Painting in St Ives

Both the town and its setting are very beautiful. It is a delight to wander the narrow cobbled streets of the old quarter, especially during the summer months when hundreds of flower boxes and baskets leave them awash with colour, or sit and watch the life around the harbour.
There are plenty of restaurants, shops and pubs to chose from, lots of entertainment, the coastal path for marvellous walks along the cliffs and of course beautiful clean beaches only a few minutes walk away.

Attracted by the beauty of the town and the often quoted special quality of its light artists have come here to work for more than a century, and about 200 live and work in the town now.
Should you already have joined them and are based in or around St. Ives my regular workshops throughout most of the year will be of particular interest to you. In the summer we also go out to paint ‘en plein air’, an experience enjoyed by landscape painters since the Impressionists and not to be missed.
During the Winter months I offer themed one or two day courses on a variety of subject matters, techniques and skills to apply to and use in your own work. For artists and art lovers from further afield I offer painting holidays which will include elements of all the above and some private tuition to taylor the course to fit your individual needs.

Art in St Ives

Drawn by the beauty of the town and it’s surroundings and by the famous quality of its light, artists have come to live and work in St Ives for well over a hundred years.
Painters, potters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, jewellery designers past and present – you will find their work in plenty of galleries and craft shops all over the town, and of course in the Tate Gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum.


The Beaches

There are five beaches in St Ives, all of them in easy reach of the town centre. With their fine clean sand and the ever-changing colours of the crystal clear water they are as beautiful and attractive as any in the Mediterranean, and certainly amongst the best in Britain. Three of these beaches are supervised and have toilet facilities, shops and a cafe/restaurant.
Porthminster beach facing south east is gently sloping and therefore has very safe bathing. Porthmeor beach facing north is a prime surfing venue, and a surf school operates from its west end. Bathing is safe within the flagged areas and watching the sun-set from this beach is a must. Both these beaches have been awarded with a "blue flag" for cleanliness of sand and water and good facilities.
Porthgwidden beach is a lovely little beach in-between these two, with safe bathing in the flagged area. Best beach for morning sun-bathing!

What Else?

St Ives has a lot to offer. Some of the pubs and hotels provide live entertainment on some nights of the week.
There is a Jazz Club, a range of theatre and musical theatre companies offer shows at most times of the year.
There are feasts and festivals, exhibitions and private views, the Minack Theatre, the cinema, St Ives Arts Club with comedy and music nights and parties, a surf school, diving classes, boat trips from the harbour and lots more.

How to get there

We are working with a highly qualified and competent Personal Travel Counsellor, Katie Lomas, who will book your flights, coach trips or car hire, and accommodation for you, tailor-made to your requirements ( katie.lomas@travelcouncellors.com). Katie is based in St. Ives. If you prefer a travel consultant closer to home you will find Travel Counsellors all over the UK at http://www.travelcounsellors.com ( Winner – Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Travel Counsellors’ Trust guarantees complete financial protection on every booking).

If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements:
By coach: National Express to St. Ives Bus Station
By Train: Main Line to Penzance, change at St. Erth to Branchline to St. Ives Train Station
Flights: to Newquay Airport via Stanstead or Gatwick
Taxi from Stations or Airport 01736 796633
Please make sure your trip is covered by travel insurance.

Accommodation in St. Ives
You will find B&B, Hotel and Self-Catering Accommodation on the following Websites:
http://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk
http://www.chycor.co.uk
Alternatively contact the Tourist Information Office at 01736 796297

The Workshops

The main aim of the workshops is to support each and every student in developing their skills and confidence in the pursuit of their own style and language in painting. Each student will discover and pursue their own personal way, making use of the vast variety of materials available in the studio and experimenting to their hearts’ content with new tools and techniques.
All participants of the workshops will be encouraged to take part in our regular studio exhibitions held at the St. Ives Arts Club, to develop confidence in their own work and skills in organising and curating an exhibition.

