Artist Stories
Meet the artists who teach at St Ives School of Painting, with interviews and reflections about their creative practices and inspirations.
In Conversation: Julian Vilarrubi
Ahead of his upcoming courses, we caught up with Brighton-based artist, Julian Vilarrubi. There’s something compelling about an artist who refuses to stay still – someone whose work is shaped as much by movement and observation as it is by tradition. Julian Vilarrubi is one of those artists. Trained at the prestigious Royal Academy Schools…
In Conversation: Lesley Plumridge
We’re pleased to welcome artist Lesley Plumridge to our team of artist tutors for 2026. Based at the creative hub of Krowji in Redruth, Lesley is a mixed media designer and maker whose work thrives on experimentation, curiosity, and play. A graduate of Falmouth University (BA First Class Honours in Textile Design, 2005), her practice…
In Conversation: Helen Ward
We’re pleased to welcome artist Helen Ward to our team of artist tutors for 2026. Helen is a visual artist whose work embraces experimentation, chance, and the creative possibilities of “mistake making,” developing a distinctive visual language that captures both observation and thought. Helen graduated from Farnham University with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art,…
In Conversation: Neil Canning
We’re pleased to welcome artist Neil Canning to our team of artist tutors for 2026! We caught up with Neil ahead of his first studio course taking place in June. Although on the surface Neil’s work may appear to be quite abstract, it remains very much a part of the landscape/seascape tradition. Rather than taking…
In Conversation: Ella Carty
We’re pleased to welcome artist Ella Carty to our team of artist tutors for 2026! We managed to catch her during a packed schedule, so we took the chance to sit down and learn more about her practice and the way she works. Ella Carty is a painter who investigates her own experiences of the…
Sketchbook Tips from Artist Tutor Nina Squire
Artist and tutor Nina Squire recently shared her expert tips for creating easy and effective sketchbook studies using pastels in the latest issue of Leisure Painter magazine. While watercolour and pencil are popular go-to mediums for outdoor sketching due to their portability and ease of use, Nina shares why soft pastels work as a great…
Earth Day: Meet Artist John Dyer
This Earth Day, we’re catching up with artist John Dyer, who will be teaching an upcoming course, ‘Painting St Ives: Your Narrative’, in September. However, tutoring is just one of John’s many ongoing projects, and today we are discussing his incredible work with regards to Last Chance to Paint, a not-for-profit project supported by the…
Thinking Allowed with Alice Mumford
We invited artist and St Ives School of Painting tutor, Alice Mumford, onto a free interactive webinar where she grappled with some of the key burning questions for artists. Is Competition Good for Creativity? Discussion led by Alice Mumford Picasso and Braque forged a relationship that was part intimate friendship, part rivalry. The two artists…