Art History and St Ives
Discover stories from the St Ives art scene, past and present – from influential artists to the people and places that keep the artistic community alive today.
Celebrating 250 Years of J.M.W. Turner
April 2026 marks the end of a year-long celebration: 250 years since the birth of J.M.W. Turner, one of Britain’s most influential and visionary painters. Across galleries, museums, and coastal landscapes, Turner has been celebrated not just as a historical figure, but as an artist who changed how we see the natural world. Born on 23 April 1775, Turner was fascinated…
Peter Lanyon: Flight, Landscape, + the Spirit of St Ives
Few British artists are as inseparable from place as Peter Lanyon. His art is not just inspired by Cornwall – it moves through it, shaped by wind, cliffs, sea, and lived experience. Nowhere is this connection more felt than in St Ives, the artistic community that became both his home and the centre of his…
Joan Eardley (1921–1963)
Joan Eardley remains an evocative and powerful figure in twentieth-century British art. Though born in England, she made her name in Scotland, capturing the grit of post-war Glasgow children and the elemental force of the Scottish coast. Her work is deeply rooted in place, people, and landscape – three intertwined strands that shaped her life…
Sir Terry Frost RA: A Life in Colour + Light
This month, as we celebrate the birthday of Sir Terry Frost RA (1915–2003), we reflect on his bold arcs, circles, and vivid contrasts that defined post-war modern art – and on the extraordinary journey that led him there.
Alfred Wallis: 100 Years On
This August marked 100 years since Alfred Wallis first picked up a paintbrush – beginning a remarkable, self-taught artistic career that continues to resonate across the art world. Read more about his incredible life and career, and discover how his paintings are still being appreciated today. Born on 8 August 1855 in Devonport, Plymouth, Alfred…
Anne Redpath + the Mastery of Light + Grey
Anne Redpath OBE ARA (1895–1965) remains one of Scotland’s most celebrated painters, renowned for her richly textured still lifes and evocative interiors. Often grouped with the Scottish Colourists for her vibrant palette and expressive brushwork, Redpath also developed a distinct visual language rooted in subtlety; especially in her masterful use of greys and nuanced light….
Dame Laura Knight: ‘A Dark Pool’
Few artists captured the vitality of early 20th-century Britain quite like Dame Laura Knight. Known for her luminous palette, bold compositions, and commitment to painting the world around her, Knight carved out a space for herself in a male-dominated art world, and in doing so, redefined what it meant to be a modern British artist….
Ithell Colquhoun: The Alchemist of Surrealism
Ithell Colquhoun (1906–1988) was a visionary artist who stood between surrealism and mysticism. Known for her profound exploration of the unconscious and her dedication to esoteric studies, Colquhoun’s legacy is enigmatic and fascinating. Colquhoun’s Foundations Born in India to British parents, Colquhoun’s early life was shaped by exposure to diverse cultures. Moving to England, she…
The Roy Ray Legacy Fund
Roy Ray attended St Ives School of Painting as a student in the 1960s and was fundamental in its success from the late 1970s to early 2000s. As Principal, he was instrumental in bringing more accessible contemporary art courses and welcomed even more visitors to the St Ives art community. About Roy Ray and St…
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust was established by Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham in 1987. The trust aims to foster, protect and promote the reputation of Barns-Graham as well as supporting and inspiring art and art history students through the provision of bursaries and scholarships. The Artist’s Life and Legacy Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, known as Willie, was born…
Celebrating the Legacy of Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975) stands as one of the most celebrated sculptors of the 20th century, a trailblazer who redefined modern art through her innovative use of form, space, and material. Born in Wakefield, England, Hepworth’s artistic journey spanned decades, during which she created an extensive body of work that continues to inspire today. Hepworth’s art…
‘Images of Downlong – 1880s-to the present day’
We are pleased to share an exclusive talk and Q&A with Janet Axten and a panel of local artists, including Hilary Jean Gibson, artist tutor at St Ives School of Painting, as they discuss why comparatively few artists have chosen to paint Downlong, one of the most historic parts of St Ives. ‘Images of Downlong…
St Ives Past & Present
Experience the history of the St Ives art scene through this collection of films featuring St Ives School of Painting and the importance of St Ives and Porthmeor Studios as an artists’ colony. Since 1938. A glimpse into St Ives and the St Ives School of Painting originally established here in 1938 by Leonard Fuller….
Bonnard The Revolutionary with Alice Mumford
Join Alice in our studio, as she takes her students on a gallop through the history of art, to demonstrate what a revolutionary Bonnard was. Part One Part Two Part Three