Workshops run throughout most of the year and are open to everybody. (1 Nov to 20 Apr and 1 Jun to 20 Sept)

Morning workshops
10am to 1pm, Tues / Wed / Thursdays,
£60 per 5 sessions, £20 per one session
Afternoon Workshops
2pm to 5pm, Tues / Wed / Thursdays,
£60 per 5 session, £20 per one session
All day WorkshopsGet more info
Tues / Wed / Thursdays
£40 all day

Most materials can be provided
Limited to 8 places

Summer Painting

1st of June to 20th of September
These sessions are suitable for all levels of experience and all styles of landscape painting.
As a rule we will chose sites right in St. Ives, so no cars are needed.
We will meet on site in the morning where I will show you how to chose your motive, start your sketch, develop your painting, and what information you need to record to be able to finish your painting at home or in the studio.
After lunch you have the choice to keep going with your morning work or work on a different motive from the same site.
If you are booked in for a Summer Painting Day and the weather is really lousy we will be able to escape to the studio.

Prices:
Half day 10am to 1pm £20Get more info
full day 10am to 5pm £40

For painting outsides you will need:

  • A folding easel ( as lightweight as possible )
  • A folding stool or chair ( if you want to paint sitting down )
  • A canvas ( a much more weatherproof painting ground than paper )
  • Something to draw with ( pencil, graphite etc. )
  • Your paints, brushes and palette (acrylics work best, oils are ok, watercolours only in very dry weather )
  • A plastic bottle of water, a container to wash your brushes in and of course your usual bits: palette - knives, medium, rags, paper towels, baby wipes etc.
  • Your lunch, a drink, sun hat, sun screen, a rain coat.

All items on this list can also be borrowed from the studio!

The Courses

These are usually full day or weekend classes and deal in depth with a theme or topic intended to further the participants’ understanding of ideas, theories or background of the subject matter and provide practical skills as tools for their implication.
As a rule the course will start with a talk and demonstration, and after a tea break all participants work on their own projects involving the concepts and techniques introduced previously. More demonstrations will follow throughout the day / weekend when appropriate.

Courses Winter 2007/8:

Starting to Paint in Oils
Sat 10/ Sun 11 Nov 07
Basic Techniques in Oil Painting
Sat 17/ Sun 18 Nov 07
Painting with Texture Pastes
Sat 1/ Sun 2 Dec 07
The Concept of Abstract Art
Sat 8 Dec 07
Using Found Objects in Painting
Sat 19/ Sun 20 Jan 08
Composition and Colour Balance
Sat 26 Jan 08
Learning to Draw without Pain
Sat 2/ Sun 3 Feb 08
Painting with Unusual Tools
Sat 9/ Sun 10 Feb 08



  • All courses are open to everybody and are suitable for all levels
  • Course times: 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
  • Day Courses £35
  • Weekend Courses £60
  • Morning and afternoon tea / coffee will be provided and are included in the course price, bring a packed lunch
  • Materials will be provided
  • Limited to 8 places

Get more info

Painting Holidays

1 Nov to 20 Apr and 1 Jun to 20 Sept

My painting holidays are time-flexble which means you can start your 5-day-course on any day of the week you like. They are suitable for all levels of experience from the total beginner to the advanced artist. As I will try to taylor your course to your individual needs and interests we usually start with one or two private tuition sessions, followed by group workshops and – Cornish weather permitting – hopefully at least one day of sketching and painting outsides.

Aiming to support each student in developing their skills and confidence in the pursuit of their own style and language in painting’ you will be offered the chance to discover and follow your own personal way, making use of the vast variety of materials available in the studio and experimenting to your hearts’ content with new tools and techniques.

  • all styles of landscape painting accommodated
  • all courses limited to 8 places
  • experienced tutor present at all course sessions
  • materials provided

Course Fees:
5 half days £95, Get more info
3 full days £120
5 full days £195

Private Tuition

Private tuition is available throughout the year and can be booked by the day or half day (minimum booking 1 day or 2 half days ). It can also be combined with a course booking, for instance a weekend course and a day's private tuition before or after.

Prices for Private Tuition 2007/8:
1 day ( 6 hrs ) for 1 person £ 90,
1 day for 2 pers. £ 60 per pers.
1 day for 3 or more pers. £ 50 per pers.
1/2 day ( 3 hrs ) for 1 person £ 50,
1/2 day for 2 pers. £ 40 per pers.
1/2 day for 3 or more pers. £ 30 per pers.
includes all materials except canvasses