Atelier Art Studio In France |

Atelier Art Studio In France

Apologies for the infrequent updates these past few months but I am in the process of setting up my new atelier art studio in France.

At the start of the year I took the decision to complement my studio and painting in Cornwall by adding a new dimension to my work with an atelier art studio in France. I set out to find a special place and since the early part of the year I have made a few visits to France with the intention of finding a suitable property in the Poitou-Charentes region.

Aigre Church – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Start of the River Boutonne at Chef-Boutonne – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Being well placed and noted for it’s light, due to the temperate climate which is claimed to be the sunniest area of the country after Provence and Languedoc Roussillon this region is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in France, particularly in Poitiers itself, which complete with some well preserved medieval heritage is the capital of the Vienne Department and also of the region of Poitou-Charentes. Including the magnificent Poitiers Cathedral – Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers – the building of which was started in the 12th Century by Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the Palace of Justice – le Palais de Justice de Poitiers – originally the home of the Counts of Poitou and the Dukes of Aquitaine.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

le Palais de justice de Poitiers – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Given that I have a love of all things French and that I have a French agent, Michael Picoron, this is not a surprising step for me to take. Being on the European mainland will make it easier for me to exhibit throughout France, and of course other European Countries, many of which I have exhibited in several times to date. After much searching and covering hundreds of miles, criss-crossing the region all fuelled by gallons of fabulous French coffee I finally found the one that had the perfect space and ambience.

Fuelled by French coffee – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

My new atelier art studio will be situated in the grounds of an old eighteenth century country house, a property with beautiful stone outbuildings all set in a wonderful wooded garden and it will be a place where I can produce some compelling work.

This will be a complete contrast to my Truro City Artlab and clearly it will take some time to complete the acquisition and get the atelier up and running but I will update the news accordingly as the project develops further.