Les Bassacs, Arts in Provence
Working outside near the famous village of Roussion in Provence, France
This residency was based in the south of France, surrounded by lavender fields and the gentle, rhythmic chorus of crickets in the warm air. I spent six weeks working with Arts in Provence, a small business that offers immersive creative retreats and art residencies in the region, designed to encourage artists to slow down, observe, and respond to the Provençal landscape.
The residency was split between helping with guests and using an outdoor studio set within the beautiful landscape to create new artworks.
It took place throughout the summer, and I gave myself a busy schedule, which I really enjoyed. Having a structure pushed me creatively and helped me work to a clear timeframe. The heat - and occasional summer storms - also meant I was often limited in how long I could work outdoors, which brought a sense of urgency and energy to the work. I loved the adrenaline and spontaneity this created in my mark-making.
Although at times I felt a little alone, I really valued having my own space and time to fully immerse myself in the landscape and respond to it through colour and drawing. My hosts were incredibly kind and supportive, and their warmth really helped me grow in confidence throughout the residency, both creatively and personally. On my days off, I would go on longer trips, either walking or driving, exploring the winding roads and incredible beauty of Provence.
This residency was one of the first doorways that opened up my world of mixed media. I remember visiting a local art shop and beginning to fall in love with drawing in a more experimental way. I started with coloured pencil on paper, and by the end of the residency I was working with coloured card and a much broader range of materials, including oil pastels, ink, and other pigments.
Les Bassacs, a small hamlet near Roussillon, felt especially magical. Roussillon itself is one of the most beautiful villages in France, known for its striking ochre cliffs and buildings, where the landscape and architecture are bathed in rich tones of red, orange, and gold. The village sits within the Luberon region and is surrounded by one of the largest ochre deposits in the world, which has long inspired artists due to its extraordinary natural colour palette.
The bright orange stone of the buildings and landscape in Les Bassacs was unforgettable, and I discovered pigments being sold locally there. I bought some at the time, and this later inspired me to work with natural and dry pigments collected from other travels.