Course details
Our newest year-long artist development programme, offering advanced studio workshops and 1-1 mentoring, designed for graduates of the Porthmeor Programme.
Following the increasing popularity of our Porthmeor Programme, we’re finding that students are looking for a way to continue their learning beyond our now well-established one-year course.
Designed as the next stage in your artistic journey, Porthmeor Masters comprises six immersive three-day studio workshops spread across a year. Based in our inspiring St Ives studios, the programme offers the time, challenge and support to deepen your creative practice alongside a small group of committed fellow artists.
To ensure a highly personalised experience, each cohort is limited to just 10 students. Dates for our first 2027 group are listed below. Should demand exceed available places, we will do our best to offer a second cohort, with dates confirmed separately.
Workshop Schedule – 2027
Here is an indication of our programme of workshops that run alongside individual one to one tutorials with our designated lead tutor Kate Southworth. Please note these tutors and sessions are subject to change.
Session 1 : Mon 25 – Wed 27 January
Landscapes and Seascapes in Oils with Jill Eisele
The landscape offers endless inspiration, but finding your own visual language within it can be a challenge.
Jill will encourage you to work both outdoors and back in the studio, using brushes, knives and other tools to explore expressive mark-making in oils, transforming direct observation into free, intuitive and individual interpretations of landscape and seascape.
Session 2: Mon 15 – Wed 16 March
Art and Message with Camilla Dixon
Art can be an effective way to communicate our thoughts or concerns or obsessions, personal, political, or philosophical, but it’s not always easy to know how to start.
Camilla will help you identify what you want to say or explore, and how to incorporate these ideas into your existing practice.
Session 3: Mon 26 – Wed 28 April
Exploring Texture and Paint with Andrew Hardwick
Developing a distinctive painting practice often means letting go of perfection and discovering new ways of making work.
Andrew will share insights from his own practice as you will explore texture, abstraction, surface, storytelling and memory, encouraging you to embrace awkwardness, experiment with materials and finishes, work confidently across different scales, and create paintings with greater presence and impact.
Session 4: Mon 14 – Wed 16 June
Abstract Landscapes with Natalie Day
Building a sustainable and fulfilling artistic practice takes more than technical skill, but it is not always easy to know where to begin or how to move forward when ideas stall.
Natalie will combine discussion with practical exercises to help you develop a more confident studio practice, explore landscape and abstraction, generate new ideas, and discover practical strategies for getting started, getting unstuck, and sustaining your creative momentum.
Session 5: Mon 27 – Wed 29 Sept
Self Portraiture with Emily Roberts
Self-portraiture has long been a powerful way for artists to explore identity, but it is not always easy to create work that goes beyond appearance.
Emily will explore the history and symbolism of the self-portrait before guiding you through the creation of a self-portrait from life, using traditional techniques and painterly experimentation to develop work with depth, rhythm and personal meaning.
Session 6: Mon 15 – Wed 17 November
Telling Your Stories with Ilker Cinarel
Observation, memory and personal experience can provide a rich source of creative inspiration, but it is not always easy to develop them into a distinctive visual language.
Ilker will guide you from sketchbook through to painting, collage and creative experimentation, helping you develop work that is both personal and conceptually ambitious while building confidence in your own artistic voice.
What will I learn?
Across six intensive studio workshops, you’ll learn how to develop work with greater depth and consistency, respond more critically to your own practice, and push ideas beyond their first iteration. Through discussion, group critique and one-to-one mentoring, you’ll gain the skills to evaluate your work objectively, identify new directions and maintain momentum between workshops.
The aim is to help you become a more self-directed, resilient and ambitious artist, equipped with the confidence and clarity to continue evolving your practice long after the programme has finished.
How is the programme structured?
Each of the six sessions runs over three days, spread over the year. Enjoy a mix of individual tutorials and guidance from our lead tutor, Kate Southworth. Kate will get to know you and your work in depth and you will have the benefit of working with a variety of guest artists who give you a different perspective on your work.
Studio Workshops : Each workshop begins with two tutor-led studio days, combining practical exercises, demonstrations, discussion and group critique. The third day is dedicated to independent studio practice, giving you the time and space to consolidate what you’ve explored, develop new work, and put ideas into practice while remaining in the supportive studio environment.
1-2-1 Tutorials : During every workshop, you’ll have an individual tutorial with Lead Tutor Kate Southworth. These sessions are an opportunity to discuss your current work in depth, reflect on your progress, work through creative challenges, refine your ideas and identify the most productive direction for your practice. Together, you’ll develop a plan for maintaining momentum between workshops, ensuring your practice continues to evolve throughout the year.
Who would this course suit?
Porthmeor Masters is designed for artists who are ready to take the next step in developing a sustained, independent practice. The programme focuses on refining creative decision-making, strengthening critical thinking and building confidence in your own visual language.
Whether you are a graduate of the Porthmeor Programme or have equivalent experience, it is designed for artists who want to deepen their ideas, challenge their practice, and benefit from sustained guidance within a supportive community of committed fellow artists.
Timings and Breaks
Each session will run 10.00 – 16.30 on the first day, then 9.30 – 16.00 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
How much does it cost?
Total fee £2,950
Instalment plans are available.
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