Painting and the Charleston connection by Annie Sloan followed by 'Let's Misbehave' Afternoon Tea

Travel back in time to the Roaring Twenties as Blenheim Palace invites you to bring young things to a magnificent party celebrating this famously decadent decade. 

This event will be a fascinating insight into the heady world of the upper classes in a time of great social, artistic and political change.

This ticket includes a talk - Painting and the Charleston Connection by Annie Sloan,  followed by Let's Misbehave Afternoon Tea in The Orangery Restaurant.

Annie Sloan is the world's leading authority on paint, colour and technique. Revolutionising decorative painting with the creation of the now-iconic Chalk Paint™, Annie's contagious enthusiasm, passion and expertise has unlocked creative potential all over the world.

Born in Australia to a Scottish father and Fijian mother, Annie settled in Oxford, where she has lived for the last 18 years. After training as a fine artist in the 1970s, Annie began painting murals on commission.

Researching different paint types, Annie was unable to find one paint that would do everything she needed. It was also during this period in her life that Annie discovered the Bloomsbury Group of artists and their country retreat, Charleston farmhouse.  When the opportunity arose to collaborate with the Charleston Trust to create a unique range of Chalk Paint™ colours, it was a dream come true for Annie.

"I wanted a paint that was easy to use, quick to dry and could be mixed with other colours. The most important thing for me was not having to do any prep, so you can just start painting whenever the mood takes you."

In 1990, mother-of-three Annie turned visionary inventor with the creation of Chalk Paint™, a unique water-based non-toxic formula of unrivalled quality, with a velvety matt finish that sticks to just about any surface, from furniture to walls and floors, inside and outside the home, without the need for priming or sanding. Originally produced in Belgium, thanks to Annie's passionate belief in local production, paint for the global market is now manufactured in-house in a purpose-built factory alongside the brand's Oxford headquarters.

In 2000, Annie opened a shop in her home town to showcase Chalk Paint™ and run courses and workshops.

"Everything I do, from my books, to my new launches to my classes, is designed to help my customers transform their worlds and inspire them further in their decorative adventures."

"It's thrilling to me to see the wonderful things people do with my paint, from the real experts to first-timers. It's always been my mission to transform the world through creativity, one step at a time," continues Annie.

A true paint legend, Annie has written more than 25 books in 20 years, translated into 11 languages.

General Information

Timings: The talk start time will be 14:30/15:00 lasting for up to one hour in the Indian room, this will be followed by afternoon tea in the Orangery restaurant. 

Admissions: This package does not include admissions to the Palace or the gardens and is only for the talk and the afternoon tea, but you do have access to the parklands. 

Dietary/Special requirements: we can cater for a variety of dietary and allergy requirements such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian. When making your booking you will be able to declare any dietary information during the checkout process. If you have a specific requirement that you would like to discuss with us, please contact us directly.