We are Petra and Alistair. Petra studied Printmaking in the UK at Falmouth School of Art, Cornwall, and Winchester School of Art in their studios in Barcelona, Spain and Winchester, Hampshire. She has a BA Honours degree and a Master’s degree in Fine Art (Printmaking) from these institutions respectively. Petra also spent 8 years practising printmaking at the Ecole d’Art André Malraux, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, in the Lot et Garonne, France, from 2008 to 2016.

Before moving to France with our young sons in 2006, Petra was an art teacher in a secondary school in Essex, UK for 10 years. She has a teaching qualification (PGCE – Post-Graduate Certificate in Education) from Didsbury School of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Alistair has worked incredibly hard, by himself, to create Atelier Vernis Moo out of the old cowbarn at our home, Vitarelles. Alistair is actually a very talented artisan metalworker and yacht rigger, having grown up around boats and yachting in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, UK. He now uses his skills to create bespoke shade installations, among other things. You can take a look at his website here : tension-suspension

Before moving to Vitarelles, our current home and home of Atelier Vernis Moo, we lived and worked at a château in the area for three years. We looked after the château and its grounds, as well as the family who owned it, and paying guests who rented the château for holidays and events.