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At St Ives School of Painting, we provide quality art course tuition suitable for all levels from complete beginners to those with more experience. Learn from our team of 30 contemporary artists teaching small groups, in our studio overlooking Porthmeor beach in St Ives, where we have been since 1938.
Take a bit of St Ives magic into your home or studio with our online courses. Browse our library for courses to watch now or look out for new courses added every month. From landscape to life, oils to watercolour we’ll help you find the approach that’s right for you.
Browse our range of art courses
Studio Courses
Small group classes, designed to enable anyone, at any level, receive the individual attention they need to develop their skills.
Online Courses
Our online courses have the same inspirational, high quality tuition as our studio courses, without the need to leave your home.
workshops
Short on time? Enhance your holiday with short art workshops in St Ives – develop skills and explore creativity in 3-hour or one-day sessions.
online art club
This is your invitation to start nurturing a weekly creative habit, to slow down, switch off and just focus on you and your creativity. Enjoy this gentle routine with no pressure, no perfection, just a little creative pocket of time you can look forward to.
LIFE DRAWING
Join our twice weekly tutored classes drawing the nude, every Thursday and Saturday. Everyone’s welcome.
OUR HISTORY
Discover more about the rich history of our institution. Starting in April 1938, when a dream finally became reality.
Visit a location like no other
St Ives, one of the most stunning locations in the world, has long been attracting artists.
Our Studios
For more than 85 years St Ives School of Painting has been running art classes in Cornwall, from our stunning studios overlooking the ocean. Step into history and tread the boards where Ben Nicholson walked.
Coming Up
STUDIO (WORKSHOP)
Exploring Gelli
Printing
26 May | 1 Day
Lesley Plumridge
STUDIO (WORKSHOP)
Liberating
Landscape
28 May | 1 Day
Iona Sanders
STUDIO (4-DAY COURSE)
Figure in a
Landscape
8-11 June | 4 Days
Julian Vilarrubi
What our students say
I liked everything about the course, it was what it said in the course description. Thank you, I enjoyed spending time in such a lovely warm encouraging environment.
These online sessions are consistently fabulous, and this one did not disappoint. Gave me an insight into Paula Rego’s work as well as Gary’s thoughtful and insightful commentary as he paints and draws his wonderful images.
I loved learning new colour mixes; different mark making; wildly different landscapes. I have been to many course there and this was one of the best.
Transformative in terms of artistic process.
The space and facilities in the school were excellent, great equipment and light with individual stations. The tutor’s knowledge of colour mixing and creating a varied palette was excellent.
It was beyond my expectations. The inspiring surroundings, fabulous teacher and wonderful cohort.
I’ve wanted to paint abstracts for some time now but needed some guidance on how to start. This course has got me up and running. I’m looking forward to spending more time using the techniques Natalie demonstrated.
The resources and the space to work in were excellent. The tutoring was wonderfully inspiring and supportive. I felt encouraged and supported all through and learnt new things.
Join our Art Community
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Join our newsletter to receive weekly emails about upcoming courses and the latest news and events!
BECOME A MEMBER
Join as a member for an annual fee of £40 and receive half price life drawing every Thursday and Saturday.
MAKE A DONATION
We have been a registered charity since 2000. Every gift, however large or small, will make a difference to us.
FAQs
Can you help me choose the right course?
Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.
Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
How do I reserve a place on a course?
You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.
If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
Discover more…
Exploring Gelli Printing
Tue 26 May – 1 day
Lesley Plumridge
Discover the creative possibilities of Gelli printing in this playful and experimental one-day workshop with Lesley Plumridge.
Boo Mallinson
My approach to painting is less about rules and techniques and more about rediscovering a sense of play; loosening up and learning to respond freely and fearlessly. Experimental, fun, intuitive, gestural, process-focused. Attending Byam Shaw School of Art and City & Guilds in the 1980s, Boo moved to Dorset in 2002 where she discovered her…
Kerry Harding
‘Giving permission’ and ‘making transparent’ is what I try to do every time I teach. This inevitably leads to the reward of witnessing a small epiphany or pivotal direction change in a student’s approach. I enjoy teaching at the school as it has no set ‘school’ approach, each course is put together and taught from the tutors own practice. This has the benefit of enabling me to be both tutor and student within this process.