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🔈Introducing Porthmeor Programme 2026

We are now calling for applications for our yearlong development course taking place in 2026. Hear more from our Lead Tutor, @kate_southworth.

If you are looking to take your next step in the art world, or maybe you are feeling stuck creatively, find out more about our intensive programme which has been running for more than 10 years.

🗓️ Online: January - October 2026
🗓️ In-person: February - November 2026

🔗 Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, visit the link in our bio to find out more! ...

It’s the ✨light✨ and the constant inspiration around us that draws so many artists here from around the world.

Come and be inspired like so many before. ...

One month in to our summer of workshops 🫶🏼

From sketching in the sunshine to evening’s by the harbour - thank you to everyone who has joined us so far!

Next up:

🗓️ 6 Aug: Everyone Can Draw
🗓️ 7 Aug: Keeping it Simple
🗓️ 7 Aug: St Ives in Line + Wash
🗓️ 8 Aug: Playful Print (Kids!)

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#painting #contemporaryart #art #artist #artistic #cornwall #stives #artcourse ...

Days like this ✨

We can’t wait to share more work from today’s workshops! Pure joy, especially when the sunshine made an appearance.

Congratulations to everyone on their wonderful work, from postcards in line and wash, to landscapes using mixed media - plenty to take away.

Next week? Let’s go!

🗓️ 30 July, Abstraction on the Beach
🗓️ 31 July, Kickstart Your Drawing
🗓️ 31 July, Oil Painting Essentials
🗓️ 1 Aug, Expressive Painting (Kids, 7-13)

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#painting #contemporaryart #cornwall #stives #art #stivescornwall #artcourse #artstudio #artiststudios ...

When you happen to catch @ionasanders working in our studios 🙌🏼

Iona was sharing techniques for working in a more responsive and intuitive way - working so intuitively is a great way of loosening your approach to painting and helps to stop any overthinking.

And it worked - as students created so much work during this 3-hour workshop! 👏🏼

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#painting #intuitivepainting #intuition #art #artist #contemporary #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #landscape #contemporarylandscape ...

Thinking about trying life drawing for the first time? ✍️

Here are three things you’ll learn during our classes, guided by experienced artists:

1️⃣ Confidence through quick sketches: Short poses (gesture drawings) can help you loosen up, and stop overthinking, so you can enjoy putting pencil to paper.

2️⃣ How to let go of perfection: Life drawing teaches you to embrace loose lines, unfinished sketches, and mistakes.

3️⃣ How to really see: You’ll start noticing shapes, angles, and proportions differently, learning to observe rather than simply copying what you see.

We are proud to say that we have been teaching life drawing for more than 50 years. Next time you’re in St Ives, join us for guided tuition, and try it out for yourself!

🗓️ Every Thursday, 18.30-20.30
🗓️ Every Saturday, 10.30-13.00
🔗 Find out more via the link in our bio

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#lifedrawing #beginnerartist #figure #figuredrawing #drawingfromlife #gesturedrawing #sketchbookpractice #contemporaryart #cornwall #stivesartists #stivescornwalluk #stives ...

Our perfect summer evening in St Ives? 🌅

After a creative day in the studios, take a wander around the harbour, then enjoy some delicious food and drink @porthmeorcafeofficial.

End your day on the beach to catch the last of the sunset 💫

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#cornwall #sunset #stives #stivescornwall #porthmeorbeach #porthmeorcafe #visitcornwall #harbourviews #creativeretreat #summertime #summerinstives #cornishsummer ...

And so it begins 🎇

We jumped into our first summer workshop, Liberating Landscape, with the brilliant @ionasanders!

In this session there is no right or wrong, just a chance to have fun and gain confidence in putting paintbrush to paper. A great way to inspire new ways of painting.

Congratulations to everyone who joined us, so much work was created!

Iona will be teaching again soon:

🗓️ Instinct + Still Life, 16 July & 15 Sept
🗓️ Liberating Landscape, 3 & 15 Sept
🔗Find out more via the links in bio

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#painting #artstudios #artstudio #artist #artcourse #artcourses #artworkshop #cornwall ...

How do you start a painting when you don’t know where to start?

Artist @kittyhillier starts with a slow exploration of her surroundings. Through her course, Abstract Coastline, she will show you how to use all your senses, and pay attention to the seasonal transitions, forgotten spaces and discarded objects which can serve as inspiration for your work 🪸

Escape the bustle of St Ives, and unwind in our peaceful studios this July. Kitty will also be running this course as a short workshop.

🗓 25-27 July, Abstract Coastline
🗓 19 Sept, Abstract Coastline, 3hr workshop
📍 St Ives, Cornwall
🔗 Book now via the link in our bio ...

Will you be visiting St Ives this summer? ☀️

If you are looking for a fun, creative, and hands-on activity as part of your holiday plans, join us in the studios for one of our workshops - taking place every Wednesday & Thursday.

And, on Friday mornings, children can join us for their own chance to get creative!

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to secure your places

#painting #contemporaryart #cornwall #stives #art #landscape #stivescornwall #landscapepainting #landscapeart #artcourse

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“As adults, we never really get the opportunity to play and explore colour” 💫

As part of @stivesseptemberfest join @lauramenziesart for a morning of creative art journaling.

Explore guided exercises in your journal that encourage self-expression, mindfulness, and artistic play, experimenting with a range of mixed media which will help you work freely and more intuitively.

Creative Art Journaling
🗓️ 25 Sept, 09.30-12.30

Expressive Ink + Acrylic Painting
🗓️ 25 Sept, 13:30-16:30

🔗 Link to book is in our bio ...

Inspired by Turner and guided by @hilaryjeangibson.illustrator, last week’s group explored a fresh and immediate approach to watercolour, emulating Turner’s highly expressive studies known as ‘colour beginnings’ 👏🏼

We have another opportunity to work with Hilary:
🗓️ 18-20 August, Capturing St Ives
📍St Ives, Cornwall
🔗 Find out more via the link in our bio ...

“We don’t look at things and pick everything up equally in order like a camera does”

‘Observation + Abstraction’ is an ideal opportunity for anyone who is looking to shift from purely representational expression to something more individual.

Camilla will encourage you to pull-out the abstract elements of a scene, rather than attempting to ‘represent’ it.

Join us in the studio:

🗓️ 22 - 24 Aug
📍St Ives, Cornwall
🔗 Link to book is in our bio

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#abstract #abstraction #contemporaryart #painting #paint #abstractart #cornwall #stives ...

Final setup for today’s webinar with @garylongartist 🎥

If you’re joining us for Figure on a Rock - Inspired by Dame Laura Knight at 10am, share your stories with us @stivespainting!

If you can’t join us today, you can catch up on the recording of Part 1 and join us on 2 July for part two.

🔗 Sign up by the link in our bio ...

St Ives light and a space to create 🤝

The unique St Ives light has inspired artists from around the world for so many years, and you can see why.

Experience it for yourself, book a creative escape today. ...