Art Development Courses
Take your practice further with our art development courses. Choose from focused artist retreats in St Ives or ten-month studio and online programmes, combining practical workshops with professional mentoring and one-to-one guidance. Experiment, reflect and discover where your work could go next.
You can also explore our wider programme of Art Courses in Cornwall.
Intensive Art Courses with One-to-One Mentoring
Our art development courses offer sustained time to explore how and why you make work. Through practical workshops, independent studio time, group discussions and professional art mentoring, you will be encouraged to experiment, take risks and develop an individual practice.
Choose from focused artist retreats or longer programmes combining a personal tutor with specialist guest artists. Bring current work, sketchbooks and developing ideas to discuss during one-to-one tutorials, gaining an informed outside perspective and practical direction.
Discover our highly rated Porthmeor Programme for sustained creative development over the course of a year, with practical workshops and one-to-one mentoring.
Artist Retreat Weekend – Autumn
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000G2ceX
Active Instance: a02Nz00000XCaRLIA1, 27-Nov-2026
Remember and revive your reasons for making art and reboot your practice. As part of a small group, benefit from directed exercises, peer feedback and 1-1 mentoring from two professional artists.
Artist Retreat Weekend – Autumn
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000G2ceX
Active Instance: a02Nz00000jfB0nIAE, 19-Nov-2027
Remember and revive your reasons for making art and reboot your practice. As part of a small group, benefit from directed exercises, peer feedback and 1-1 mentoring from two professional artists.
Ignite: A Creative Kickstart to the Year
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000aGzxJ
Active Instance: a02Nz00000iYTuHIAW, 16-Jan-2027
Start the new year with clarity, momentum, and creative fire with our January Retreat – your space to reset and reignite. Option to include 7 nights luxury accommodation
Ignite: A Creative Kickstart to the Year
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000aGzxJ
Active Instance: a02Nz00000kOc5mIAC, 16-Jan-2027
Start the new year with clarity, momentum, and creative fire with our January Retreat – your space to reset and reignite. Option to include 7 nights luxury accommodation
Ignite: A Creative Kickstart to the Year
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000aGzxJ
Active Instance: a02Nz00000kOf5xIAC, 16-Jan-2027
Start the new year with clarity, momentum, and creative fire with our January Retreat – your space to reset and reignite. Option to include 7 nights luxury accommodation
Porthmeor Masters
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000dPLqn
Active Instance: a02Nz00000hj8WvIAI, 25-Jan-2027
Our newest year-long artist development programme, offering advanced studio workshops and 1-1 mentoring, designed for graduates of the Porthmeor Programme or similar.
| 25 Jan – 17 Nov 2027 – 6 x 3 days over 10 months – £2950 | Full | Request |
Porthmeor Programme (Online)
Online Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000XxdNK
Active Instance: a02Nz00000cZ64iIAC, 29-Jan-2027
A ten month online intensive course, with 1-1 tutorials and small group creative sessions to develop you as an artist.
| 29 – 31 Jan 2027 – 8 weekends (over 10 months) – £2550 | Apply |
Artist Retreat Weekend – Spring
Art Courses – Mixed Media
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000G2GQo
Active Instance: a02Nz00000huqO9IAI, 26-Feb-2027
A developmental weekend working with two professional artists, combining 1-1 tutorials with a fun practical weekend of painting. Aimed at those with an art practice.
| 26 – 28 Feb 2027 – 3 days – £550 | Book |
Porthmeor Programme (Studio)
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000IREqS
Active Instance: a02Nz00000cYbSKIA0, 05-Mar-2027
A ten month intensive course to develop you as an artist, enabling you to find and express your individual creative voice. Led by a personal tutor and a host of guest artists.
| 5 – 7 Mar 2027 – 24 days over 10 Months – £3750 | Apply |
Landscape Artist Retreat
Art Courses – Painting – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000k1Qlz
Active Instance: a02Nz00000hvu80IAA, 16-Apr-2027
Join artist Liz Hough for an immersive retreat, inviting you to reconnect with landscape through drawing, painting, and thoughtful exploration in and around St Ives.
Landscape Artist Retreat
Art Courses – Painting – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000k1Qlz
Active Instance: a02Nz00000hwCUgIAM, 30-Jul-2027
Join artist Liz Hough for an immersive retreat, inviting you to reconnect with landscape through drawing, painting, and thoughtful exploration in and around St Ives.
