Artist Retreat Weekend - Autumn

Mixed Media / Personal Development - Materials included

Book Selected Date

Course details

Remember and revive your reasons for making art and reboot your practice. As part of a small group, benefit from directed exercises, peer feedback and 1-1 mentoring from two professional artists.

Get a fresh perspective on how and why you make art. This is an ideal course if you feel you need support to move your work on and would benefit from the time and space to ask questions and challenge yourself.

The weekend will be a mix of individual practice, one-to-ones and creative group work. An important part of the experience is the input from your fellow students who will offer peer support and critique. To get the most out of this weekend you must value the feedback of the group as well as your tutor and be open to taking risks. If you feel isolated in your practice and would value a critical outside eye this could be what you need.

Liz Hough will lead the first day of the course, guiding you in selecting and developing a personal project that you will work on over the weekend. On Saturday, Liz will be joined by Ilker Cinarel, and students will benefit from one-to-one tutorials with both artists, offering a rich and balanced perspective on their work. These individual sessions provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on your practice with the focused attention of both tutors, helping you to clarify direction and plan the next steps for independent development. Please bring a portfolio of recent work to discuss; this may include sketchbooks, video, or digital images.

This is an ideal course if you feel you need support to move your work on and would benefit from focused time and space to ask questions and challenge yourself. This also might be the right time to ask questions about what kind of artist you want to be. It is designed to be an affirming experience that should leave you feeling liberated and re-energised for the road ahead.

Day to day plan

This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course. However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and weather.

Friday

Liz Hough will set you a personal creative project inspired either by a visit to Tate St Ives or St Ives locale as you choose. Spend the afternoon developing this work in the studio supported by Liz.

Saturday

Artist Ilker Cinarel will join Liz Hough and together they will conduct 1-1 tutorials, giving you the benefit of two different perspectives on your work. In the meantime, continue with your chosen project independently.

Sunday

Continue to work on your creative project, supported in the studio by Ilker. Final group appraisal.

Who would this course suit?

This course would be ideal for artists who are looking to deepen and extend their practice, who are seeking professional guidance, new skills, and the opportunity to progress their work in a relaxed, open, and non-judgemental setting.

It would also suit alumni of our longer Porthmeor Programme who would like to reconnect with peers in the supportive and inspiring environment of Porthmeor Studios.

Artist Retreat Weekend – Autumn

Mixed Media / Personal Development – Materials included

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Liz
Hough

View Liz’s Work

Liz Hough’s paintings offer a vivid exploration of seasonal moments, drawing the viewer into intimate narratives of place and memory. Each painting is carefully selected to convey time spent in both summer and winter, where the artist’s use of colour and mixed media brings life to the black-and-white sketches she creates en plein air.

Ilker
Cinarel

View Ilker’s Work

I love sharing my knowledge and life experiences with others. My unique approach is to try to create individual, authentic voices in the curriculum within a conceptual and non conceptual framework. It’s great to be part of an historical, internationally renowned school.

What to Bring

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Please bring a portfolio of recent work to discuss; this may include sketchbooks, video, or digital images.

Timings and Breaks

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and end at 4pm. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

FAQs

Art Courses

Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?

No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.

Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.

Studio Courses

Can I bring my dog?

The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]

Can you help me choose the right course?

Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.

Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.

How do I get my work home?

Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.

Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.

For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.

What do I need to bring?

Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.

What do I do for lunch?

Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

What times do courses run?

Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.

Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival


Booking a Course

How do I reserve a place on a course?

You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.

If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.

About 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.

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 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.

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