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 2/3 being recommendations or repeat visitors. Have a browse of some their comments.
‘I can honestly say that it was one of the best presentations I have ever seen, either live or online. Jill knew her subject intimately and was so well -prepared and so brilliant in her demonstrations.
Her love for colour and complicated colour theory shone through her talk and the depth of her knowledge was obvious but presented in an interesting and easily assimilated way’
Hearts and Minds: Colour Theory in Practice
Feb 2021
A great course. Very useful. Packed with good tips and trials to progress ones work.
Ocean Light and Water
13/08/2018
I’m glad I came, the course was challenging and fun and the facilities were great.
Contemporary Landscape
19/10/2020
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
Very enjoyable course. Just the right balance of walking and drawing/painting. Greg was an excellent tutor and I learned loads.
Painting The Coast Path
11/06/2018
Fascinating and fun – thank you. Best art course I’ve ever been on!
Expressive Watercolour Landscape
26/05/2018
Jill, our tutor, is an exceptional artist who imparted a phenomenal amount of knowledge on colour. She encouraged each student to reach beyond the potential they thought they had and succeeded. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Hearts and Minds: Colour Theory in Practice
12/10/2020
Peter gave 110%, each of us had affirming feedback and guidance, delivered with humour!
Drawing Out Your Voice (4 )
22/07/2019
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
Just loved being there. A painting holiday to remember always and so worth travelling from Australia to attend.
23/04/2019
Alice is an inspirational teacher. She gave us solid practical advice, and a good demonstration. She was encouraging and although my painting must have been the worst she did not make me feel despondent – quite the opposite! I like the smallish group and the amazing space to work in.
After Matisse
26/02/2018
‘I wanted to just say how ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT Jill’s course is!!!
There is no way i can do all the tasks she has set because she is SO interesting and has covered so much ground – but I have notes on everything and am researching masses of stuff. It’s been truly wonderful so far!
I Have colour wheels done, collage work, colour charts, notes on the painters she has referred to – and have lists and lists of wonderful tasks to do for months hence!
Can’t wait for part 2 on Friday. please extend my appreciation and thanks to her. It really is fun and have spent all day glued to my painting table – one day I will actually come to the School again! Until then – this is GREAT!’
Hearts and Minds – Awaken your eyes to colour (recording)
Feb 2021
Good mixture of demonstration and own painting time. Good location and Gary’s experience of previous visits meant we found interesting sites to sketch and draw. Lots of materials available. Good indoor space with easels. I was well supported and looked after by Gary and his lovely wife. Nice balance of days off to explore the region.
Painting the Tuscan Landscape
05/06/2019
Very gentle class, helpful tutor, good teaching progression. Delightful environment, will come again.
28/08/2018
I have missed life drawing so much in lockdown and your class was just an excellent way of re-connecting!
Saturday Life – Inspired by Matisse (recording)
20/03/21
Inspiring course, well guided and paced. Excellent tutor who helps you get the best out of your painting experience.
Paths to Abstraction
02/11/20
This course was wonderful. It was well planned and structured, with a step by step approach, clear progression each day, enabling us all to achieve our very best. Alice is a great teacher, she is positive and finds constructive comments for each individual in the group, all at our different levels, and her enthusiasm and commitment are real motivating forces in the group. She worked as hard was we did, and while that might have felt intense, there were moments of laughter and shared enjoyment of our learning – and I learned so much.
Inside Outside
04/06/2018
A dynamic 4 day course led by two very experienced teachers. I felt pushed to the edges of my creativity at times but both teachers influenced me forward to complete pieces of work I would have never thought I was capable of.
24/06/2019
Martha covered so much, but in a straightforward and accessible way, with loads of helpful detail about techniques and materials. This was my first experience of St Ives School of Painting, but I definitely will be back for more.
Colour and Landscape in Oils (Recording)
“Your online course was one of the big benefits in the lockdown, Martha is a excellent and clear teacher.”
Brilliant tuition and demonstration from Gary, well done for using this new way of communicating artistic learning and enjoyment.
From Sketch to Painting – Portraiture
Exceeded expectations, have done short courses at other schools and your organisation and style of tutoring was top of the list, well done all!
Get Started with Oil Painting
02/03/21
A joy to have a tutor with deep knowledge, professional experience and a sympathetic manner.
30/06/2018
[David] was very good at explaining and demonstrating. He had a gentle way of providing support and direction.
Dynamic Botanical
12/10/2020