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Wide view of the château and grounds in Bordeaux, France
Five Days · Five Nights · Bordeaux, France

Masterclass
Bordeaux

An immersive painting retreat at a private château in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards — mentored, unhurried, and limited to eight painters.

Next dates
11–16 April 2027
Group size
Eight painters
Location
Bordeaux, France
Masterclass Bordeaux — 11–16 April 2027
Enquire About This Retreat
The Retreat

Five days. Zero distractions.

For five days and five nights, you'll live and paint at a historic château in the Bordeaux vineyards. You'll split your time between en plein air painting and a 200-square-metre private studio. Outdoors, you'll paint the château, its grounds and the vines — plus local spots on painting trips nearby.

It's the same spirit as Mitch's weekend workshops in Noosa, taken further: five full days instead of one, deeper technical focus, and Mitch's undivided attention across a group capped at eight. No prior workshop experience required — just five days you're ready to give to the easel.

No itinerary will rush you. No crowd will dilute the guidance. Just the work — and a château built for total immersion in it.

  • →Painting en plein air — light, speed and decision-making outdoors
  • →The architecture of composition
  • →Advanced colour theory and colour mixing
  • →Portraiture, still life and the human figure
  • →The technical hurdles — what's working, what isn't, and how to move past where you're stuck
Long dining table set under the stone arches of the chateau
8
Painters maximum — by design, not demand
200m²
Private studio, plus acres of grounds en plein air
The château and heated swimming pool on the estate's private grounds
The estate stretches over acres of private grounds, including a heated swimming pool
The Château Experience

Painting by day. Bordeaux by night.

A premium retreat demands an exceptional setting. The five days balance serious painting time with the kind of evenings you came to France for.

Daily
En plein air and the studio
Each day mixes en plein air painting with studio time. Outdoors, you'll paint the château, the grounds and the vines. There's more to paint here than five days allows. In the studio, Mitch works with you on composition, colour and the figure. Fresh, catered breakfast and lunch are served at the estate each day.
Some Days
Painting trips out
Trips to local spots to paint en plein air, with Mitch alongside you. Transport is included.
Evening I
The welcome dinner
A private chef prepares a multi-course welcome dinner on your first night, paired with the estate's own wines.
Two Evenings
Saint-Émilion
Twenty minutes away: cobblestone streets and one of France's most celebrated medieval villages. Choose your own restaurants and sample the local wine at your own pace.
One Evening
The 400-year-old cellar
A private wine tasting, hosted by the estate's owner, deep in the château's working historical cellar.
Final Night
The farewell dinner
The private chef returns for one last multi-course evening at the estate, to close the five days the way they opened.
What's Included

Everything is taken care of.

Your Accommodation
Five nights at the château, in your chosen room or suite.
Art Tuition & Materials
Full mentorship with Mitch across five days, en plein air and in the studio, with all art materials provided.
En Plein Air Trips
Painting trips to local spots, with transport included.
Daily Catered Meals
Fresh, high-quality breakfast and lunch catered at the estate, every day of your stay.
Your Private Chef
A private chef prepares a multi-course welcome dinner on your first night, and returns for your farewell dinner on the last.
The Cellar Tasting
A private wine tasting, hosted by the estate's owner, in the château's 400-year-old working cellar.
Two Evenings in Saint-Émilion
Transport to and from the village is included.
All Transfers
Group transfers to and from Bordeaux airport, and all local travel during your stay.
Your Sanctuary

Room tiers. One château.

Old stone walls. Quiet rooms. Vineyards in every direction. It's a beautiful place to come home to after a day at the easel. Bring your partner, come with friends, or bring the whole family — the château is made for group bookings.

Bedroom suite at the chateau with stone walls
From AUD $7,000 pp for the retreat — accommodation, tuition, materials, meals and transfers included

Room tiers available

Room tiers range from private queen rooms to premium private suites.

Partners and even families are welcome. Several suites combine a king bed with king singles — ideal for families, or friends travelling together.

April is capped at eight painters. Mitch shares full room tiers, pricing and partner rates directly by email.

Get Full Pricing & Room Tiers
Mitchell English in his Noosa studio
Your Mentor
Mitchell English
Painter — coastal light, the human figure, and the Heatwave series

Mitch paints the way the light actually falls — on water, on skin, on a Noosa afternoon. His work is held in collections including the Powerhouse Museum, and he is represented by Harvey Galleries, Sydney.

He's stood on both sides of the easel: as studio assistant to Markus Lüpertz — then Director of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf — in Italy, and lecturing in Visual Arts at the University of Western Sydney. In Bordeaux, you get that same close, technical mentorship — just turned toward eight painters, for five uninterrupted days.

Studio Assistant to Markus Lüpertz Powerhouse Museum Collection Harvey Galleries, Sydney Lectured at the University of Western Sydney
11–16 April 2027

New dates. Spring in Bordeaux.

Our first Masterclass Bordeaux wrapped in September. The next one runs 11–16 April 2027, in the French spring.

No deposit is needed to register your interest. Just email Mitch with your preferred room tier. Let him know if a partner or family is coming too.

Enquire About This Retreat
No payment is required to enquire. Pricing, full room tiers and availability are confirmed directly with Mitch by email.
Before You Enquire

A few things worth knowing.

No. The five days are built around your pace and your level — Mitch's focus is on where you're genuinely stuck, not on getting everyone to the same place. What matters is that you're ready to spend five days seriously at the easel.
Your accommodation, all art tuition and materials, en plein air painting trips, daily catered breakfast and lunch, the welcome and farewell dinners by the private chef, the cellar tasting, transport to and from Saint-Émilion, and all transfers to and from Bordeaux airport and around the region. Dining and wine while you're in Saint-Émilion itself are not included. Full tiers and exact pricing are sent directly by email.
Yes. The retreat is suitable for group bookings. Come with friends, bring your partner, or even bring your family. Mitch can help you find the right mix of rooms.
Yes. Non-painting partners can share your private suite or room. Families are welcome too — several suites combine a king bed with king singles. Non-painting guests have full access to the château's amenities, the pool and group transport. Mitch will include their rates when you enquire.
Tell Mitch when you enquire. He'll let you know as soon as future dates are released.
No deposit is needed to register your interest. Simply email Mitch with your preferred room tier and your availability, and he'll confirm next steps with you directly.
Enquire below and Mitch will send the complete brochure by email — full room tiers, pricing, the château, and everything included in your five days.
Masterclass Bordeaux · 11–16 April 2027

Five days.
One château.
Your easel.

Email Mitch directly for the full brochure, room tiers and pricing — no deposit, no obligation, just the next step.

Enquire About This Retreat
Or reach Mitch directly — mitch@mitchellenglish.com.au · 0431 940 499