Abstract Landscapes: Inspired by Lanyon
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Abstract
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000K5mqA
Active Instance: a02Nz00000hwKjxIAE, 07-Jun-2027
Create lively contemporary paintings inspired by Peter Lanyon’s dynamic approach to landscape.
| 7 – 11 Jun 2027 – 5 days – £625 | Book |
Artist Retreat Weekend – June
Art Courses – Mixed Media – Personal Development
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000khEzl
Active Instance: a02Nz00000jf98fIAA, 18-Jun-2027
If you’re feeling creatively stuck, or simply ready to explore your practice more deeply, this 3 day course offers the space to reconnect with your ideas, build confidence and rediscover your artistic voice.
| 18 – 20 Jun 2027 – 3 days – £525 | Book |
Year-Long Development Art Courses in Cornwall and Online
The Porthmeor Programme is a ten-month personal development art course designed to help you find and strengthen your individual creative voice. Rather than concentrating on one medium or technique, it encourages experimentation, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of your own practice.
Studio Programme
The studio programme includes eight three-day workshop weekends in St Ives, spread across ten months with a summer break. A lead tutor provides continuity throughout, while guest artists introduce different materials, methods and perspectives.
Online Programme
The online programme follows a similar ten-month structure, combining monthly live workshops, group seminars, independent projects and individual tutorials. Sessions are recorded, and participants can discuss and share their work through a dedicated online platform.
The Porthmeor Programme was a big catalyst for change in my life. I now call myself an artist.
Mary Scott, Porthmeor Programme Alumni
Learn from a Diverse Team of Specialist Artist Tutors
Working with several practising artists exposes you to different techniques, ideas and approaches. Your lead tutor gets to know your work over time, while guest tutors offer new perspectives through workshops in painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking and experimental processes.
Each of our art tutors in Cornwall shares knowledge rooted in their own professional practice, helping you consider new possibilities without imposing a single way of working. You can also develop specific skills through our shorter courses or workshops.
Shorter Art Development Courses and Artist Retreats
If a ten-month programme is not right for you, our shorter artist retreats offer focused support over a weekend or week. Designed for artists with an existing practice, these small-group courses provide time to reflect, make new work and consider what direction to take next.
You will develop a personal project alongside independent studio time, group exercises and peer feedback. One-to-one tutorials with two professional artists offer different perspectives on your work, making the experience responsive to your individual needs.
To get the most out of this week or weekend, we encourage you to value the feedback of the group as well as your tutor and be open to taking risks. If you feel isolated in your practice and would value a critical outside eye this could be what you need.
Here are our upcoming artist retreats in St Ives:
Artist Retreat: Autumn
Artist Retreat: January
Artist Retreat: February
Artist Retreat: June
Artist Retreat Landscape (April & Aug)
Abstract Landscapes: Inspired by Lanyon (June)
Planning Your Stay in St Ives
Artists join our development programmes from across the UK and beyond. Studio sessions are arranged as concentrated weekend blocks, allowing you to plan travel and accommodation around each visit.
St Ives offers hotels, guest houses and self-catering properties, including many options within walking distance of the School. Explore our guide to accommodation in St Ives. Between sessions, visit local galleries, walk the coastal paths or explore our guide to things to do in St Ives.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Art Development Courses
Who are art development courses suitable for?
Our development courses suit early-stage and experienced artists who already make work and want to challenge or strengthen their practice. You do not need to be a professional artist or hold a formal qualification, but you should be open to experimentation, discussion and constructive feedback.
Applications for the Porthmeor Programme include a short statement and examples of your current work, helping us ensure that the course is right for you.
What payment options are available for development programmes?
Programme fees can be paid in full, and instalment plans are also available. Current prices and payment arrangements are shown on each course page, or our team can discuss the available options with you before you apply.
How many sessions are there in a typical year-long art course?
The Porthmeor Programme runs for ten months and typically includes eight main workshop blocks. The studio programme provides 24 taught days across eight three-day weekends.
The online programme includes eight live weekend workshops, supported by follow-up group seminars, monthly one-to-one tutorials and independent work between sessions.