Short Art Workshops
Short on time or looking to make more of your holiday? Add a creative experience to your time in St Ives with our short art workshops. Spend three hours or a full day learning from a practising artist in our historic studios overlooking Porthmeor Beach. Try a new material, explore the Cornish landscape or simply enjoy making, with all materials provided and welcoming options for every level.
Book Onto a Short Art Workshop in St Ives
Join our inspiring short art workshops in St Ives, Cornwall, running throughout the summer. Set in one of the UK’s most iconic artistic locations, our 3-hour sessions offer the perfect opportunity to explore a variety of mediums, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop your skills.
Learn to paint still life in our light-filled studios overlooking the ocean, or explore the Cornish coastline with guided outdoor painting sessions. Our art workshops in Cornwall are taught by artist tutors and designed to help you build confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment.
Colour, Composition + Confidence in Acrylics
Short Art Workshops – Acrylic – Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000qL0iH
Active Instance: a02Nz00000eZSLmIAO, 18-Sep-2026
A fun afternoon workshop exploring bold colour, strong composition and expressive mark-making in acrylic paint.
| 18 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Introduction to Acrylic Painting
Short Art Workshops – Acrylic – Beginners
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000qL8Cj
Active Instance: a02Nz00000eZVzaIAG, 18-Sep-2026
Discover the possibilities of acrylic painting in this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop. Build confidence with colour, mark-making, and simple techniques in a morning.
| 18 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Introduction to Oil Painting
Short Art Workshops – Oil
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00w000000kJcEf
Active Instance: a02Nz00000f51ezIAA, 21-Sep-2026
Discover the possibilities of oil painting in this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop. Build confidence with colour, mark-making, and painterly techniques in a morning.
| 21 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Last 3 places | Book |
Expressive Landscape in Oils
Short Art Workshops – Oil – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a001r00000xN2t2
Active Instance: a02Nz00000f5GcQIAU, 21-Sep-2026
Explore the colour, movement and atmosphere of St Ives through plein air studies and expressive studio oil painting.
| 21 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Last 3 places | Book |
Beyond the Brush: Experimental Abstraction
Short Art Workshops – Acrylic – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000Va37I
Active Instance: a02Nz00000epWRpIAM, 22-Sep-2026
Amy Albright will lead this half-day workshop, helping you experiment with playful techniques and tools to create expressive abstract acrylic paintings.
| 22 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Sea, Sky + Lanyon
Short Art Workshops – Acrylic – Seascapes
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000qBwyt
Active Instance: a02Nz00000epWejIAE, 22-Sep-2026
Capture the atmosphere and energy of the Cornish coast in a loose, expressive way. With inspiration from Peter Lanyon, the focus is on interpretation rather than realism.
| 22 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Painting Dramatic Landscapes
St Ives September Festival – Mixed Media – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000D9BXy
Active Instance: a02Nz00000emyPTIAY, 23-Sep-2026
Using experimental materials and mark making, create dramatic responses to the St Ives landscape that evoke a sense of place.
| 23 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Painting Dramatic Seascapes
Short Art Workshops – Mixed Media – Seascapes
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000D9Gr5
Active Instance: a02Nz00000emssTIAQ, 23-Sep-2026
Using experimental materials and mark making, create dramatic responses to the seascape, inspired by the paintings of Joan Eardley.
| 23 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Full | Request |
Painting Still Life in Oils
Short Art Workshops – Oil – Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000rJ1jY
Active Instance: a02Nz00000fcIqjIAE, 24-Sep-2026
Slow down and explore the timeless practice of still life oil painting and develop a deeper understanding of light, tone and atmosphere.
| 24 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Book |
Tonal Drawing: Light, Shadow + Form
Short Art Workshops – Drawing – Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000rJWor
Active Instance: a02Nz00000fcHrRIAU, 24-Sep-2026
Discover the possibilities of tonal drawing in this focused workshop exploring light, shadow, form and observation.
| 24 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Book |
Love Drawing Landscape
Short Art Workshops – Drawing – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a004J00000Ph0eC
Active Instance: a02Nz00000fCrwzIAC, 25-Sep-2026
Fire up your drawing confidence with this half day workshop. Working in the coastal landscape and in the studio learn new ways of looking at the world and interpreting it through your drawings in a sketchbook.
