At my age, I thought I'd seen enough painting techniques to no longer be surprised. I was wrong — I learned an enormous amount this week, things I'd never have picked up on my own. I'm a fussy eater, to put it mildly, and yet every single meal won me over. That's not an easy thing to pull off with me. The trip to the medieval village was a real treat, a lovely break between painting sessions — and it ended up feeding straight into inspiration for the paintings that followed. A week I'd recommend without hesitation.

J'ai séjourné au Château de Pourpry lors d'un stage de peinture avec Carole Massey et franchement, j'ai passé un moment incroyable.

At my age, I wasn't sure I'd keep up with a full week of painting, but I needn't have worried. The little touches made all the difference — a note welcoming me by name, hot water left in my room each afternoon, someone always checking I had everything I needed. And the food! Every meal felt like it had been thought through with real care, not just served. Carole's class on portrait work was the highlight, though. Patient, clear, and generous with her time — I finally understand shading and proportion in a way I never grasped from books. I came home portraits I'm actually proud of, and a technique I'll keep building on. I'll be back next year, God willing.