Julian Merrow-Smith painting hay bales outdoors in Provence

Painting workshops · Provence · 2026

Painting
in Provence

Two distinct ways to paint with Julian Merrow-Smith: a fully hosted plein-air week or an intimate still-life course for six in Julian’s studio.

A practice shaped
by Provence

Julian Merrow-Smith has lived and painted in Provence since 1998. In 2005 he began Postcard from Provence, painting a small work from life almost every day and sharing it online. That sustained practice—looking closely, choosing quickly and responding directly to light and colour—is at the heart of his teaching.

Julian and Ruth have welcomed painters to Provence for more than a decade. The workshops are serious about painting but warm and informal: practical demonstrations, individual attention and enough time for ideas to settle through repeated work.

A short film

A glimpse of
a workshop

Painting sessions, shared meals and the particular light and rhythm of a week in Provence.

Choose your week

The two workshops share Julian’s teaching but differ in scale, setting, accommodation and daily life.

Seven nights · fully hosted

Plein-air painting

A residential painting holiday at Domaine St. Jacques. Painters and companions stay together, with the landscape, tuition, materials, local travel, a chef, shared meals and wine all forming part of the week.

Paint outdoors around Mont Ventoux
Daily demonstrations and personal guidance
Twelve to fourteen residents, often twenty at dinner
Non-painting companions warmly welcomed

3–10 October 2026Full17–24 October 2026Last placesFrom US$3,500 per painterFully residential · all materials included

Explore the plein-air week Enquire or reserve a place

Five days · six painters

Still-life painting

A concentrated course in Julian’s studio. Six painters work from life with a new demonstration each day. Guests stay independently nearby and join Julian for painting and lunch rather than a residential house-party week.

Six painters in Julian’s Bédoin studio
Daily demonstrations and close tuition
Professional materials and generous lunches included
Local self-catering accommodation available

20–26 September 2026Full8–14 November 2026€1,800 per painterFive-day course · accommodation separate

Explore the still-life week Enquire or reserve a place

What both
weeks share

The setting changes, but the way Julian teaches remains direct, generous and rooted in daily practice.

Demonstration

Julian paints in front of the group, making decisions visible and explaining how he simplifies a subject, organises tone and responds to colour.

Individual guidance

Each painter works at their own pace and receives specific, practical feedback throughout the day rather than trying to follow a rigid formula.

Materials ready

Professional colours, brushes and painting supports are prepared in advance. Plein-air painters also receive Julian’s complete lightweight field kit.

Time to practise

New ideas are tested repeatedly over several days. Small paintings keep the work immediate and let experience accumulate quickly.

“Julian gives more of himself to a workshop than anyone I’ve had the privilege of studying under for the last twenty years.”
A workshop painter

Julian Merrow-Smith with his painting brushes

Painting what
you actually see

Julian’s approach is observational rather than prescriptive. The aim is not to make everyone paint like him, but to help each person see relationships more clearly, make stronger decisions and find a more direct route from subject to painting.

His work has been exhibited in Britain, France and the United States, and he has twice been selected for the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Yet the workshop method comes most of all from the discipline of returning to the easel day after day.

More about Julian

In their
own words

“Such a wonderful, beautiful and supportive environment. Truly, a peak experience.”

“Julian provided incredibly useful suggestions to each of my paintings—things I simply hadn’t spotted. I really felt it helped take them to the next level.”

“One of the best travel and learning experiences I have ever had.”

Featured in and heard on

Provence · 2026

Which week
is yours?

Explore the practical details, dates and daily rhythm of each workshop. If you are unsure which would suit you, ask Julian and Ruth—we’ll be happy to help.

Plein-airResidential week Still-lifeStudio week for six

Ask a question Hear about future dates

Paintingin Provence

A practice shapedby Provence

A glimpse ofa workshop