Course details
Working both en plein air and in the studio create landscape paintings that are authentic, evocative and original, in the unique surrounds of the coast in St Ives.
This illuminating course will combine en plein air response to landscape with in-studio reflective practice to hone your skills and personal approach to painting. Victoria Gillow will help you to harness a sense of place and your relationship with it to create paintings that are authentic, evocative, and original.
Engaging with other acclaimed artists’ work including Sir Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, Alfred Wallace and John Constable, you will learn about composition, colour, tonality and upscaling during three days of immersive and mindful practice. Time will be spent outside, working in sketchbooks, creating thumbnail drawings and making paintings that capture the weather and energy of a place. Then moving in to the studio, you will start to upscale work into larger pieces and explore a variety of materials such as pitt pencil, graphite stick, soft pencils, charcoal, pen, ink, acrylics and mixed media.
Victoria will expertly help you to navigate the entire process from idea progression and line drawing to colour mixing and paint layering, through a combination of demonstration and individual guidance. Focusing on these technical aspects while also facilitating connection and free flow will result in unique and personal paintings, as well as the ability for you to continue with your work as progressive pieces once the course is completed.
From drawing exercises and studies on the spirit of place to visual mapping, thumbnails, and equipment guides, you’ll develop a toolkit for developing your skill, knowledge, and confidence.
Quotes from past students on the course:
‘The course has been full to brimming with ideas and techniques. Wonderful. I shall carry on experimenting !’ Amanda
‘I had an amazing opportunity last month to paint in St. Ives on the Cornwall coast in England. I took a fantastic workshop with Victoria Gillow at St Ives School of Painting and had the surreal experience of painting on the same beach as many early modernists. The weather was wild and exhilarating. I already want to go back!’ Lisa
What will I learn?
- How to liberate your ideas, begin your work, and fine-tune your decision-making
- How to work outside e.g. framing techniques, abstracting, refining, and an equipment guide
- Develop drawing exercises in mark-making, tonality, constraints (eg use of negative), and free, continual line drawing.
- How to use sketchbooks and drawing materials to capture your interests and develop ideas
- Work with colour: mixing and usage
- Discover how to upscale and develop your work
Who would this course suit?
This course is suited to all levels, from beginners to those with experience. An interest in landscape/seascape painting would be beneficial (but is not essential), though the emphasis is on enabling reverie and access to creativity through artistic practice – so is the perfect fit for anyone wishing to experience this.
Participants must have some mobility to manage some basic walking and working on the beach or headland. However, working from, or through a window or from a comfortable place alongside Porthmeor beach may be possible by prior arrangement.
Taught by
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.
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.
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 finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
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.
You might also like...
Artist Retreat Weekend - June
Fri 5 - Sun 7 Jun - 3 days
Ilker Cinarel + Kerry Harding
If you’re feeling creatively stuck, or simply ready to explore your practice more deeply, this 3 day course offers the space to reconnect with your ideas, build confidence and rediscover your artistic voice.
Expressive Mark Making
Amy Albright
Join artist Amy Albright as she helps you to free-up your art practice and energize your paintings.
Postcards from Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
Hilary Jean Gibson
Follow in the footsteps of St Ives artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham and explore her unique approach to painting and drawing the rocks and waves of the famous rugged coastline of St Ives.
Discover Painting II
Fri 23 - Sun 25 Oct - 3 days
Ilker Cinarel
Are you ready to loosen up, push forward, and explore what is next in your painting journey? This new course will push your practice further-towards greater confidence and personal expression.
Coastal Senses - St Ives Bay
Victoria Gillow
Local artist, Victoria Gillow, shares new ways of working to inspire your creative process and help you paint the places you love. Discover techniques to create vibrant and expressive paintings.
Approaching Intuitive Painting
Caroline Robinson
Join large-scale painter Caroline Robinson as she explores her practice of painting intuitively.
Postcards from Tony O'Malley - Between Sound + Silence
Hilary Jean Gibson
Get inspired by St Ives painter Tony O'Malley's intuitive and playful approach to capturing the Cornish landscape.