At the heart of the studio is Meg, our Studio Manager, whose role weaves together organisation, creativity, and care. We caught up with her to hear more about her day-to-day, her own artistic practice, and what makes the studio such a special place to be.

Meg, Studio Manager

Life in the Studio

First thing on a Monday morning, I check the studio space has been set up for the right number of students, with the correct materials placed on each desk. I work through the lists that the tutors have compiled and ensure everything is accurately laid out and, of course, brew the coffee and set out tea for everyone!

The tutor arrives shortly after, and I check they have everything they need, print any final materials, and make sure everything is in place before students arrive. I then welcome the group, help everyone settle in, and hand over to the tutor to start their day of teaching. It’s always exciting welcoming new faces, and seeing some of our regular students.

Once everyone is settled, I head to the office to catch up on emails and coordinate upcoming courses – communicating with tutors and staff, ordering stock, updating rotas, and handling any HR or health and safety matters. I also review course feedback, organise school visits and work experience placements, liaise with artists, and manage our ongoing small exhibition at The Sloop Inn. I don’t mind getting stuck into DIY when needed too!

Throughout the day, I’m in and out of the studio – supporting tutors and interacting with students where needed, keeping the space organised and tidy, and constantly preparing for the next course.

What’s something people might not realise about running a studio?

Perhaps just how many strands there are to the role and how many balls there are to juggle. Every day usually follows a completely different tangent to how I had planned it first thing!

How do you help artists bring their courses to life?

I most definitely have a ‘can do’ attitude, and I appreciate that in order to deliver a successful art course you need to be in a friendly and welcoming space, with wonderfully diverse and good-quality materials.

I will always guide a new tutor before their first course, giving them an outline of how the school works and what to expect. I carry this on throughout their time with us and will always be on hand to help out when needed, or offer support before, during, and after their course.

Meg, Studio Manager

Life in Your Studio

Can you tell us about your own art practice? What draws you to the kind of work you make and when do you find time to create alongside your role?

I feel very much a part of the St Ives art community, with many friends and most of my colleagues being local artists.

Whilst continuing in my much-loved job, I do prioritise time to work on my art in my studio in my back garden. I spend my Friday’s off in my studio, and that day can spill out into the weekend if I get lost in the moment.

I have really enjoyed freeing up my style and exploring a new way of working after being trained in a more tight, illustrative way at Falmouth University back in 1996. I feel a looser, more painterly way of working suits me, and I am excited to explore this further.

I find inspiration everywhere I go, especially in the relationship of colour – the depth, tone, and mood it creates. Colour is my passion, and it truly excites me. Many people tell me they like my artwork because it is happy and vibrant, and it grabs them for that reason.

Out in the elements, I can often find myself thinking about a particular colour I’ve seen, and it can stay on my mind until I get home to my studio to explore it. Living by the sea heavily influences my work, and most of my inspiration comes from my daily journey to and from the School studios in St Ives, or walks I take with my family at the weekend.

Exhibitions

In March 2022, a handful of my colleagues and I held a collective exhibition at the St Ives Society of Artists’ Crypt Gallery. This inspired me to submit three artworks to the Mariners Gallery Spring Open in April 2022, which led to further successful submissions to the Christmas Open in 2023 and the Spring Open in 2024.

In October 2024, I applied to become a member of the St Ives Society of Artists, and I was delighted to hear in January 2025 that my application was successful. Being a member gives me regular goals to work towards and continues to inspire the development of my portfolio.

I’m also taking part in another collaborative exhibition with colleagues at the Crypt Gallery in St Ives. The show, Ebb and Bloom, runs from 4th–10th April we would love to see people!

Meg, Studio Manager

Work-life Balance

How does working with other artists influence your own work?

Working alongside such highly talented, inspirational, and motivational tutors and colleagues heavily influences my work. After nine years working here, so much of what the tutors are teaching has seeped in – even if subconsciously.

I have struggled for years to loosen up my style, and I feel I am now closer to being more relaxed and able to ‘harness chance’ and be freer in my technique. I think working alongside my colleagues has also motivated me in a more practical way – chatting about opportunities and planning exhibitions together.

Has your own experience as an artist shaped how you support students and tutors?

Being a practising artist alongside my studio role means I can empathise with what is important, both as an artist and as a learner in a field that can sometimes make you feel insecure, nervous, overwhelmed, or even question your abilities.

I’m also very aware, in a practical sense, that quality art materials matter – and that a paintbrush can be a very personal thing! Or lighting (or tea breaks).

If the Fuller Studio had a personality, I would describe it as warm-hearted, welcoming and wise – the three W’s!

Which season do you most enjoy working at Porthmeor Studios?

That is so tricky! I have such fond memories of each season.

I love the autumn, when the hustle and bustle of summer begins to fizzle, the nights draw in, and I’m still at work as the sun sets over Porthmeor Beach. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of the log burner raging in the studio next door.

I love the spring, when fresh sunlight creeps in through the windows, casting bright reflections on the wooden floorboards. And in winter, when the sea and wind are raging outside, we are cosy and warm in the studio, drinking endless cups of tea with biscuits.

But I do confess I love the buzz of the studio in summer -looking out at the crystal blue water beyond Porthmeor Beach, jumping in the sea at lunchtime with my colleagues, or sitting on the front step watching the world go by.

Which artist (past or present) would you love to see walk into the studio?

Aside from an easy answer being Leonard Fuller or Marjorie Mostyn (co-founders of St Ives School of Painting), I would say Alfred Wallis. I think he’d have quite a story to tell. As I walk past his house every day, I often think about how well known and revered he is now, and that he had no notion of this during his lifetime.

Despite the admiration of leading artists, critics, and collectors in the British Modern Art scene throughout the 1930s – as well as international acclaim – his paintings were only ever bought for a few shillings, and he continued to live in poverty all his life.

I’d like him to be aware of his significance in St Ives, and British art, have a chat about how he feels about that and also chat to him about his life and work.