This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Course details
Join us in the inspirational setting of St Ives and learn to create luminous paintings of boats, buoys and lobster pots, set against the stunning backdrop of St Ives harbour.
A chance to enjoy St Ives’ iconic harbour while mastering watercolour painting. Artist David Webb will build your confidence in painting and observational drawing. You will create unique compositions of the boats, buoys and lobster pots of St Ives set against the stunning backdrop of the turquoise sea.
Learn various watercolour techniques such as wet-into-wet, building up washes from light to dark, tonal values and colour mixing. David is an extremely accomplished artist specialising in watercolour. He will help you create luminous studies that embody the vivid quality of working outside. Ideal for beginners and more experienced painters alike; this is an exciting chance to explore St Ives and its maritime history through fresh eyes.
Day to day plan
Day 1
After an introduction to the course, David will begin with some tips and practical exercises on using watercolour. He will focus on the fluid nature of the medium and how to apply the paint in clean washes.
Later, we’ll take the unique opportunity to visit Mark Dion’s installation A Maritime Artist in the Porthmeor Studios, where we’ll draw and paint directly from fishing ephemera.
Day 2
In the morning we’ll explore the harbour and the unmistakable shapes of maritime life: anchors, buoys and the boats themselves, where we’ll make drawings and water-based sketches. Back in the studio we will use these studies to create larger watercolour paintings.
Day 3
We’ll visit Smeaton’s Pier, working from ephemera such as ropes, crab and lobster pots. We’ll draw from the boats moored in the harbour, on sand or sea, depending on the tide.
Back in the studios we will create bold, watercolour paintings on a larger scale, based on the sketches and studies we have made over the previous few days.
Taught by
What to Bring
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Timings and Breaks
The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
What our students say
I have attended classes in watercolour painting before and not many of them were as instructive as this one. The teacher was very friendly, he made sure we made progress, and he was full of little hints and ideas on how to improve each individual painting. We spent delightful mornings sketching St Ives and then moved to the studio to turn the sketches into watercolour paintings. The studio was spacious, brightly lit by daylight, and fitted with everything we needed. We were supplied with all the materials and were allowed to keep the sketchbook. Friendly staff members cared for coffee and tea and requests of material. Our small group was very delightful and thanks to our teacher all our individual levels of skills and knowledge were merged into one instructive and yet easy and friendly weekend.
FAQs
Studio Courses
How can I get help in choosing a course?
Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and the school has plastic folders available in our shop for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home.
What do I need to bring?
Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.
What do I do for lunch?
Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.
What times do courses run?
Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.
Weekend Courses run 10am – 4pm on the first day but the final day starts at 9.30 and ends at 3.30 with a short lunch break to enable people to get home that evening.
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
The School is a very friendly and welcoming place for all ages and experience. Our drop-in life classes and August half-day workshops are ideal for those wanting to have a go for the first time. Most of our longer courses are also fine for novices.
If any of the courses do need a bit of experience we flag this up in the brochure and on the website.
Booking a Course
How can I reserve a place?
We will hold a provisional reservation for 24 hours if you give us a call whilst you find accommodation. Otherwise please book online or by telephone 01736 797180.
You can reserve a place with a £100 deposit; balance is due 12 weeks before course start date.
About St Ives
Where do I park?
The nearest long stay public car parks are the Island and Barnoon Long Stay Car Park, both a 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at Trenwith Car Park by the leisure centre and walk down into town. If you don’t fancy the walk up the hill at the end of the day there is a shuttle bus which runs from outside the cinema.
How do I get there?
Public Transport: If you are coming from further afield the main train line runs into St Erth which is a 15 min taxi ride away or you can take the St Ives Bay Line which runs approx. every 30 minutes. The School is a 10 minute walk from St Ives station.
Driving: M5 will take you to Exeter where we recommend that you take the A30 across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, leave the A30 at St Erth roundabout for St Ives. Turn right at the second roundabout. This road will take you through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives.
Where can I stay?
St Ives has a huge selection of hotels, guest houses and self catering accommodation to choose from. Please browse the art holidays St Ives section on our website and give us a call if you would like any help.