The Artist Who Paints the Quiet Joy of Provence

This article is part of a series of chats and interviews with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and interesting people in the Luberon.

When Eleanor Ludgate paints the landscapes and wildlife of Provence, something lingers. She captures the quiet joy that lives in this place—the kind you feel when the light turns soft, the streets are empty, and a butterfly lands on quince blossoms.

The woman, an artist, sitting in a vibrant field of daisies and red poppies, sketching on a small easel while smiling at the camera under the sun. — All photos in this article are courtesy of Eleanor Ludgate.

Originally from England, Eleanor lived in the Luberon village of Roussillon for eight years. She painted hilltop villages, lavender fields, wildflowers, and the birds that dart among them. One of those birds—the hoopoe, or huppe in French—happens to be my favourite. So when I first saw her painting of it, I thought, “Ahhh, I want that!”

Though she’s returned to England, Provence still lives in her art. She has even published Eight Years in Provence, a beautifully illustrated book about the joys and challenges of life as an artist in the south of France.

Book cover of Eight Years in Provence by Eleanor Ludgate, with a painting of lavender fields and a red-roofed cottage. Subheading reads: “The highs and lows of living and making a living as an artist in la belle Provence.” — If Provence is calling you, Eleanor’s book and paintings will take you there. Click here to explore her work.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and what brought you to the Luberon?

I am an artist and have been running my own gallery-cum-studio for many years now. I used to live in the seaside town of Sidmouth in Devon where I owned a leasehold gallery. Although my business was very good, I longed for a freehold shop and wanted a complete change of scenery as painting Sidmouth sea front over and over for 10 years was getting a bit repetitive.

We loved France and the beauty of the countryside and the lifestyle, so we decided to up sticks and find a place suitable for a gallery there. We started looking at the top of France and gradually worked our way south, exploring in our campervan.

As soon as we saw the Luberon, I knew this was the place for me to paint. Everywhere I looked was a painting, and it was so exciting. Thus began our adventure into a new life!

What’s the backstory about your business? Spill the details, please!

Our business is in art. I paint the pictures, and my husband does the framing. I’ve been a professional artist since leaving art school and through a lot of hard work and many hours of brush strokes, I have managed to make a living from doing this.

A man and woman sit side by side on wooden chairs in a sunny garden, smiling at the camera with lush green foliage behind them. The woman wears a teal polo shirt and shorts, and the man wears a navy blue t-shirt and beige shorts. — Eleanor and her husband Barry lived in Roussillon for eight years, where they also owned an art gallery.

Brightly lit gallery room with botanical artwork on the walls, a color wheel pattern painted on the floor, and an easel by an arched window. — “You can see the lovely coloured ochre floor in the gallery and if you read my book, there is quite a tale about that!”

Were you in this line of work before? If not, what did you do prior?

Yes, that is all I have ever wanted to do and moving to the Luberon was a dream for me.

Imagine you’re in an elevator. You’ve got 30 seconds. How do you describe your business to a stranger?

If you come into my gallery, you will be in a world of beautiful paintings, a world full of colour and light. Most people do not realise it is just the work of one artist. I paint in many styles and subjects, trying to capture the beauty of the world around me.

Impressionist painting of blooming cherry trees in rows, with soft pink and white blossoms. The ground is covered in colorful wildflowers under golden sunlight. — *Cerisiers en printemps.* A beautiful cherry orchard near Bonnieux.

Painting of a vibrant lavender field in rows beneath a bright blue sky, with a lone tree standing on the horizon. — “I paint in both oil and watercolours, focussing on landscapes and wildlife…”

Painting of an olive grove with silvery green leaves and yellow wildflowers blanketing the ground below. — “…especially flowers and insects that are abundant in Provence.”

What part of your business makes you happy? How about what worries or challenges you?

Creating beautiful artwork that people love really makes me happy. But being self-employed is always a challenge and can be a very up-and-down existence.

Detailed botanical illustration of blooming lavender sprigs with various butterflies, bees, and a ladybug gathered around the purple flowers.

Delicate painting of a swallowtail butterfly perched on a branch of pale pink quince blossoms, with soft green leaves and a dreamy blue-pink background.

Do you remember your very first customer? How did that feel?

Yes, strangely my very first customer was a blind lady who wanted a painting of snowdrops and had to rely on my description of them. It is always a thrill to sell my artwork, and it encourages me to paint more…not that I need any encouragement being a painterholic!

Have you ever had a strange or unexpected request from a client?

The weirdest request was to do a painting of the chief executioner of Malta.

When you started out, what did you imagine running a business in Provence would be like. And how did the reality compare?

At first it was just as I had imagined it with wonderful clients coming from all over the world. However, circumstances beyond my control made it very hard for me to continue.

Outside of work, what’s ONE thing you’re most proud of and why?

Renovating our ancient farmhouse. It was an ugly duckling waiting to be loved. Over eight years, we turned it and the garden into a really beautiful place to live and entertain.

Rustic stone farmhouse with red tile roof, exterior stairs, and a wooden ladder leaning against the upper level. — Before: “As the house used to be a farmhouse with the living accommodation on the first floor, all the rooms below were just used for animal housing. Gradually, we converted them all into beautiful rooms.”

Renovated farmhouse with light stucco walls, blue shutters, and an outdoor dining area on a gravel courtyard, surrounded by greenery and a small stone-edged pond in the foreground. — After: Eh voilà ! “Barry did most of the work on his own. It took some time to complete, but it was great fun doing it.”

A man in green work clothes installs a new archway into a rough stone wall during a renovation project; rubble and tools are scattered on the floor.

A cozy dining space with exposed stone walls and arched ceilings, featuring a wooden table with a colorful floral tablecloth and a rustic fireplace in the background.

What’s one unconventional or surprising or brave choice you’ve made that shaped where you are today?

Leaving England and moving to Provence.

If you could take your favorite person to just ONE village/site/attraction in the Luberon, where would it be and why?

The village of Roussillon. It is so unique, and I love the colours of the ochres, the winding streets, and the viewpoint at the top.

Colorful painting of Roussillon, a hilltop village in the Luberon, with terracotta rooftops perched on dramatic red cliffs, surrounded by lush greenery.

What’s your favorite restaurant/cafe in the Luberon?

La Sirmonde in Roussillon.

Enjoyed this story? Click here to meet more locals from the Luberon.