NEW!
Simply Watercolours Online Course

A fun and friendly online course for beginners!
Join Tessa in this course which includes :
over 3 hours of video,
assessments and
one-on-one video calls
for a truly personalized experience.

For a limited time, Tess is offering -20% off of her new “Simply Watercoulours” online course with this “early bird” special –  available until 14th February.
Normally 1,200 euros | Now 960 euros 
SAVE 240 euros

Because of the need to keep continuity across the extensive one-to-one sessions, the course must be completed in 20 months, however you have continued access to course content and videos after that time.

Course Introduction

Learn to paint or enhance your skills
with the guidance of Tess Baker’s attentive tuition.

Enjoy the landscapes and seascapes of Provence; lavender fields, poppy fields, the beauty of St-Remy, Les Baux and the Camargue. Whether you’re an experienced painter or a complete beginner, with the guidance of Tess Baker’s attentive tuition, you will find creative treasures within you, you thought didn’t exist.

Discover a freedom and joy in painting on these wonderful all inclusive watercolour workshops. Great locations, fantastic food and painting techniques to take your paintings into a new dimension.

Roussillon
Flamingoes of the Camargue Saint Maries de la Mer
Port of La Ciotat

What you will learn…

Discover the magic of painting in nature, the alchemy of water, paint, and paper, composition and perspective… In the first days you will learn all the basic watercolour techniques and will build on these skills throughout the course. You will learn about colour and techniques such as how to mix, and how best to use your brushes and paint to get that extra special effect.

With a maximum of 5 students on the course, you will get plenty of one-on-one tuition to help you find your own unique way of painting. You will take home the knowledge and techniques to continue to practice and improve.

Click here to read the reviews on TripAdvisor!

Paint Provence with Tess in Lorgues,
at the very heart of Provence!

This break will be relaxing, fun and full of learning! As with all my painting trips, I like to keep the group small, so that you can all have your own individual tuition as well as group tuition.

Day Classes Provence

A walk around Tourtour:

Tessa describes a day at the ‘Village in the sky’.

Paint Provence with Tess goes global…

Tess offers fun painting holidays not only in France, but also in Italy and Antigua !
So, be sure to sign up to the newsletter (at the bottom of the page) to find out about newly scheduled painting holidays!

…and there’s more!

“Painting Tips with Tess”

Learn about what materials to use,
techniques, and more!

Day classes and short courses

Learn how to paint in the heart of beautiful Provence, and beyond…

My online art gallery

Discover the collection of water colours and oil paintings by Tessa Baker.

What students have said about their painting vacation…

I’ve been to Tess’ painting trips twice the last two years, and I am am beyond the moon happy that we found her!
I’ve always had a love for painting, but I’ve never had the time or courage to purse it. Until I met Tess. The trips are only a week long, and the amount I have learned in this short amount of time is astounding. Tess is a fantastic teacher, and her love for the arts is so transparent in everything stroke she makes on the paper and her commentary to her students along side it. I’ve never felt more inspired than when I’m with her on her painting trips.
On top of that, she’s an incredible chef! And her friends are incredible chefs! Being fed the most amazing French, fresh cuisine whilst enjoying the sun and painting from sunrise to sundown (not to worry, you’re allowed breaks and pool time) – it’s my version of paradise.

I am happy to give Tess my highest recommendation. It’s difficult to put in to words how much you are missing out on if you have yet to go on one of her trips, but just trust me when I say it: you will not regret it! – Victoria

My mind is full of remembered images from the very blessed time spent with you and all the “lovely ladies”, so that I feel a deep glow of contentment. There has been so much beauty all around us that I feel soaked in it – beauty of the natural world, of generosity and kindness, of seeing people flourish through encouragement, and through it all your bubbling personality that belied the organisation and discipline that made everything run so smoothly. Thank you so much. -Ann Brown

I can’t recommend Tessa Baker’s painting holiday more. Although more than 3 months have passed, I think about the class almost daily – our week with Tessa was so special in every way! I dream of the colors, I frequently use Tessa’s palette now (so different from the cool, Scandinavian palette that I have grown accustomed to), I dream of our venues, the light, the ambiance and the easy flow of our paintbrushes. Everything about the setting encouraged us to see, observe, sketch, paint, and internalize so many details into our work. We couldn’t not sketch, sketch, sketch and paint, paint, paint – so we did! After 3 months, I am still using the brilliant colors in a completely different way than I would have before. Not only the idyllic setting, but Tess’s generosity and warm hospitality, the wonderful food and well-planned settings to get the maximum inspiration out of our week in Provence are what made our week with Tessa so fantastic. An accomplished painter in her own right, Tessa was able to instruct, inspire and encourage 4 friends at very differing levels of experience with painting watercolors. She brought out the best in each of us with her easy-going style of instruction and lots of encouragement. Tess knows her countryside and her palette very well… She took us to all of the most picturesque places, carefully chosen to capitalize on the weather conditions and our levels of skill, to develop our individual strengths and styles and to challenge us to new levels. I highly recommend a week with Tessa to learn, enjoy, paint, sight-see (and shop, eat and wine-taste!) and let yourself be inspired and challenged as well as spoiled and amazed – at all of the beauty, fun, laughter, great results and good times! I would go back in a minute, any day! – Trilby

