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What our Students Say
Be inspired – hear straight from our students about their creative experiences at
St Ives School of Painting.
After every course we ask students for their feedback and if we are not getting it right we take action. We are consistently rated as good or excellent by 99% of our students each year with nearly 70% being recommendations or repeat visitors. Have a browse of some their comments.
This course was literally a life changing experience for me. The tutor, Ilker , was brilliant . Inspirational and so supportive. It exceeded my expectations. Thank you so much!
Unlocking Your Creativity
Four busy days, well planned, and delivered by a true specialist with detailed knowledge and practical experience.
Japanese Woodblock Printing (2)
As a cook, to see the magic of the process of paint choices, applications, washes and light in a “recipe”, develop inspired by great painters from this very place and Hilary’s patience teaching us all about technique, colour, materials in 3 days was fantastic!
Beginners Watercolour
14/05/2018
Just wanted to say what a brilliant workshop Andrew gave, he is so good at explaining what he’s doing, I was totally absorbed, thank you.
I really enjoyed the drawing and painting activities indoors and outside. I learnt a lot and have already started to practice at home. Inspiring teacher, and lovely people on the course.
Capturing St Ives
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
Dynamic Landscape in Oils
Hilary led us through the techniques to pencil portrait from a live model. I learnt a lot from her. It was very hard work but the results were amazing at the end of the two days!
Pencil Drawn Portrait
23/05/2019
The course was really well designed, and Kitty Hillier was clear, coherent and very patient. She created a really special learning environment.
Abstract Coastline
Inspiring instructors… Ilker Cinarel and Camilla Dixon made for a brilliant week of individual creativity and group discussions that went beyond art into emotions.
Artist Retreat Week
Jill was incredible. So generous with all her knowledge. Creative and adaptable delivering a fun and informative three days in a great environment.
Revitalising Colour
12/10/2020
It was brilliant! We worked on series and were encouraged to discover what is emerging from the work, what is persistent. Peter was a wonderful tutor, bringing each persons individual artistic qualities out. Thank you!
Drawing Out Your Voice (4 )
10/10/2018
Ilker has been a fantastic course leader, and his course was a real joy. I didn’t want it to be over! He is really generous, insightful and encouraging. I’m excited to be brave with making art.
Unlocking Your Creativity
04/11/2018
Ilker being a great listener made everyone feel important, talented and able. His excitement was truly infectious. Making me feel all is possible. Gently pushing and challenging in a way that made me feel – yes! He never felt flippant – his comments never generic – always 100% giving of his own creativity. What a great mentor.
Finding your Viewpoint
29/04/2019
The academic underpinning and contextualisation added to the fantastic facilitation of technique learning and application. All elements of the learning experience where full and well supported.
Magical Landscapes
Natalie is a great teacher, I appreciated how she kept checking in with how people were doing and encouraging them along too. I have been interested in using overhead views for a while so it was motivating to see Natalie working with that.
Experimental, Abstract Landscapes
I absolutely loved my time on this course, it was so immersive and all-consuming. It was wonderful to be in such a beautiful studio and I really enjoyed Ilker’s teaching. Everything was really well organised & set up so we could get stuck straight in
Painting with Form, Colour and Space
I enjoyed the pace and range of materials that Kitty covered. The course has given me lots of ideas and things to think about over the next few weeks. We were lucky enough to see Kitty’s piece in the exhibition at the Penzance Exchange, and it helped understand her thinking. The studio was really well organised – lovely to be able to have coffee and biscuits too!
Abstracting Nature
Greg gently pushed me into attempting things I would probably never try otherwise
Beginners Oil Painting
2019
It was totally inspiring! A lightbulb moment, all makes sense now. Thank you Hilary.
Beginners Watercolour
I was looking for a course which would free up my printmaking and Rachael’s course did exactly that. It was an inspiration and a practical masterclass which has left me keen to do much more innovative and free printmaking. It was exactly what I needed and wanted.
Painterly Printmaking
Kitty was so brilliant throughout and created and encouraged a magical atmosphere of calm, alongside furious productivity. I enjoyed every second of it, it was exactly what I needed to loosen up my style and I will be embedding many of the techniques into my own practice. Wonderful people in a truly inspiring space!
I think the webinar series are brilliant! I have seen them all. A big thank you to you and all the people involved with these innovative ways of generating courses. They’ve been a lifeline during these difficult times.
Thursday Life Live – Inspired by Egon Schiele
Thoroughly enjoyed whole experience Kieran was an excellent teacher and I learnt so much – thank you
The Texture of Nature
As a beginner it gave me the necessary knowledge and techniques to enable me to develop my skills using this medium.
Beginners Watercolour