers seize the moment to pick the grapes. Soak up the atmosphere and fill your sketchbook with images of local views, people, food, old cobbled streets, buildings and markets. I’ll share ink and watercolour techniques for both beginners and more experienced travel sketchers – loads of fun with line and colour!
Each day we’ll start sketching at 9.30am, enjoy a local lunch and then finish around 3.30pm.
You will need a sketchbook suitable for watercolour. I use a book with cold press 300gsm paper. My sketch kit includes a 6B pencil, watercolour pencils, watercolours, waterproof ink pens and a small portable folding stool. If you do not have your own materials a spare kit can be available on loan.
Workshop prices exclude refreshments, lunch & accommodation.

Where is Quarante?
Quarante is a small historic village not far from the Canal du Midi and located within an area of Occitanie formerly referred to as Languedoc. By car, Quarante is about 30 minutes from Béziers or Narbonne, and approximately an hour from Carcassonne or Montpellier.
I love living in this village. From the minute I moved here (over 18 years ago) I felt it had a warm and friendly character, it combines old fashioned quirks and modern day facilities to have almost everything you need to get from day to day, French style. It’s a working village that remains active all year round. There are various shops and services, schools, a pharmacy, hairdressers, post office, butchers – plus a friendly boulangerie and bustling café of course. The village, like many of this region, is surrounded by vineyards and the wine-growing culture is deeply rooted in the culture.
From a sketcher’s point of view Quarante is a wonderful place to be. If you wander into the heart of the medieval centre to find the ancient church and the fountain, the cobbled streets are so narrow a vehicle could never pass. Explore a little further and you’ll find charming properties, churches, chapels, stone walls, shutters, rooftops, vineyards and donkeys in fields – if quintessential France is something you want to capture in a sketchbook, you’ll definitely find it here.
Where to Stay
There are several fabulously equipped modern apartments in the centre of the village – please contact me if you would like more information and I can put you in touch with the owners to book directly

2 people sharing the small apartment with patio (2 beds)
3 adults sharing the larger apartment with terrace (3 beds)

There is also a Bed & Breakfast in Quarante called La Sorga de Vida – this is a Maison de Vigneron style property with high ceilings and many period features in the rooms. La Sorga de Vida is owned & managed by French couple Genevieve and Alain. Genevieve is passionate about catering so you can expect some substantial breakfasts! Evening meals can be prepared by arrangement at additional cost. There are 3 bedrooms available and prices start from 70€ per night – see reviews and availability on Booking.com.
Booking
The workshop price is 180€ which includes 3 days tuition – this excludes refreshments, meals, transport and accommodation.

Medieval Carcassonne - September 2027
2027-09-18 10:00 - 2027-09-19 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki) | Carcassonne, Carcassonne, 11000, France
This incredible city and UNESCO heritage site is a superb backdrop and location for a great weekend of travel sketching!
We’ll be based in the heart of La Cité. From here we’ll start by getting to grips with some of the basics of sketching on location – ideal for beginners or a great refresher if you’ve already got some drawing or painting experience. You’ll learn a whole pack of tips and tricks about perspective, colour, adding people to your drawings and of course, making memories about this incredible area of France!

Where to stay:
There are several hotels and apartments including:
Hotel de la Cité
Best Western Le Donjon
Transport recommendations:
Fly to Carcassonne, Perpignan or Toulouse
Closest railway station: Carcassonne
What to bring:
Sketchbook, Portable sketching stool, Basic watercolour travel set, Watercolour brush, HB/B/2B pencil, eraser, sharpener. A detailed materials list will be sent with booking confirmation or by request. Simply email annette@sketchingfrance.com for full details. If you need a sketch kit supplied, this can also be arranged in advance.
Additional notes:
There will be some walking up and down hills and steps, so please wear comfortable footwear and bring a waterproof in the event of inclement weather.
Price excludes meals, transport and accommodation.
If you would like more information before booking – please email me annette@sketchingfrance.com

Watercolour Sketching Weekend - Montpellier 2027
2027-09-24 10:00 - 2027-09-26 16:00 (Europe/Paris) | Montpellier, Montpellier, 34000, France
Ideal for: A weekend away with the girls, History lovers, Photographers, Francophiles, Foodies

Treat yourself to 3 days sketching in this vibrant, cultural and historic city – you won’t regret it! Montpellier is not just one of France’s most sought after destinations, it offers an incredible amount of sketch subjects – from majestic buildings and classic French architecture to luscious green parks, street cafés and let’s not forget the food and fabulous wine!
For this weekend break we’ll be based in the heart of the city – La Place de la Comédie. From here we’ll start by getting to grips with some of the basics of sketching on location. This workshop is ideal for beginners or a great refresher if you’ve already got some drawing or painting experience. We’ll be exploring the city through our sketches, learning a whole pack of tips and tricks about perspective, colour, adding people to your drawings and of course, making memories about this incredible area of France!
The city is known for being pedestrian and bike-friendly with close to 200 km of paths and a great tram network, so it’s easy to get around without a car. With an international airport it’s also incredibly accessible from almost anywhere – and you can also catch a high-speed train to or from Paris, or even drive from London or Barcelona!

Where to stay:
I suggest somewhere within walking distance of La Place de la Comédie. There are several hotels and apartments including:
Hotel de la Comédie
Grand Hotel du Midi Montpellier
Ibis Montpellier Comédie
Hotel Aragon
Best Western Plus Comédie Saint Roch
Transport recommendations:
Fly to Montpellier, Nîmes or Béziers
Closest railway station: Montpellier Saint-Roch
What to bring:
Sketchbook, Portable sketching stool, Basic watercolour travel set, Watercolour brush, HB/B/2B pencil, eraser, sharpener. A detailed materials list will be sent with booking confirmation or by request. Simply email annette@sketchingfrance.com for full details. If you need to use a sketch kit on loan, this can also be arranged in advance.
Additional notes:
There will be some walking up and down hills and steps, so please wear comfortable footwear and bring a waterproof in the event of inclement weather.
Price for 3 days sketch tuition 10am-4pm: 295€ per person – price reduced for early bird bookings !
Excludes meals, transport and accommodation.
If you would like more information before booking – please email me annette@sketchingfrance.com

International Urban Sketchers Week
2028-05-01 - 2028-05-07, 2029-05-01 - 2029-05-07, 2030-05-01 - 2030-05-07, 2031-05-01 - 2031-05-07 | Worldwide
For details see the website https://urbansketchers.org/international-urban-sketchers-week/
