Create fun and vibrant paintings that blend observation with imagination and emotion, inspired by the picturesque seaside town of St Ives.

This course encourages an expressive, intuitive approach to colour and mark-making in a supportive and welcoming environment, guided by contemporary artist John Dyer, celebrated for his vibrant paintings of Cornwall.

Combining the energy of outdoor exploration with focused studio practice, the course invites students to respond creatively to the landscape of St Ives. Through observational studies, experimentation, and guided practice, participants are encouraged to explore a range of ways of working, discovering how colour, form, and mark-making can be used to suggest atmosphere, movement, and feeling rather than simply describe what is seen.

Students will draw inspiration from the imaginative approaches of artists such as Alfred Wallis and Fred Yates, alongside the liberated use of colour found in Fauvist painting, where colour can act as a vehicle for emotion and personal response. Memory, instinct, and a playful sense of curiosity are embraced as creative forces, allowing everyday details or fleeting moments to be transformed through individual interpretation.

Throughout the course, students are invited to engage with each other’s work, reflect on ideas, and learn together in a relaxed and supportive environment. Confidence is encouraged to grow naturally, without pressure, as new ways of seeing and working emerge. By the end of the course, participants will be developing an acrylic painting or series of works that reflects their personal connection to St Ives, combining observation, imagination, and expressive colour in a way that feels authentic and individual.

What will I learn?

• Explore an expressive, intuitive approach to colour and mark-making to suggest atmosphere and feeling.
• Develop a deeper understanding of how observation, emotion and imagination combine to create meaningful art.
• Gain confidence in developing a personal visual language.
• Learn practical tips for working outdoors and in the studio, including colour studies, composition, and narrative-building.
• Create an acrylic painting or small series of works inspired by place.

Who would this course suit?

Whether you’re looking to loosen up your practice, gain confidence, or deepen your creative connection to the landscape of St Ives, this course offers a supportive space to explore, experiment, and grow. It is suitable for painters at all stages who are drawn to colour, imagination, and storytelling through paint, and who wish to develop a more expressive and personal approach inspired by place and emotion.

What to Bring

Timings and Breaks