About us…

 Lyn and I felt the need to relax away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at least for a few weeks a year.

 We spent many happy holidays in Cannes in the Cote d’Azure and it was some years ago when we were searching for a holiday home in that area, we decided to take the long route home and see the “other” side of France.

 That journey took us through Languedoc and the Dordogne, through Brittany and Normandy and home. The following year we went the long way round again to Cannes, in order to stop off and make the journey down part of the vacation.

 Down the A75 early one morning we detoured off the motorway and followed a sign for the “Gorges du Tarn”.
That first sight of the Tarn through the early morning haze, and the amazing journey through the rocks and mountains of Lozere, changed our lives.

 Here, in a less well known area of France, lay a community that had not fallen foul of fast food and plastic hotels. An area that still lived as it did years ago, but now survived mainly on a tourist season. An idea was born and a change of life and pace took place.

 Lyn’s love of painting and the time to enjoy her passion gave way to starting an art school, and with this began our new way of life.

  As for me………well I love to see people happy. Good food and wine, conversation and now time for others is my reward. Life here is easier than in England  but never seems dull, and we have made good friends of the locals who allow us into their way of life.

Unfortunately Chris Dean is no longer  with us and we wish him well.

 We are luckily however to have a local artist Peter Smithson who has plied his trade here for the last 15 years.

Peter was a teacher in Art and Technical Design in England but a holiday here proved a changing point in his life.

Faced with a decision to return to England and life teaching full time, or live as an artist amongst the scenery of the Gorge, Peter had little choice. Living here for the past 15 years has provided him with an extensive local knowledge of architecture and flora, locations and places of natural beauty.

As an artist the inspiration of the area drew him closer  to his ideal, and by taking on commissions he was able to work part time and invest his spare time in painting and drawing, using the natural materials as some of his inspiration.

Extremely relaxed in his methods, he has the teachers ability to work at the students pace in order to get the most from the time available; of great importance to our clients!

 We are all happy to be here for you.

Lyn, Jess and Peter.

Footnote; Thanks and Dedications.

To Herman; who made the transition here achievable; Joe and Jacqui, who solved everything I couldn't and never gave up, and Dom; for understanding my wife and her website!