Get Involved

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. ...

BRUSHWORK | KATE SOUTHWORTH 🎬

As part of our short series of films, artist Kate Southworth shares how the Cornish landscape, particularly West Penwith, and automatic techniques influence her art.

🔗 Watch the full film on YouTube via the link in our bio

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There’s one more chance to work with Kate this year:

🗓️ 4-6 July, Artist Retreat Weekend alongside Kieran Stiles
🔗 Book now via the link in our bio

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#painting #contemporaryart #cornwall #art #landscape #automaticdrawing #automaticpainting #automaticart #pastel #chalk ...

This hot weather is making the studios look even better! Who’s going to be visiting this summer? ☀️

You can expect:

🔹 Natural coastal light streaming in
🔹 A fresh, airy space
🔹 All the materials you need
🔹 Lots of creative energy

🔗 Join us in the studios this summer for a short workshop or a 3-day course!

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#art #artstudio #artstudios #creativespace #artschool #paintingschool #contemporaryart #contemporary #arttuition ...

“It reacts on paper before your very eyes” 💫

Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, discover the tools and techniques you will need to get you started on your watercolour journey.

🔹 Getting Started with Watercolour
🔗 Buy now via the link in our bio

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#watercolours #watercolour #watercolouruk #watercolourartists #beginnerswatercolour #painting #contemporaryart #art #onlineart #onlineartcourse ...

Which landscapes do you draw comfort from?

Last week’s group explored their own personal approaches to landscape painting with artist Kerry Harding - and the studio was full of experimentation and individuality 💫

There’s one more chance to join Kerry’s courses this year:

🗓️ 6-8 Oct, Contemporary Landscape (sold out)
🗓️ 8-10 Dec, Poetry of Process

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#contemporaryart #abstracts #abstract #landscape #landscapes #landscapeart #oilpaint #oilpainting #oilpaintings #cornwall ...

Paint the South West Coast Path with @greghumphriesart 🥾

Have you seen the film adaptation of Raynor Winn’s memoir, The Salt Path yet?

If you’ve been inspired to get out onto the coast path, we have the perfect opportunity for you to join us here in St Ives. Connect with the stunning scenery and capture your surroundings through sketching and painting!

🗓️ 4-6 August
📍St Ives, Cornwall
🔗 Visit the link in our bio to book one of the last remaining places

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#thesaltpath #saltpath #thesaltpathfilm #raynorwinn #painting #walking #coastpath #coastpathwalk #southwestcoastalpath #contemporaryart #cornwall ...

Join us live 🎥 🎨

Broadcast from our studios in St Ives, learn a new approach to capturing the human figure - inspired by the paintings of Dame Laura Knight.

🎬 Figure on a Rock with Gary Long
🗓️ Part One: 25 June
🗓️ Part Two: 2 July

🔗 Visit the link in our bio to find out more and sign up today!

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#contemporaryart #painting #cornwall #onlineart #onlineartclass #onlineartclasses #figure #figurepaintings #figuredrawing #landscape #lauraknight #damelauraknight ...