Classes & Events
We offer a variety of workshops and events throughout the year - these are usually stand alone events, suitable for all ages and abilities. Scroll down the page for details or visit the Calendar page for date order.
EMAIL: [email protected]
ONLINE: Some events can be booked online via EVENTBRITE (see event description)
IN PERSON: PLEASE NOTE NEW PREMISES - First floor, TREGENNA PLACE, TR26 1SD /TELEPHONE: 0790 0095203
PRIVATE PARTIES, Planning a family outing, a friends’ get‑together, school trip, team‑building event or a birthday arty party - we can create a session tailored for your group
GIFT EXPERIENCES: If you would you like to gift any of our our courses or private art lessons, head to the Shop page for a range of gift vouchers.
ACCESSIBILITY: Please advise us if you have any mobility issues -so that we can plan ahead for outdoor classes. There is limited access for indoor classes - due to the nature of our building the only access to the first floor is via a flight of stairs. In some instances we may be able to arrange alternative venue.
OUTDOOR CLASSES
Discover the joy of sketching and painting outdoors around St Ives. These relaxed, stand alone sessions are suitable for all levels of experience and ages (children should have an adult present). There is friendly tutor support and guidance throughout. All materials are included. In poor weather we may have to work indoors, or cancel altogether.
DRAW ST IVES - OUTDOOR SKETCHING
Thursdays 10.30 - 12:00
£15 per person
Capture the charm of St Ives through a series of sketches using fine liner pens and graphite on high-quality drawing paper. Whether you're picking up a pen for the first time or refining your existing skills, these sessions are perfect for all levels. With guidance and tips at every stage, translate what you see into beautiful artwork.
SKETCHBOOKING - A SENSE OF PLACE
Price £25 pp inc A5 sketchbook
Wed 10.30 - 12.30
26 Aug / 16, 23 Sept / 7, 14, 21, 28 Oct
Capture the character of St Ives through sketch‑booking. Each session takes you to an inspiring location, where you’ll learn simple, effective ways to observe and record what we see from people, places, wildlife, architecture and seascapes. Experiment with mixed media — pens, graphite, collage, coloured pencils and wash — and build a vibrant sketchbook full of memories and moments.
WATERCOLOUR LANDSCAPES
Tuesday /10.30 - 12:30
8, 15, 22, 29 Sept / 13, 27 Oct
£25 per person
Each stand‑alone session takes you to a beautiful spot just a short walk from the gallery, chosen to suit the day’s theme and weather. Create several paintings inspired by the scenery — from sweeping seascapes and beaches to harbour views, tucked‑away streets or hidden gardens .
Open Drawing Class
MONDAYS 10 - 12 AM from Sept
COST: £12 Per Session inc. materials
VENUE : The Sorting Room
SUITABLE FOR: Adults & Accompanied Children, beginners & practiced artists
Would you like to Learn to draw? Or practise and develop your existing drawing skills? We offer a set theme at each stand alone session each week, from botanicals to still life, with materials provided. Held in the historic St Ives Arts Club, these stand alone sessions allow you to attend just one session, or a regular basis. A social and creative way to start your week! There's help and guidance on hand, with approaches to techniques and chosen media, with Tutor Pete Giles and occasional guest tutors. Click on link above - or email to reserve your place.
St Ives September Festival 12 - 26 Sept 2026
The September Festival is a yearly celebration of arts and music - with many events over a two week period - including gigs, music, films, exhibitions, open studios, theatre, street entertainment - across many venues. Below are our Festival events.
PICTURES OF YOU! Drop in Fast Portrait Studio
PICTURES OF YOU - DROP IN PORTRAIT STUDIO
Sat 12th & Sat 19th Sept / 10.30 - 5.30 pm
£25 per portrait
Venue: Barnoon Arts, 1st Floor, Tregenna Place TR26 1SD
A contemporary twist on traditional street portraiture returns to the St Ives September Festival. Our fast‑paced, fun pop‑up portrait studio is back, featuring a team of artists — each with their own distinctive style and creative approach - using a range of media from pencil, watercolours, pastels and digital work. Drop in, choose the artist whose work speaks to you, and sit for a unique portrait created in under 15 minutes. This year’s participating artists: Zoe Eaton, Eliza Armstrong, more TBA
ABSTRACT DRAWING WORKSHOP with Peter Giles
£40 / inc materials
Mon 14 September, 10.30 -13.00 pm
Barnoon Arts, 1st Floor Old Post Office, Tregenna Place, St Ives TR26 1SD
Dive into a creative exploration of patterns and abstraction with artist Peter Giles. Suitable for all drawing abilities, from complete beginners to experienced artists seeking a new visual language. Peter shares his ambient, process approach to abstraction - with guided exercises and group discussion focused on shapes and lines as the basis for pattern-making , using a variety of pens, marker pens, inks and colour pencils. You’ll leave with a finished artwork on quality paper.
