Slow down, observe, and reconnect with your creativity. Tune into both your inner world and the surrounding landscape through drawing, and painting to capture the essence of the Cornish landscape.

Take a pause from your day-to day life and join artist Kitty Hillier as she shares the tools and techniques she has gathered over the years, in her art practice . Enjoy slowing down and spending time in nature on this three-day course, inspired by the studies and drawings by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham of the Cornish sea and rocks.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham moved to St Ives from Scotland in 1940. Inspired by the rugged Cornish landscape, her drawings and paintings simplified the distinctive rocks, cliffs and coastline to abstracted shapes and forms.

Drawing inspiration from the coves, cliffs and water, follow Kitty as she demonstrates how to find inspiration from the sights and sounds around St Ives. On the first morning we will take a walk across Porthmeor Beach, drawing and collecting natural and man made objects along the way, to inspire your studio work. See how focusing on your breath and being ‘in-the-moment’ can help you work more intuitively.

Back in our studios, transform your beach drawings and found objects into sketches, collages and paintings. Explore various ways forward, see what effects can be achieved when using ink, fluid watercolour colours and your own unique drawing tools and experiment with textures – see how rubbings and relief, or fabric and stitch can add to your topographic studies, experiment and have fun!

Return to your early studies with fresh eyes, working on wooden panels or thick, textured watercolour paper. Let each brushstroke build on what came before, guiding your work towards paintings that not only speak — but resonate with depth, energy, and intention.

What will I learn?

1. Learn how to approach your paintings and drawings more intuitively.
2. Build confidence in composition and expand your visual language.
3. Loosen your approach to image making.
4. Learn how Wilhelmina Barns-Graham captured the Cornish landscape in reduced and simplified forms.

Who would this course suit?

This course would suit artists at any stage in their creative journey; whether you have an established practice or are just starting out. Ideal if you are looking for ways to increase skills, experience and experimentation.

There will be some walking on the morning of the first day.

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.