Elizabeth Blackadder

Painting Spring: Buds & Blooms

Drawing / Mixed Media / Painting / Still Life - Materials included

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

Register Interest

Course details

Re-imagine your drawing and painting practice through a fresh approach, inspired by the forms and colours of Cornish spring flowers.

Under the guidance of Liz Luckwell and Hilary Jean Gibson, you’ll discover creative ways to capture the buds and blooms of a Cornish spring, moving between the strength of monochrome and the energy of rich, vibrant colour.

The course begins with a series of guided exercises designed to help loosen your approach to materials and encourage experimentation. Over the following days, you’ll explore a range of techniques and materials while working from a variety of plant forms—both fresh and dried—brought into the studio. Weather permitting, a few hours will be spent drawing the native flora found around St. Ives, offering a chance to observe and respond directly to plants growing in their natural habitat.

Continue to develop the full range of studies produced throughout the course—refining and expanding them through a more fluid and expressive approach on large sheets of paper. You’ll gain confidence and learn to work in a looser, more experimental and versatile way using inks and resists, collage, oil pastels and water based paints. This course opens the door to a fresh understanding of floral drawing—revealing how dynamic, immediate, and creatively rich it can be.

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.

Day 1

Begin the day with Liz Luckwell, who will introduce you to a series of guided exercises that aim to loosen your approach to a wide range of materials by exploring various drawing and mark-making techniques.

Compose arrangements of plants and flowers with an aerial view looking down and experiment with viewfinders to help to select parts of the compositions so you can zoom in and focus.

Day 2

Weather permitting, venture out on the coastal path with Hilary Jean Gibson, to observe and respond to the local flora in a sketchbook. Back in the studio, develop your sketches, to create drawings and studies using pencil, coloured inks and water-soluble pencils to capture both delicacy and energy.

Day 3

Liz will support you in developing the sketches and observations gathered during the first two days, encouraging you to consider scale as you translate your ideas onto larger sheets. You’ll explore the fluid, experimental qualities of inks and resists, alongside collage and painting, to expand and enrich your work.

What will I learn?

  1. An approach to simplifying floral drawing so you capture the essence.
  2. A more intuitive approach to still-life drawing and painting.
  3. Approaches to help you successfully scale up your work.
  4. Encouragement to look more closely at the world around you.
  5. Inspiration for working with botanical drawing in experimental ways.

Painting Spring: Buds & Blooms

Drawing / Mixed Media / Painting / Still Life – Materials included

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

Register Interest

Who would this course suit?

This course is ideal for nature lovers and artists – whether beginner or experienced—who want to explore a fresh, dynamic approach to drawing flowers. Whether you are used to working in a more controlled, detailed style or are eager to loosen up your technique, this course offers a chance to reconnect with nature working both outdoors and in the studio to capture the vibrant flora of Cornwall in spring.

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.

Hilary
Jean
Gibson

View Hilary Jean Gibson’s Work

In 1995 I became a tutor at the St Ives School of Painting. Offering inspiration through my passion for drawing, water-based media and art history, I strive to liberate a creative vision by teaching skills and techniques through direct observation and en plein air.

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.

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.

What our students say

Very well structured with excellent tuition and overall a wide, diverse, and interesting course.

Robert M

Explored a range of techniques in a safe creative environment nurtured by the school itself and Liz’s deft personal guidance.

Liz is a great teacher. We explored lots of different mediums and were encouraged to develop our own style. A fabulous 3 days.

Paula

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...