As summer begins to soften into autumn, September brings a particular kind of beauty to Puy Vidal: cooler mornings, gardens still abundant with color, long shadows across old stone, and a golden light that seems to ask you to stop and look a little longer. For her fourth year with us, Haidee-Jo Summers VPROI RSMA returns to Château de Puy Vidal for A Painter’s Harvest — a week devoted to gathering impressions, strengthening your eye, and finding joy in the daily practice of painting.
After three years together, Haidee-Jo knows this place intimately. She knows the garden paths that become irresistible compositions, the corners where the afternoon light falls just so, the quiet interiors, weathered walls, overflowing tables and fleeting scenes of château life that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her teaching invites you away from the search for the grand subject and toward the beauty already at hand.
Across the week, plein air sessions, interior painting, demonstrations, small studies and individual guidance offer time to deepen the fundamentals of value, composition, drawing and color while practicing a more direct and responsive way of seeing. Haidee-Jo’s teaching is thoughtful, encouraging and grounded in the belief that painting should be taken seriously without losing the curiosity, pleasure and sense of discovery that brought you to it in the first place.
And the harvest of the week extends beyond finished paintings. It might be a color study you want to revisit at home, a clearer understanding of tone, a new way of quieting the inner critic, pages filled in a sketchbook, or simply a renewed habit of noticing what catches your eye.
For one September week, our 800-year-old Château de Puy Vidal becomes both home and subject: a place to paint deeply, live attentively, share the days with fellow artists, and gather something meaningful to carry back into your own creative life.e to paint deeply, live slowly, form lasting friendships and remember what it feels like to make creativity part of everyday life.
€5,250- €5,950
British Artist
Haidee-Jo Summers
Artist's Letter
For her fourth year at Château de Puy Vidal, internationally renowned British painter Haidee-Jo Summers returns for another week devoted to sharing the sheer joy of painting and inspiring artists to see the world around them with fresh eyes.
Haidee-Jo is celebrated for her luminous paintings of gardens, landscapes, interiors and coastal scenes, captured with fresh, direct brushwork and an extraordinary sensitivity to fleeting effects of light. Rather than searching for the grand vista, she is drawn to the quieter poetry of the everyday: sunlight falling across a table, a garden path disappearing into foliage, figures gathered outdoors, or the changing colors of an intimate interior.
Haidee-Jo is Vice President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and an elected member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. She is also the author of Vibrant Oils and Plein Air Painting in Oils, as well as her newest book, 50 Ways to Break the Rules of Oil Painting.
After three remarkable workshops together, we are delighted to welcome Haidee-Jo back to Puy Vidal in 2027, where the château, its gardens and the surrounding Charente landscape will once again become a source of inspiration.
www.haideejo.com
"My approach is one of simplicity and economy, striving to make every mark count in my earnest pursuance of capturing the poetry of a fleeting effect of light."
Haidee-Jo Summers
WHO IS THIS FOR?
This workshop is for you if…
You want to strengthen your foundations. Haidee-Jo places particular emphasis on understanding value/tone, one of the essential building blocks of painting. Learning to see and organize values more clearly to strengthen your painting’s sense of form, depth and space.
You want to loosen up and respond more directly to what you see. Through small studies, value block-ins and quicker impressions, you’ll practice identifying what is essential in a subject and capturing it without feeling the need to resolve every detail.
You want to learn a new way of quieting the inner critic. Haidee-Jo often talks about the voice that says this isn’t working, I can’t do this or I’ve ruined it. Rather than trying to eliminate that voice altogether, she encourages students to notice it, question it, and practice responding with a little more curiosity and perspective.
You want to make more room for joy in your creative practice. Observation, journaling, reflection and noticing small moments of joy & beauty are woven into the week as ways of exploring a more attentive, enjoyable and sustainable relationship with painting.
You want ideas and practices you can continue developing at home. Over seven days, you’ll have time to experiment with new habits and tools, long days at the easel will help you reconnect with what you enjoy about painting, and leave with practical approaches to continue exploring long after the workshop ends.
