ANGELA BIRD'S

Courses in the Vendée  

If you would like to do more
with your holiday than eat, sleep or lie in the sun,
why not consider learning a new skill?

Please note I have no personal experience as a student on any of these courses. I am merely providing information in case readers wish to consider such a holiday for a short break in the Vendée. Please study the websites concerned carefully, and contact the owners direct with any additional queries. Readers must make their own decision about the suitability of any courses. I can accept no responsbility for whether they are appropriate for readers’ purposes.

	DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
	Roger Stowell Well-known professional photographer Roger Stowell and his wife, Jenny, offer residential digital photography courses near the pretty village of Vouvant. Roger’s work will be familiar to readers of Elle, Marie Claire, House and Garden and other prestigious magazines, as well as of the UK’s top-notch colour supplements. Courses, limited to four people, take in landscape, reportage, still-life and nature photography, and show how computer software can be used to enhance and improve images. Details on Roger’s website http://www.camerahols.com/
	MACHINE EMBROIDERY
	Val Holmes In the attractive town of Luçon, Val Holmes (author of five books - including The Encylopaedia of Machine Embroidery) helps other sewing-machine users to unlock their creative potential. Courses cover an A-Z of free-motion embroidery techniques, enabling students (whether beginners or experienced embroiderers) to design and create embroideries or textile art. Full-board, with good food and wine, or self-catering accommodation available (right). Details on Val’s website http://www.embroidery-in-france.com/
	FRENCH LANGUAGE
	Le Poyenval Experienced language professor François Collet, with his English wife, Linda, welcomes visitors for residential French-language immersion courses at their house (left) in the historic village of Bazoges-en-Pareds. Classes for maximum of four people, grouped according to ability. Possibility of courses that combine language-learning with either art lessons or French cookery instruction (the latter classes given by the chef at a well-known local restaurant). Details on the Collets’ website http://www.lepoyenval.com/

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