Open Studios - St Ives September Festival
Peter Giles - Art Shop/ 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 26 Sept
Zoe Eaton: Studio One / 13th, 18th, 20th Sept, 11 - 4 pm
Barnoon Arts, 1st Floor, Tregenna Place TR26 1SD
This Year we will be opening our studio doors as part of the St Ives September Festival Programme! Take a look around the studios, see works in progress, and chat to the artists in their working environment. See Here for more details
Intuitive Abstract Painting
Price £40 includes materials and refreshments
Tues 15th Sept 10 - 12.30 am
VENUE Barnoon Arts, 1st floor, Old Post Office, Tregenna Place, St Ives
Have you wanted to try abstract painting? This workshop with Zoe Eaton looks at intuitive approaches to creating abstracts, using a series of playful and creative exercises, designed to tap into your inner sense of colour, form and composition. Get to experiment with mixed media including gouache, pastels and collage.
Zoe shares her methods of finding inspirations, keeping a sketchbook and creating a variety of study pieces, to develop ideas. Leave with an A5 sketchbook filled with your studies, and a finished piece on quality paper. Suitable for all levels of ability including beginners. To book, message us to reserve your place or purchase your ticket, above via Eventbrite link.
ART IN A DAY - STUDIO WORKSHOPS
As the days grow shorter join us for a curated series of one‑day studio workshops, designed to bring colour, warmth and inspiration. Each workshop is a stand‑alone session exploring a different theme — from colour theory and expressive abstraction to drawing. Working in our beautiful space in the centre of St Ives.
Price £65 (includes materials & refreshments)
Thursdays 10.00 - 16.00
VENUE Barnoon Arts, Tregenna Place, St Ives
The Art of Pen & Ink / Thurs 1 Oct
Take a deep dive into the world of inks and explore its full potential. During the morning you will learn how to make your own ink, explore properties of different types of inks (Indian, drawing, acrylic...) and experiment with tools and mark making techniques. During the afternoon, create we will create a number of pen in ink still life drawings on quality papers. Leave the day with a bottle of home made ink, a sketchbook full of notes and exercises and your finished pen and ink artworks.
Mastering The Art Of Gouache / Thurs 12 Nov
Explore the expressive possibilities of gouache in this hands‑on workshop. You’ll get to know this versatile, quick‑drying medium that settles to a beautiful matte finish — perfect for small artworks, journalling, illustration and mixed‑media pieces.
In the morning, you’ll experiment with colour mixing, layering, and a range of mark‑making techniques to build confidence and fluency with gouache. During the afternoon, you’ll create two finished pieces: a vibrant gouache floral painting and a mixed‑media still life on high‑quality papers.
Mastering Watercolours: Thurs 3 Dec
Learn how to use watercolours - ideal for complete beginners or those who wish to deepen thier painting techniques.- in the morning discover how to make a wash, mix colours, graduated wash. a range of marks, explore brushes, tools and papers - layer colours and use different types of paints. During the afternoon work on a watercolour seascape or still life composition on quality watercolour papers.
First Steps To Abstraction / Thurs 22 Oct
Take your first steps into abstract painting, taking inspiration from some of the St Ives modernist artists such as Patrick Heron, Wilhelmina Barns‑Graham and Terry Frost. During the morning you’ll explore a series of playful, practical exercises — including mark‑making, collage, reduction and improvisation — designed to help you loosen up, think differently, and begin shaping your own abstract style. Create a collection of small studies using a variety media. Use to create a finished painting in the afternoon with acrylic paint or mixed media.
Colourful Language: Theory & Practice / Thurs 5 Nov
Explore the power of colour in your artwork with Zoe Eaton. Learn how colour works — and use effectively in your own work. Understand and create a colour wheel - Understand and apply terms such as colour bias, hue, intensity - Discover how complementary and harmonious combinations work in practice. Gain practical methods for mixing any colour you want. In the afternoon, you’ll put these ideas into practice applying your new understanding of colour with confidence and creativity. Leave with colour wheel, a sketchbook full of colour notes and exercises, and finished paintings on quality papers.
Learn to Draw In A Day! Thurs 19 Nov 26
Discover the joy of drawing with our immersive one-day workshop, designed for everyone from complete beginners to those looking to refresh their skills and boost their confidence. Join artists Zoe Eaton and Peter Giles as they guide you through essential drawing techniques and exercises that will transform your abilities in just one day!
Understand and use basic drawing terms: line, tone, texture and composition.
How to improve your visual observation to draw anything you see.
Leave with a sketchbook full of notes and exercises and finished still life drawings on paper.
Portrait Drawing Classes From Life
TBA
£15 per session
Suitable for: Beginners to experienced artists
TO BOOK via Eventbrite ticket link
Our relaxed and informal sessions offer you the opportunity to draw portraits from a different live model at each stand alone session. Get to try a variety of approaches and drawing media, or just use the opportunity to draw from a model. Starting with a series of quick 5 minute poses, followed by longer poses. Our tutors will be on hand to offer guidance throughout. The sessions are designed for complete beginners, to experienced artists. Materials are provided including drawing media and paper (but feel free to bring along your own drawing materials. BOOKING REQUIRED
