Abstract Art Workshops at St Ives School of Painting

Gladocean - © The Sandra Blow Estate

Abstract Colour in St Ives

Mixed Media / Abstract - Materials included

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Course details

Unlock the secret to balancing tone, composition and colour inspired by the colourful world of St Ives abstraction.

Sandra Blow, Liz Luckwell — Sandra Blow in her studio © The Estate of Sandra Blow

Learn to create striking and contemporary, mixed media work that investigates space and colour with this half day workshop.

Sandra Blow was a prominent artist of the modernist movement in St Ives, and some of her most significant large scale mixed media paintings are usually on display in Tate St Ives. You will explore how Blow used colour and composition to such dramatic effect. Your tutor Liz Luckwell was a friend of Sandra Blow and can give you a personal insight into her extensive work and how her life influenced her making. This study of another artist can be a valuable tool to think about how your own life can be a source of inspiration.

Learn techniques to increase your confidence and develop vital skills in a range of approaches, giving yourself a completely new creative toolbox.

The St. Ives School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming place for all levels of ability, class sizes are kept small to create a nurturing environment for all.

Abstract Colour in St Ives

Mixed Media / Abstract – Materials included

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Taught by

Liz
Luckwell

View Liz’s Work

Liz Luckwell’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in the act of drawing, which underpins her method of working with materials, allowing images to emerge from the process itself. Starting from realistic beginnings—often sketching her immediate environment—Luckwell’s work evolves through a gradual process of simplification, distilling forms into more abstracted, emotive expressions. Her creative journey is infused with early memories of helping her mother craft wreaths and bouquets on the kitchen table, a tactile experience that still informs her approach. Working from her home, the Gardener’s Cottage, she often reflects on her family’s deep connection to gardening, a theme that permeates pieces like her oil pastel on board Summer Weeds, where natural forms are transformed through a nuanced, intimate exploration of colour and texture.

What to Bring

All materials are provided. As we may work outdoors for some of the duration of the workshop, please wear sensible shoes and bring a coat or sunhat as appropriate.

Timings and Breaks

16th September
The workshop starts at 9.30am and finishes at 12.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time. We will serve tea and coffee at break times during the morning.