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At St Ives School of Painting, we provide quality art course tuition suitable for all levels from complete beginners to those with more experience. Learn from our team of 30 contemporary artists teaching small groups, in our studio overlooking Porthmeor beach in St Ives, where we have been since 1938.
Take a bit of St Ives magic into your home or studio with our online courses. Browse our library for courses to watch now or look out for new courses added every month. From landscape to life, oils to watercolour we’ll help you find the approach that’s right for you.
Browse our range of art courses
Studio
Courses
Small group classes, designed to enable anyone, at any level, receive the individual attention they need to develop their skills.
Online
Courses
Our online courses have the same inspirational, high quality tuition as our studio courses, without the need to leave your home.
short workshops
Short on time? Enhance your holiday with short art workshops in St Ives – develop skills and explore creativity in 3-hour or one-day sessions.
summer workshops
Our short workshops are a perfect addition to your summer holiday itinerary, with half-day and one-day art classes to choose from, suitable for complete beginners, children to those looking to gain more experience.
LIFE DRAWING
Join our twice weekly tutored classes drawing the nude, every Thursday and Saturday. Everyone’s welcome.
OUR HISTORY
Discover more about the rich history of our institution. Starting in April 1938, when a dream finally became reality.
Visit a location like no other
St Ives, one of the most stunning locations in the world, has long been attracting artists.
our studios
For more than 85 years, St Ives School of Painting has been running art classes in Cornwall from our stunning studios overlooking the ocean. Step into history and tread the same boards once walked by Ben Nicholson.
Coming Up
STUDIO (2-DAY COURSE)
A Coast of
Colour
1-2 Aug | 2 Days
Kimmy Hussey
STUDIO (3-DAY COURSE)
Experimental Approaches to Watercolour
7-9 Aug | 3 Days
Hilary-Jean Gibson
STUDIO (3-DAY COURSE)
Painting the
Coast Path
10-12 Aug | 3 Days
Greg Humphries
What our students say
The resources and the space to work in were excellent. The tutoring was wonderfully inspiring and supportive. I felt encouraged and supported all through and learnt new things.
The space and facilities in the school were excellent, great equipment and light with individual stations. The tutor’s knowledge of colour mixing and creating a varied palette was excellent.
Transformative in terms of artistic process.
It was beyond my expectations. The inspiring surroundings, fabulous teacher and wonderful cohort.
I’ve wanted to paint abstracts for some time now but needed some guidance on how to start. This course has got me up and running. I’m looking forward to spending more time using the techniques Natalie demonstrated.
These online sessions are consistently fabulous, and this one did not disappoint. Gave me an insight into Paula Rego’s work as well as Gary’s thoughtful and insightful commentary as he paints and draws his wonderful images.
I loved learning new colour mixes; different mark making; wildly different landscapes. I have been to many course there and this was one of the best.
I liked everything about the course, it was what it said in the course description. Thank you, I enjoyed spending time in such a lovely warm encouraging environment.
Join our Art Community
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Join our newsletter to receive weekly emails about upcoming courses and the latest news and events!
BECOME A MEMBER
Join as a member for an annual fee of £40 and receive half price life drawing every Thursday and Saturday.
MAKE A DONATION
We have been a registered charity since 2000. Every gift, however large or small, will make a difference to us.
FAQs
Do I need any previous art experience?
Not always. We offer courses for all levels, including complete beginners, intermediate students and more experienced artists. You can look for the experience level listed on the individual course page to find the most suitable option for you. If you need any guidance on what course might suit you best, contact on our friendly team on 01736 797180 and they will be able to help.
How do I choose the right art course?
Start by considering how you would like to work. You may want to learn a particular medium, improve a skill such as drawing or colour mixing, explore a subject such as landscape or still life, or develop a more personal approach. Each course page explains the content, materials, level and teaching approach to help you decide. Our friendly, helpful team are always available to help further.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options or email [email protected].
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
Where is St Ives School of Painting?
St Ives School of Painting is based in the historic Porthmeor Studios in St Ives, Cornwall. Our studios overlook Porthmeor Beach and are situated in the heart of the town’s internationally renowned artistic community.
Who teaches your art courses?
Our courses are led by practising artists – including Jill Eisele, Alice Mumford, Iona Sanders and Neil Canning – all with extensive knowledge of their chosen subjects and materials. Each tutor brings their own artistic experience, working methods and approach to teaching, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of ideas and techniques.
Discover more…
Banish Fear of Failure
Mon 13 – Wed 15 Jul – 3 days
Iona Sanders
An introduction to finding ways into creating lively, expressive paintings through intuitive and instinctual responses to the world around you.
Boo Mallinson
My approach to painting is less about rules and techniques and more about rediscovering a sense of play; loosening up and learning to respond freely and fearlessly. Experimental, fun, intuitive, gestural, process-focused. Attending Byam Shaw School of Art and City & Guilds in the 1980s, Boo moved to Dorset in 2002 where she discovered her…
Maxine Hart
I approach teaching in a relaxed style. I love to share my enthusiasm, joy and knowledge of the physical process of drawing and painting; embracing happy accidents and experimenting with different materials. The Cornish landscape has always been a constant inspiration for Maxine’s work. From the calm to the wild weather – the trees, lanes…