St Ives is renowned for the number of galleries and resident artists in town, particularly non-figurative (or "modern") art.

The best know is probably the Tate St Ives, which is worth a visit for its architecture and spectacular location on Porthmeor Beach alone. Exhibitions vary throughout the year and they also stage talks and other events including live music.

The Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden is also a worth seeing, a haven of peace, particularly on busy days in the town. It has many examples of her work and her studio has been left exactly as it was on the day she died.

St Ives School of Painting, in the historic Porthmeor Studios complex offers a range of classes and courses in various media. These last anything from half a day to a week. You need to book for the longer courses, but most of their short classes are on a "walk in" basis.

There are a host of smaller galleries featuring everything from traditional maritime art through toleading edge modern art. A selection of these are listed below.

Jo's work includes weaving, felt making, beading, knitting, fabric dyeing, silk velvet, rag rugging, paper making and space dyed threads.

She runs workshops for both adults and children, in libraries, schools and community centres around Cornwall. She also runs classes for small groups and offers individual tuition in textile techniques.

She is a great teacher and says - "My aim, in my workshops is to inspire people to explore their creativity and create textile art of their own."

She undertakes commissions and supplies work to galleries and shops.

Her website contains details of her textile art workshops and her work.

Jo McIntosh - Fairy Palace

St Ives In The Frame is a regular weekly guided tour that will give you an insight into the art and artists of St Ives - past and present.

Led by experienced local guide Valerie Hurry.

The tour starts at 11.00 am every Thursday and lasts about ninety minutes. No need to book - just meet outside St Ives Guildhall. Cost is £5.00 per person.

Individual and group tours are also available by arrangement. Valerie's website has more details.

Art Tours Of St Ives

The Cornish land and seascapes, offers a broad and diverse source of imagery for a new painting language. The ambiguity between abstraction and representation in my work can be traced back to studies under Rod Pountney, in particular the method of drawing from the model and the dialogue with Colour.

The dialogue between abstraction and representation has never been problematic for me. I aim to describe the abstract element underlying the more powerful forms of realism. It begins with an idea basted on strong observation, and ends with creating a sum greater than its parts. Pierre Bonnard's use of colour made him particularly important in my development as an artist and to the growing awareness of the possibilities of colour. Colour evokes emotion and romance whilst the line conveys the image. Once the composition has been decided upon, the reality to a point is not so necessary. I am free to create light and atmosphere with tone, brushwork and colour.

Keir Williamson - St Ives

Steve paints a variety of subjects - mainly focussing on portraits. Some are richly embellished with calligraphy and gold leaf, others in a much simpler looser style.

His work is truly original and unique and is collected worldwide.

Background - Steve trained at Ware College of Art. He worked as an illustrator during the 80s and early 90s eventually moving to Cornwall in 1997 where he built a reputation for his fine renderings of mystical subjects.

In recent years Steve has moved towards a looser more expressive style, and continues to evolve a depth and content to his work.

His gallery is on The Wharf in St Ives. He has originals for sale plus limited edition prints.

Visit his website for a full gallery of recent work and more information:

Steve Petrucci Fox - Amor Vincit Omnia

Using acrylics with a limited but vibrant palette, Caroline’s paintings examine and present the subjects that inspire and challenge her - the translucent quality of a cresting wave, the excitement and anticipation of walking to a secret beach reached only by finding a path through a maze of dunes.

For the past 11 years she has had her own studio near St Ives and is one of the most well known and successful artists in the area. Her work is also exhibited for sale at St Eia Gallery in the Harbour Galleries on St Ives seafront.

Her website showcases a selection of her work including seascapes, landscapes and abstracts inspired by the cosatline of West Cornwall. She also undertakes commissions.

Caroline Atkinson - Branch Lines

Julia is one of the few specialist portrait artists in St Ives.

She welcomes commissions and can produce portraits in oils on canvas or pencil on paper.

Her portraits of people can be produced from a sitting or a good quality photograph - so if you are not in St Ives you can still commission a wonderful family portrait. She can produce paintings for special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries.

She also undertakes animal portraits - specialising in horses, dogs and cats.

Her website has a full portfolio to show you the range of work that she can produce.

Julia Ciccone - Family Portrait

"I thought of all things gold and I thought of you" said one of her students to Angela once upon a time ........

The gold, occasionally copper, used for decorative fine lines and marks are often the distinctive signs of a painting or collage of an Angela Diggle work. A collage using hydrangea heads or a cat looking out to watch a fantastic sunset from the safety of a window ledge may glisten with gold touches and the poppies which often feature in her paintings can be outlined in gold.

You can find Angela either in her tiny studio / gallery in Hicks Court (through the famous arch) off The Digey - or 'on duty' with the St Ives Silk Painters in The Sloop Craft Market where her hand painted silk scarves are for sale.

Angela has been teaching art / silk painting for over 20 years, which may explain the varied media she explores. Private lessons are available by appointment

Angela also undertakes commissions.

Angela Diggle - Mixed Media Collage

Although he paints a wide variety of subjects, the Penwith landscape and rocky coastline have provided Colin's main source of inspiration

His abstract work also still has a strong sense of place.

His work has been exhibited at many galleries around Cornwall and nationwide.

You can visit his gallery on the harbour in St Ives, inside the Harbour Galleries. He has a range of originals and prints fr sale.

Visit his website to see a range of Colin's work including both landcsapes and abstracts. He has originals for sale and a range of limited edition prints that you can buy online

Colin Birchall - Untitled

Painter of beautiful botanical studies, cottage doors and wildlife portraits. She works at Harbour Galleries on The Wharf in St Ives.

As well as originals she has a range of signed limited edition prints for sale and will undertake commissions.

Hilary has an affinity for nature and loves to paint finely observed studies from a refreshing creative perspective. Her recent works have been compared to Georgia O'Keeffe.

Her unique style and approach give her the broad appeal from those wanting to collect original artworks as well as print collectors looking for something different from the norm.

Hilary Mayes - Peregrine Falcon

Donald is a specialist maritime artist, his work includes depictions of historic naval battles such as Trafalgar and historic ships.

He also paints atmospheric impressions of Cornish harbour scenes.

He is based at St Ives Gallery on the harbour and his gallery has original oil paintings as well as limited edition prints for sale. He also undertakes commissions.

His website displays a portfolio of his work.

Donald MacLeod - Victory at Trafalgar

The town's own world class gallery located in an amazing setting on Porthmeor Beach.

Exhibitions change through the year with a mixture of St Ives artists and works from the Tate collection. They also run a programme of talks, classes, music and other events.

Whether you enjoy the art is a matter of taste and depends on the current exhibition. In any case it is worth visiting just for the stunning architecture and setting.

You can enter the shop, cafe and roof terrace for free if you want to just enjoy the architecture and stunning views over Porthmeor Beach.

Tate St Ives

Hepworth, who died in 1975, asked in her will that Trewyn Studios and the adjacent garden, with a group of her sculptures placed as she wished, be permanently open to the public.

Visiting the Museum and Garden is a unique experience, which gives remarkable insight into the work and outlook of one of Britain's most important twentieth-century artists.

The sculptures are quite stunning and represent a cross section of Hepworth's work. You can see how it evolved from her early days through to her time in St Ives.

The garden is also a little haven of peace and quiet, a nice place to just sit and chill out or meditate.

Barbara Hepworth

Art Space - artists collective with gallery on the harbour.

Belgrave Gallery - modern British contemporary art.

Millennium - cutting edge modern art.

Seb West Gallery - impressions of St Ives and Cornwall.

Waterside Gallery - figurative fine art.

Would you like a full listing for your gallery here ?
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St Ives Arts Club