| 25 Sep – 3 hour(s) 09:30 – £60 | Book |
St Ives in Line + Wash
Art Courses – Water-based – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000BGo9C
Active Instance: a02Nz00000jyqrRIAQ, 25-Sep-2026
Create beautiful postcard sized paintings, inspired by our town and beach surroundings, using simple pen and wash techniques. No experience necessary, just come along and have fun.
| 25 Sep – 3 hour(s) 13:30 – £60 | Book |
Liberating Landscape
Art Courses – Acrylic – Landscape
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000ngA0N
Active Instance: a02Nz00000ijWlZIAU, 01-Oct-2026
On this one-day workshop Iona Sanders will help you to find new ways in to creating expressive and lively acrylic landscape paintings.
| 1 Oct – 3 hour(s) 09:00 – £60 | Full | Request |
The Alchemy of Bookmaking
Art Courses – Mixed Media
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000joGNp
Active Instance: a02Nz00000XLkrLIAT, 10-Oct-2026
Explore bookmaking beyond the traditional. Using Gelli printing, collage, and stitch, this course focuses on playful experimentation and creative freedom, resulting in a unique, hand-made book.
| 10 – 11 Oct – 2 days – £295 | Book |
Vibrant Florals
Short Art Workshops – Mixed Media – Still Life
Active sort order:
Course ID: a00Nz00000USldw
Active Instance: a02Nz00000hXyO2IAK, 07-Nov-2026
A playful and process-led workshop exploring the possibilities of mixed media painting through drawing, composition and mark-making.
| 7 Nov – 1 day – £120 | Last place | Book |
Learn to Paint in Just 3 hours
A short art workshop is an accessible way to try a new medium, build confidence or add a creative experience to your visit. Held in small groups at our historic studios overlooking Porthmeor Beach, you can choose from a range of mediums and subjects, from acrylic painting lessons, mixed media art courses, oil painting or life drawing.
Our workshops are led by experienced Cornwall art tutors who are practising artists themselves. Each session combines demonstrations with practical making and individual guidance.
Can’t join us in person? Choose from our online art courses and learn from home.
Enjoy a Full Day
Art Class in St Ives
While a three-hour workshop offers a focused introduction, a full-day art class gives you more time to explore a subject and develop your work. The day usually combines tutor demonstrations, practical exercises and independent making.
All materials and equipment are provided, so you can simply arrive and get started.
Get Creative with Our Summer Art Workshops in St Ives
Our summer art workshops in St Ives usually run throughout July and August, offering a varied programme of three-hour and one-day sessions. Explore painting, drawing and mixed media, with professional tuition and all materials provided.
Summer workshops are especially popular with visitors looking to add a creative experience to their holiday. Our summer programme it typically launched in the Spring.
During the St Ives September Festival, we also run short art workshops in our studios – with a programme of 20 sessions taught by ten of our artist tutors. These workshops are a great opportunity to get a taster for our longer art courses in St Ives, or try a new medium or subject.
Availability can be limited during these busier months, so early booking is recommended. You can contact our friendly team for any advice.
Make the most of
your time in St Ives
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, St Ives’ mild subtropical climate attracts visitors all year round. Its historical charm and scenic setting combined with bustling restaurants and numerous art galleries make this an ideal choice for a short art workshop in Cornwall.
We’ve rounded up the best things to see and do whilst you’re here – and if you need any advice on where to stay, visit our accommodation page for nearby properties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Short Art Workshops
How long do short art workshops last?
Our short art workshops last either three hours or a full day. Three-hour sessions usually run from 10am–1pm, while full-day classes run from 10am–4pm.
During the St Ives September Festival, workshops run from 9.30am–12.30pm and 1.30pm–4.30pm.
Do you offer short art workshops for kids?
Yes. We run summer art workshops for children aged 7–13 in St Ives. These two-and-a-half-hour sessions usually take place every Friday during the summer holidays and are taught by professional artists in our Porthmeor Studios, with all materials provided.
During term time, we also run monthly workshops for children at our studios in St Ives.
How much do short art classes cost?
Prices may change from year to year, but our three-hour workshops typically cost £60 and full-day classes cost £120. Our summer art workshops for children are usually £30.