Course details
Join artist David Webb for this exploration through the streets and thoroughfares of St Ives. Working in watercolour, learn how to capture the character of this unique location.
Be inspired by the iconic cobbled streets and fisherman cottages of St Ives. On this three-day course, David will take you to some of the town’s most famous sites as well as it’s hidden gems, capturing its unique sense of place through the medium of watercolour.
Gathering information on location through sketching, you will learn how to capture the character of its streets from various locations around St Ives. You will learn basic principles of linear perspective and aerial perspective, helping to give your drawings the illusion of depth. Back in the studio, David will show you how to transform these sketches into bold watercolour paintings.
Learn how to create vibrant paintings with a limited palette as well as several techniques to freshen up your practice. These include painting wet-into-wet and developing your paintings with transparent washes. Suitable for beginners and more seasoned painters alike, this course will help you tackle some of the common problems that arise when drawing and painting buildings. Although based around St Ives, you can apply these more widely to portray village and town scenes more accurately.
Day to day plan
Day 1
In the morning we will cover some basic techniques on linear perspective before going outdoors with our sketchbooks to put these skills into practice.
The aim is to gather enough information to enable us to create paintings in the afternoon. Obviously, the weather will dictate how long we will be able to sketch outside but, hopefully, we’ll be able to stay out for a couple of hours.
Back in the studio, David will show you how to interpret your notes and sketches for using as reference for paintings.
Day 2
A combination of onsite sketching and more considered work painted in the studio, where we will also cover the techniques of watercolour and how we can use it to create paintings of the buildings and side-streets of St Ives.
Day 3
A last sketching trip outdoors before heading back inside to create new paintings, or complete unfinished ones.
Taught by
What will I learn?
- Lessons on watercolour techniques, such as wet-in-wet
- Developing your painting with transparent washes
- Colour mixing and working with a limited palette
- How to draw buildings and streets convincingly, with use of linear and aerial perspective
Who would the course suit?
Anyone with an interest in drawing and painting buildings. Experience and skill in drawing would be advantageous but not essential, as tuition will be provided.
There will be some walking involved around the town, when we are outdoor sketching, which will probably involve some hills/slopes. We will be working outside most days for a few hours so come prepared with warm and waterproof clothing.
Ahead of your watercolour course with us if you would like to brush up your skills, you are entitled to 25% off our online ‘Getting Started with Watercolour Painting’ course here‘. You will be given a code after purchasing our studio watercolour course. NB – The online course uses a different palette to our studio course.
Our studio ‘Beginner’s Watercolour’ courses can be found here.
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.
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.
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 end at 4pm. 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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