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.
TO BOOK:
EMAIL: [email protected]
ONLINE: Some events can be booked online via EVENTBRITE (see event description)
IN PERSON: Pop in to the gallery at Barnoon Arts, Westcotts Quay, St Ives TR26 2DY. **PLEASE NOTE - FROM 2 AUGUST WE MOVE TO NEW PREMISES - TREGENNA PLACE, TR26 1SD**
TELEPHONE: Call or message 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.
Open Drawing Class 2025
MONDAYS 10 - 12 AM - 13. 20 July then from Sept
COST: £12 Per Session inc. materials
VENUE : Upstairs Theatre Room at St Ives Arts Club
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.
Sketch Booking: A Sense Of Place
Price £25 pp inc materials
Wed 10.30 - 12.30 / 15, 29 July / 12, 19, 26 Aug / 16, 23 Sept / 7 Oct
Join us for one of our stand‑alone Mixed Media Sketchbook Sessions, exploring different inspiring locations around St Ives. Each session focuses on a new space — from cosy cafés, theatres, galleries, library and chapels, to harbour viewpoints, beach scenes, pretty streets, and gardens. Sketch-booking is a wonderful way to capture memories and experiences through a visual lens. In each session, you’ll learn practical tips for observing and recording the unique character of a place — whether that’s people, views, wildlife, architecture, seascapes or gardens. You’ll experiment with a range of mixed media materials, including pens, graphite, collage, coloured pencils, and wash, building confidence as you go. These sessions are relaxed, friendly, and open to all ages and abilities. Everything is provided, including an A5 sketchbook.
Booking : contact us or via the Eventbrite link above.
Draw St Ives!
Thursdays 10.30 - 12:00
£15 per person (includes all materials)
Suitable For Adults and Children of all Ages
Discover the joy of sketching outdoors, in this relaxed and informal session, led by Pete Giles. 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. Join us and let your creativity flow! In bad weather we may have to work indoors, or cancel the session.
Watercolour Painting St Ives
Tuesday /10.30 - 12:30 / 14,26 July / 4, 11, 18, 25 Aug / 15, 22, 29 Sept / 13, 27 Oct
£25 per person (includes all materials)
Suitable For Adults and Children of all Ages, from complete beginners
Experience the charm of St Ives through the gentle, expressive medium of watercolour in this informal outdoor class led by Zoe Eaton. Each stand‑alone session takes place just a short walk from the gallery, using locations chosen to suit the day’s theme and weather. You will have the chance to create several pieces, drawing inspiration from the scenery around you — from sweeping seascapes and beach views to the harbour, tucked‑away streets, or hidden gardens. Zoe offers guidance and support throughout, and all materials are provided. This workshop is held outdoors. In the event of bad weather, we may move indoors or if necessary, cancel the session. Meet at Barnoon Arts, Westcotts Quay.
We Are Moving!
Open Day
Sunday 2nd August 2 - 5 pm
1st Floor, Former Post Office, Tregenna Place, St Ives TR26 1SD
Come along and take a look around our new space! We are excited to move in to a much larger space, with an exhibition/function room -/ Tea & Coffee making station / gift shop / Art Supplies / three artists studios! Watch this space for activities...
Drop-In Postcard Workshop
£15 inc materials
Mondays during August - 10.30 - 3.30 pm
Suitable for all ages and abilities
Venue: The Sorting Room, Barnoon Arts, Tregenna Place
Create a variety of postcards during this session, with a generous range of materials to explore — watercolours, wax resist, graphic pens, watercolour pencils, stamps, and more. Work from our still‑life setup, or reference images provided, the view from the window, or your own photographs. Plenty of guidance is available throughout, from drawing techniques to advice on using different materials. Great fun informal session for all. Drop in anytime between 10.30 and 3.30 - and allow at least an hour.
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 Sept & 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. From traditional portrait drawings, to charachture or abstract, in 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 20 minutes.
More details on this year’s participating artists will be announced soon.
Open Studios - St Ives September Festival
Peter Giles - Reception Room
Zoe Eaton: Studio One
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 round the studios, see works in progress, finished works and chat to the artists in their working environment. See Here for more detials
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 aproach 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.
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 papers. Suitable for all levels of ability including beginners. To book, message us to reserve your place or purchase your ticket, above via Eventbrite link.
Portrait Drawing Classes From Life
Thursdays 10 - 12.00
October 1st, 15th, 29th/ November 12th, 26th / December 3rd, 17th
£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 posses, 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 an A4 drawing board, drawing materials and paper (but feel free to bring along your own drawing materials ). BOOKING REQUIRED:
