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
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 (no session on 29th June)
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
10.30 - 12.30
Dates: Selected Wednesdays
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
Selected Tuesdays 10.30 - 12:30
£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.
Watercolour Workshop Package - Harbour Hotel
Sunday 12 July from 2pm
£80 per person all inclusive
St Ives Harbour Hotel
AGENDA: 2pm Arrival and cream tea / Workshop -2.30pm-4.30pm / Drinks - 4.30pm / Dinner - 5.00pm
Let your creativity flourish with a watercolour workshop hosted by Barnoon Arts at Harbour Hotel St Ives on Sunday 19th April for only £80 per person. There is a cream tea on arrival - before the watercolour led workshop, painting the stunning views over St Ives Bay. Suitable for complete beginners to experienced artists - with all materials included. We start with a demonstration on watercolour techniques, and tips on capturing your view point. You will have time to create one or several watercolours views using quality materials. Enjoy a post-workshop drink in the lounge, followed by a delicious dinner in the restaurant.
Booking: Online Here
Landscape Painting with Acrylics
£40 inc materials (child price aged 15 and under £25)
Capture the stunning scenery of St Ives in bold, expressive acrylics. In this outdoor workshop, we’ll walk to a nearby viewpoint and paint a semi‑abstract interpretation of the landscape, on canvas. You’ll receive friendly guidance on composition, colour mixing, and brushwork, along with tips for handling acrylics with confidence. By the end of the session, you’ll have a finished painting that reflects your personal response to the place. All materials are provided, and the workshop is suitable for all ages and abilities. Please dress for the ever‑changing Cornish weather, and messy painting! In very poor weather we may have to work indoors. Book your place via the Eventbrite date link above.
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.
ABSTRACT DRAWING WORKSHOP with Peter Giles
£40 / inc materials
Mon 14 September, 10.30 -13.00 pm
Barnoon Arts, Tregenna Place, St Ives TR26
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, 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:
