Amélie
Crépy

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

I call the small village of La Colle-sur-Loup in the south of France home. Nestled in the hills above Nice, on the Cote D’Azure, between Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Nice airport. I work on most of my larger pieces in my studio, in the centre of the old village of La Colle-sur-Loup. I also work from home from time to time, as well as in the UK.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

My French studio space is on Rue Clemenceau, the main street, running through the heart of the village. The large floor space and high ceilings are ideal for an artist, as it is difficult to find this kind of space in the old villages in the hills on this side of Nice. The floor is a colourful terrazzo, and the studio is divided into two arched, separate rooms, which I use as two working spaces: one for floor-based work (often my canvases are so large, i have to work on the floor) and one for a table setup for smaller pieces. I have windows overlooking the main road that runs through the old village, which brings a small amount of foot traffic. This allows me to display work discreetly in the window.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

All of the commissions I have worked on have been particularly meaningful. I can work endlessly within my own practice, but there is something especially stimulating about working one-on-one with a client to create a piece that carries a shared sense of direction. It becomes a quiet collaboration, something that I would not have arrived at alone, yet still feel fully connected to as the maker. That exchange of ideas, however subtle, is something I continue to be drawn to and actively seek out.

One of my projects involved creating a 3 x 3 metre piece for a client in a London home in Saint James Park. Seeing the work installed in situ was a genuinely rewarding moment; it changes your understanding of the piece entirely when it leaves the studio and begins to live within someone else’s space and rhythm.

I also believe that artists benefit enormously from this kind of exposure. To see how work sits within different interiors, different lives, and different contexts is essential. It reveals what holds its strength and what shifts or softens in unexpected ways. Over time, this process becomes not just about placement, but about understanding, which is an important part of artistic growth.

Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

I love going for walks. We specifically chose to be away from the city of Nice so that we could be closer to nature and recharge after our busy days. There are some lovely walks just outside the village, such as Les Rives du Loup and Chemin de la Fuon Santa, or further up along Route de la Colle-sur-Loup, where you can turn left onto Chemin du Debram. These are beautiful forest walks with hidden stone properties along the way.

It is also an area where I forage materials for my work, including oak galls. In addition, Fondation Maeght is only a five-minute drive from us, and we often take guests there, as it offers a full day of enjoyment, combining art with time spent relaxing in the sculpture gardens.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

An urgent political issue in La Colle-sur-Loup is water scarcity due to worsening drought conditions across the Alpes-Maritimes. Rainfall has been far below normal, and many rivers and groundwater aquifers are at unusually low levels. In response, the Prefect has placed the department under drought vigilance and called for water conservation. Local authorities must balance the needs of residents, agriculture, tourism, and the environment while preparing for possible future water restrictions and climate-related challenges.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years, and what has not?

Consistency and grit are key! I always encourage artists to keep experimenting, but also to stay with a technique long enough to truly explore its potential. People are often drawn to consistency because it creates a sense of familiarity and helps them better understand what you are trying to communicate.

Rather than constantly moving on to something new, spend time digging deeper into the same approach and pushing it further. You might be surprised by how much you can discover within a single technique. Often, the most meaningful developments come from refining and strengthening something that initially seems small or simple, rather than chasing dramatic changes.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

My go-to places for food markets are Vence and Antibes. In Vence, there is the village market, which is open on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings. There you will find local and organic producers—sometimes farmers selling only lettuce and potatoes, but they taste incredible. You may also come across stalls selling locally sourced trout. The old village is also a lovely place to walk through, especially Avenue de la Résistance, which is lined with small art galleries. We also often go to the Antibes market on Saturday mornings at Place De Gaulle, followed by a great coffee at Nomads Café on Rue Sade.

For local manufacturers there is Confiserie Florian in the Gorges du Loup, a little piece of history hidden in the hills between Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Bar-sur-Loup. It is a beautiful setting showcasing 18th- and 19th-century Provençal traditions, where local fruits from the Riviera are transformed into sweets and preserves. It is about a 20-minute drive from La Colle-sur-Loup.

In terms of galleries, the Maeght Foundation, CAB Foundation, are only five minutes away and is always a highlight for visitors. It is also within walking distance of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, which, although quite touristy, remains a quintessential example of a French hilltop village and the surrounding artistic heritage of the region.

The Renoir Museum, in Cagne-sur-Mere is idyllic with its incredible garden space, despite being in such a populated area.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

La Colle-sur-Loup has so much to offer. It is quite rare for a small village to bring so much life and entertainment into its old town. Events and festivals here blend tradition with modern tourism experiences in a very natural way. It is also one of the earlier examples in France of coworking in a non-city environment, embracing a “work from nature while staying connected” lifestyle. More on events and festivals go visit www.lacollesurloup-tourisme.com

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

In this region, the most touristy places usually sit in the most beautiful spots.
The better food is often:

• 2–5 minutes uphill or downhill from the old village core
• Slightly hidden on residential roads
• Smaller menus, fewer tables, more consistency
• ‘Spelt‘ in Tourrette-sur-loup
• ‘Le Romarin‘, Route de Cagnes
• The Cafe/Restaurant at Fondation CAB

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

Markets are the best bet!

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

Strava / for exercising
Komoot / for local and worldwide walks
Yuka / for food and beauty products

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

I don’t have personal favourites, but I can tell you which news sources I generally follow to keep myself up to date with what is happening around me. I engage with a range of news and cultural sources rather than relying on a single medium. I follow selected television news coverage and enjoy discovering small magazines and books in art gallery shops. I also subscribe to a couple of online platforms such as Positive Luxury and Plants & Colour, which offer a range of online classes and content on sustainable living, design, and wellbeing. In addition, I follow online publications like plainsud.art, which focus on art and culture in the area where I live.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

I would focus on making La Colle-sur-Loup safer, greener, and more environmentally resilient by reducing traffic speeds, improving pedestrian areas, planting more trees, creating habitats for wildlife, and introducing natural water management systems to protect the River Loup. I would also promote greater environmental awareness through community projects and educational programmes linked to the local ecosystem.

In addition, I would hold annual eco-festivals celebrating the natural environment, bringing together schools, residents, growers, artists, and environmental organisations through workshops and community-led activities.

I would also support the creative economy by encouraging affordable studio and workshop spaces for artists and makers, strengthening the village’s identity as a place where creativity, nature, and community thrive together.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constraints—which one would you choose?

I am currently happy with balance that I have found in my current surroundings. I could live anywhere in the world as long as it offered the same access to nature, feeling of community, slow pace of life, and nearby cultural institutions.

…The only thing I might wish for is a garden of my own, perhaps with a swimming pool and a grassy lawn, with no mosquitos!