Generosity of spirit. Those are the words that keep coming to mind as I remember our time with Tessa. She is generous with her time, her home, her creativity and her knowledge. The first night it felt like we were having dinner at a friend’s house and by the end of the week we truly were friends. The house is picturesque, the food plentiful and scrumptious, and the rooms homey and comfortable. The experience is warm, gentle, delicious and broadening. We saw and painted so many beautiful sights—the boats of St Tropez, umbrella pines, olive harvest, ancient villages, vineyards—the list goes on. If you like picnics, wine, gardens, mountain roads, beaches, cats, dogs, bakeries, entertaining stories or just hanging out in beautiful surroundings then you will have a marvellous time. I highly recommend Paint Provence for anyone who would like to visit Provence in a relaxing way. Whether you are an accomplished watercolorist or have never picked up a brush, Tessa is sure to make the experience delightful. – Valarie.

Tessa is the most organized, enthusiastic and charming watercolor teacher I have ever had!
She organized a beautiful house for us in Antigua, fabulous private chef for the week, and even had chairs, portfolios, extra supplies and water jars for everyone! She planned each day’s trips perfectly in order to let us see and paint all the loveliest parts of the island!
Plus, she gave us short manageable lessons that were suited to beginners as well as more experienced artists, e.g, using washes for skies, painting palm trees and hibiscus. I loved Tessa and her husband and feel like we are now pals! – From Myra who came on the March trip

I spent a wonderful week in Roussillon this May. We were two students so we did get a lot of personal attention from Tess. We did discover the lovely neighborhood of Roussillon and stayed away from places with too many tourists. Tess is great at finding the right spot to do plain-air painting: a poppy field, a village square, a vineyard, a castle surrounded by sculptures… we were there.
I wasn’t fond of watercolors before the trip, I’ve gradually changed my mind during the week as I discovered the lovely paintings you can make with a little splash of paint, a good brush, fresh water, a creative teacher and an inspiring environment. Tess knows how to motivate you to try something new. Just at the moment that you think you will not be able to paint that poppy or that rose, Tess is there to guide you to the next step.
Apart from being a great painter and teacher, Tess is also a lovely entertainer and a very good chef. Breakfast, lunch and diner were real treats: wonderful ingredients, prepared with love and lots of creativity. We even made some of our own paint with natural ingredients like eggs and Arabic gum.
I appreciated very much that nothing is a ‘must’ and all is possible. I returned home with a few amazing paintings, full of energy, new creative ideas and a desire to continue with watercolors.
Thank you for this fantastic experience. – Dominique

Tess’s love of Provence shows through her paintings and her joy in sharing with us as a small group. Provence is a beautiful area of France and through her artistic skills and energy conveyed this into our painting work. We learnt so much from essential colour mixing to showing us how to enhance our paintings with free movement, highlighting and softening areas to give real depth to our work. I came away not only having had a wonderful holiday but a reawakened desire to paint and paint and paint.
Chris Feast, Norfolk, England.

Please let me extend my personal thanks for such a great week on so many levels. As a vacation, our every need was catered to, from transportation, to food preferences, to dining (as part of a family) on meals prepared by one of the finest chef’s in my experience. Anna’s meals were always fresh and creative, always delicious and artfully presented. And the wine choices were carefully chosen to accentuate the Provençal culinary experience. On an artistic level, I learned so much from you, Tessa, about shedding my controlled style and allowing the exuberance and joy that this sunny clime invokes to flow freely from my brush to the paper. Every vista, vineyard, olive grove, sea village and market was more inspiring than the previous. And the farmhouse and wildflower meadow were my absolute favorites. Our week flew by far too quickly. I will certainly recommend this this corner of Provençal paradise to artists of any level. “Come to Tessa’s and be pampered.” – Marsha Bates, Kennewick, WA

A note to thank you for the marvellous week Bill and I spent in Lorgues. For me it was a most enriching experience. I truly enjoyed the time Tessa and I spent talking, drawing and painting out of doors. I learned a lot and hope to put into practice what I learned! Bill and I greatly appreciated the delicious, fresh, chef prepared lunches and dinners- not to mention the stimulating conversations we had! And special thanks for including the trip to the Espinasse’s that was a big highlight for Bill. To sum it up, thank you for a memorable week in Provence. – Cindy and Bill

Paint-Provence – LOVED IT!! This was truly one of the best experiences of my life. Tess provided wonderful instruction and Provence a scenic backdrop. We had limitless choices to grab our interest; it was only of a matter of which view to select and put brush to water and paper. No mistakes were made only “brilliant” brush strokes from beginners and genius alike. I can not thank Tess enough for the encouragement and believe I have found a friend for life. Accommodations – The accommodations provided by David and Tess were wonderfully quaint and comfortable. Some may have described the scene as rustic, but it is traditional Provence in every sense. It was clean and well maintained. Set among vineyards and wild flowers – I had no problem finding a peaceful spot to sit, relax and breathe the fresh air. I can’t wait to return. – Best regards, Sue

Special note: Please do ensure that you have valid travel and medical insurance for your trip – thank you!

From beginner to painter, a client’s story:

Special note: Please do ensure that you have valid travel and medical insurance for your trip – thank you!

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