Our Charity Information
Established in 1938, St Ives School of Painting became a registered charity in 2000.
We offer a range of art courses for today’s growing community of aspiring and practising artists, teaching from our studios overlooking the ocean and more recently online, enabling us to extend our reach. We cater for all ages and run inclusion projects for disadvantaged young people all year round. We aim to make our courses accessible to all with low fee entry points and bursary options.
Our Aims
The charity’s objectives are specifically restricted to advancing the education of the public in the appreciation and practice of the visual arts in particular, but not exclusively, by the establishment and maintenance of an art school in St Ives in the County of Cornwall.
Our Mission
To enrich people’s lives by nurturing and enabling their creative spirit
Our Vision
To provide high quality tuition and inspirational spaces, bringing people together to make art.
Our Values
We are creative: passionate about our mission, resourceful and innovative
We are courageous: challenging ourselves and others to keep learning
We are caring: we work collaboratively with a generous spirit striving to deliver quality in everything we do
Join Our Board of Trustees
St Ives School of Painting is looking to recruit up to three Trustees to join our Board at an exciting time in our growth and development. We are looking for individuals with a passion for our work, who can bring new perspectives and expertise in key areas.
We welcome all applications, but are particularly interested in hearing from those with skills and experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Business development/ Business Owner
- Finance/Accounting
- Fundraising
- Legal
- Marketing
Requirements of the role
Please note the requirements below:
- Board meetings ONLINE 4 times a year
- Plus an in-person event once a year and role specific subcommittee meetings online or in person
- Unpaid position, expenses covered
We are committed to widening our board – who they are and their backgrounds – and strongly encourage applications from people who can bring different viewpoints, lived experience and perspectives to our work.
How to apply
Please email your CV and accompanying statement outlining what you can bring to the role and why you are interested, (no more than 500 words) to [email protected]
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a brief informal interview online with a small panel of Trustees.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about the role 01736 797180 or [email protected]
Board of Trustees
Neil Scott – Chair
Neil has been chair of the board since he joined in December 2014. He is a member of the Finance Working Group. Neil is also the Vice-Chair and Treasurer at the Newlyn & The Exchange and spent eleven years on various councils and committees at Tate. His career spanned nearly thirty years in retail management and a dozen years developing and managing Business Improvement Districts. He lives in St Ives with his family.
Julie Wood
Julie joined the board June 2019. After a career in Human Resources and Organisational Development, Julie enjoys continuing to use her professional knowledge, skills and experience in a voluntary capacity, especially in such a dynamic and creative environment as the School. Julie has a broad professional knowledge base and technical skills but she has a particular interest in the softer skills that support individual and collective change and development and is a qualified coach and mentor. Julie is a member of the HR Working Group.
Thea Cole
Thea joined the board October 2021. Thea is a digital media expert with a background in TV production and heads up the creative agency, Latimer. Prior to this she was Media Com’s first Director of Content and BAFTA’s first Head of Communications where she launched the youth brand, BAFTA Guru. Originally from the West Country, Thea has a long track record as a BBC TV producer/ director. Thea has been supporting the work on Intellectual Property.
Kerry Harding
Kerry joined the board May 2022. Cornish-based Kerry is a professional artist and tutor with a background in marketing and account management. She currently focuses on her personal practice with exhibitions both nationally and internationally. Kerry’s affinity with the School as a former tutor gives her particular sensitivity to its heritage, employees and the experience of its students while also appreciating the pressures of operating a successful business.
Miranda Bird
Miranda joined the board in January 2025 after nine years as Chair of Trustees for Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange. Her career has spanned roles in both the private sector, working for the world’s largest marketing communications company, Omnicom, and the public sector, specifically Culture, in Cornwall. Much of her work in recent years has focused on learning and development.
(Photo credit Steve Tanner)
Natalie Ellis
Natalie joined the board in November 2022. Natalie became a trustee after 6 years of supporting the School’s Culture Camp workshops. She is the Lead Art Teacher at a Cornish Secondary school and brings with her 18 years’ experience of teaching and learning. Natalie is passionate about young people having access to the arts, especially those from deprived areas and recognises the importance of a strong and inclusive art education.