Course details
Join artist Liz Hough for an immersive retreat, inviting you to reconnect with landscape through drawing, painting, and thoughtful exploration in and around St Ives.
Designed for artists of all levels, this inspiring course offers the perfect balance of guided exploration, personal development, and playful experimentation.
Liz is deeply passionate about the landscape, and since being awarded the Landseer Prize for Landscape at the Royal Academy, it has become a central focus of her practice. Through this sustained engagement, she has developed a strong and distinctive sense of narrative and place within her work.
The course offers a supportive and inspiring space in which participants are encouraged to slow down, look more deeply, and develop a richer, more personal response to place, with guidance from well established artist and tutor Liz Hough.
Throughout the retreat, you will explore how a range of artists have interpreted the St Ives landscape, using these insights as a springboard for your own work. Through loosening up drawing exercises, group warm-ups, and on-site studies, you’ll gather visual information, build confidence, and expand your visual language. These drawings and observations will then be developed into expressive mixed-media paintings in the studio, encouraging experimentation and discovery.
Participants are invited to bring along images or a small selection of their own landscape work for a one-to-one session with Liz on Tuesday. These individual conversations provide tailored guidance, constructive feedback, and practical suggestions to help you move your practice forward with clarity and confidence.
Balancing focused making with shared discussion and creative play, the retreat is designed to nurture curiosity, refresh your approach, and deepen your connection to landscape. You’ll leave with renewed momentum, new ways of working, and a clearer sense of direction—whether you’re looking to recharge creatively, refine your landscape practice, or simply enjoy three days of concentrated, rewarding art-making in a welcoming environment.
What will I learn?
- Develop a more personal and confident visual response to landscape
- Expand drawing skills to gather ideas, energy, and visual information
- Explore mixed-media approaches to building layered landscape paintings
- Gain insight from historical and contemporary artists working with place
- Strengthen individual practice through guided feedback and discussion and leave with renewed creative momentum
Who would this course suit?
This course will suit artists of all levels who are interested in exploring landscape in a more expressive, thoughtful, and personal way. It is ideal for those who enjoy drawing and mixed media, are open to experimentation, and value both individual guidance and shared creative exchange.
Whether you’re looking to gently refresh your practice, build confidence, or immerse yourself in a focused and supportive environment, the course offers space to grow at your own pace.
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 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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