Course details
Move beyond literal landscape painting and explore a bold, intuitive approach that brings together layered studio work, plein air painting and personal responses to place.


Breaking away from traditional ways of painting the landscape, this new and immersive course invites you to discover a more intuitive and expressive way of responding to place. Combining studio experimentation with plein air painting on the Cornish coast, you’ll be encouraged to work instinctively, take risks and develop your own abstracted response to the landscape.
Your tutor, Saul Cathcart, has spent more than 20 years painting en plein air, drawing inspiration from the atmosphere and wildness of the Cornish coastline. Throughout the course, Saul will share the techniques and working processes that have shaped his own practice, painting alongside you, demonstrating mark-making techniques and offering guidance as your work develops. He will also share how he approaches creative problems, showing how he edits, reworks and pushes paintings forward when they become stuck.
Begin by building layered, textured surfaces in the studio using water-based mixed media, including acrylics, soft pastels and coloured pencils, on a range of supports. Through energetic mark-making and experimentation, you’ll create dynamic starting points to take out into the landscape, helping to remove the pressure of beginning with a blank canvas. Once outside, you’ll explore how shape, colour and line can suggest a sense of place without describing it literally, while developing a more personal and instinctive visual language.
There will be a strong emphasis on working quickly, trusting your instincts and allowing paintings to evolve. Editing will be an important part of the process, exploring when to add, obscure, simplify or remove areas and seeing these decisions as an integral part of creating the work. By developing several pieces in parallel, you’ll also learn the value of stepping away and returning with fresh eyes.
The days will move between studio work and time spent painting along the St Ives coastline, with the exact rhythm shaped by the weather. This flexible approach allows you to experience the landscape first-hand while also having time and space to experiment, reflect and develop your paintings back in the studio.
By the end of the course, you will have explored a freer, more instinctive approach to landscape painting, building confidence in abstraction, layered surfaces, expressive mark-making and responding personally to place. You will also have developed a collection of abstract landscape paintings on board and paper, bringing together the ideas, materials and processes explored throughout the course.
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 with a short walk along Porthmeor to absorb the light, weather and atmosphere of the coast. Back in the studio, playful timed exercises will encourage fast decision-making and help loosen perfectionism, before preparing layered works to take outside for an afternoon of plein air painting and further development.
Day 2
Return to your work with fresh eyes and explore the art of editing, learning when to add, remove, obscure or simplify. In the afternoon, take selected pieces back outside and respond directly to the coastal landscape, before returning to the studio to reflect on how the work has developed.
Day 3
Focus on refining your paintings and considering what makes a piece feel resolved. You’ll explore how simple forms, subtle marks and colour balance can strengthen an abstract landscape, before heading outside for a final plein air session. Back in the studio, you’ll make final edits and reflect on the work created.
What will I learn?
- Develop a more intuitive and expressive approach to abstract landscape painting.
- Build layered, textured surfaces using colour, mixed media and energetic mark-making.
- Develop prepared work outdoors by responding directly to the landscape through plein air painting.
- Explore how shape, line and colour can suggest landscape without describing it literally.
- Gain confidence editing your work by adding, removing, simplifying and reworking areas.
- Move away from preliminary sketches and work quickly across several pieces, learning to trust your instincts, respond in the moment and allow ideas to develop more freely.
Who would this course suit?
This course is ideal for anyone who enjoys spending time in the landscape and wants to explore a more expressive, experimental approach to painting. It will suit those who love colour and abstraction but would like more confidence to loosen up, take risks and trust the creative process. Suitable for both beginners and more experienced artists, it offers space to experiment, refresh your practice and develop a more personal visual language.
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.
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.
FAQs
Art Courses
Do I need any previous art experience?
Not always. We offer courses for all levels, including complete beginners, intermediate students and more experienced artists. You can look for the experience level listed on the individual course page to find the most suitable option for you. If you need any guidance on what course might suit you best, contact on our friendly team on 01736 797180 and they will be able to help.
Art Courses in St Ives
How do I log in to my online account?
To log in to your account, please follow these steps:
- Go to our website: www.schoolofpainting.co.uk
- Click on the ‘Log in’ button (usually found near the top right of the page)
- Enter the email address and you used when booking
- Click “Log in” to access your account
Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your bookings, outstanding payments, online courses and any relevant account information.
If you’ve forgotten your password, simply click ‘Forgot password?’ on the login page and follow the instructions to reset it.
If you have any trouble accessing your account, please email us and we’ll be happy to help.
Do you offer art classes for children and teenagers?
Yes. Our Young Artists Programme includes art workshops for children and teenagers, with sessions designed for different age groups. During the summer, we also run creative workshops for children aged 7-13.
How large are your art classes?
Our studio courses are taught in small groups of around 10 to 12 people, allowing tutors to provide individual guidance alongside group demonstrations and discussions.
What is included in an art course?
Course fees include professional tuition from a practising artist and use of the School’s studio facilities. Materials and equipment are all included in our in person courses, workshops and life drawing sessions – so you can just turn up and get started. Teas and coffees are also provided throughout the day.
Can I attend an art course on my own?
Absolutely. Many students come to St Ives School of Painting independently. Courses offer a welcoming and sociable environment, with plenty of opportunities to meet other people who share an interest in making and learning.
Do you offer beginner painting courses?
Yes. Our programme includes beginner-friendly painting courses covering materials such as oils, acrylics and watercolours. These courses introduce you to essential tools and techniques while giving you plenty of time to practise and explore your own ideas.
How do I choose the right art course?
Start by considering how you would like to work. You may want to learn a particular medium, improve a skill such as drawing or colour mixing, explore a subject such as landscape or still life, or develop a more personal approach. Each course page explains the content, materials, level and teaching approach to help you decide. Our friendly, helpful team are always available to help further.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options or email [email protected].
Who teaches your art courses?
Our courses are led by practising artists – including Jill Eisele, Alice Mumford, Iona Sanders and Neil Canning – all with extensive knowledge of their chosen subjects and materials. Each tutor brings their own artistic experience, working methods and approach to teaching, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of ideas and techniques.
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 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
In Person Courses
What art courses do you offer in St Ives?
We offer a varied programme of art courses in St Ives, including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and life drawing. You can choose from one-day workshops, short summer sessions and more immersive three- and four-day studio courses. We also offer longer development courses for those looking to take their practice to the next level.
What do I need to bring?
You don’t need to bring anything with you unless we specify beforehand. All materials, aprons and tools are provided, however some people do like to bring along their favourite set of brushes or sketchbooks.
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.
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]
Choosing an Art Course
Do you run life drawing classes in St Ives?
Yes. We hold regular life drawing sessions in St Ives, including Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes. These welcoming, tutored sessions are open to a range of experience levels and provide an opportunity to practise drawing from a life model. Our life drawing sessions are held just a 5 minute walk from our studios at The Island Centre.
Do you offer art courses for adults?
Yes. We run art classes and courses for adults throughout the year, from accessible introductory workshops to more intensive courses for people looking to deepen their creative practice.
What types of painting can I learn?
Our courses cover a wide range of approaches, including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolour, gouache, landscape painting, still life, portraiture and abstraction. We also offer courses exploring colour, composition, mark-making and creative confidence.