You value learning with a teacher over time. Now entering her fourth year at Puy Vidal, Haidee-Jo has a devoted group of students who return to continue learning from her. She takes a genuine interest in their progress and developing work, making this a workshop, and a teaching relationship, you can return to as your practice evolves.
7-Nights
All Inclusive
Advanced Beginners
to Intermediate Painters
Intimate
Class Size
Tentative Workshop Schedule
A preliminary schedule for the week
Art supplies included
Apply now
Our workshops and retreats are thoughtfully curated to bring together like-minded creatives in a supportive, inspiring environment. Due to high demand and to ensure a balanced group dynamic, we invite you to apply below. This helps us personalize your experience and create a space where everyone can thrive.You’ll hear back within 48 hours. If accepted, you’ll receive a booking invitation—your spot is only confirmed once booked. To keep this retreat accessible, we offer flexible payment plans split into three installments, with custom options available upon request. Questions or booking issues? Email us anytime at: retreats@ladyofthechateau.com
Echoes of the Experience
FAQ
Booking & Payment
Booking & payment for any of our retreats & workshops is structured across three payments, beginning with a 35% deposit to reserve your place - followed by two additional payments, spaced evenly and completed one month prior to arrival.
All our retreats begin with a brief application, designed to ensure the experience is a good fit for both you and the group.
Submitting an application comes with no pressure or obligation to book—it’s simply a first step in entering our world at the Lady of the Chateau.
If you have any questions, or would like to explore the possibility of a custom payment plan, please contact us at retreats@ladyofthechateau.com.We'd be delighted to welcome you to the Chateau.
Can I bring a non-painting partner?
Non-Painting Partners are most welcome to our workshops- we find they round out the groups and add a wonderful energy during the evenings after a long day of painting. There is plenty for them to do on the grounds - enjoying the pool, relaxing in the gardens, reading, going on countryside bikes or walks. We have Wifi, so working remotely at the Chateau is possible. If you'd like to bring a Non-Painting Partner to share your room with you they are welcome to join you in any of our double occupancy rooms. If they'd like to explore the region during the week, a car rental is recommended.
Non-Painting Partner rate: 2,500 €
What supplies do I need to bring?
Bring your Brushes.
We provide the majority of the supplies, including painting tubes to share amongst your fellow Artists - Pochade & French Easels, Palettes, Solvents, Aprons, Shareable Oil Paint Tubes are all available for your to use in our Puy Vidal Art Studio.
Once you've booked your retreat we will send you your specific instructors Art Supplies.
How do I get there?
We offer complimentary pick-up and drop-off from our local train station of Angouleme just 18 minutes from the Chateau . If you’re driving, detailed directions will be provided upon booking. We’re easily accessible from major French cities, making your journey as smooth as possible.
Is there a pool?
Yes! Our outdoor pool is heated, perfect for a refreshing dip in summer and a comfortable swim in spring and fall.
Our large hot tub makes a perfect place to unwind alone or with some new friends after a day of creativity.
What If I Have Dietary Needs or Allergies?
Meals at the château are a cherished part of your experience — lovingly prepared four-course feasts that reflect the heart and soul of French cuisine. Our chefs create each menu with care, using locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors to bring you something truly special.
We’re happy to accommodate certain dietary needs, including vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free preferences. However, due to the nature of our kitchen, our chef’s traditional approach, and the foundations of French culinary style, we’re unfortunately not able to accommodate vegan diets, highly specialized dietary restrictions, or severe, life-threatening allergies.
If you have any dietary concerns at all, we kindly ask that you reach out before booking: retreats@ladyofthechateau.com.
Additionally, if you live with severe environmental allergies (such as to insects, dust, or humidity), please let us know in advance. For your safety and peace of mind, we reserve the right to decline bookings if we determine that we cannot safely meet your needs.
