Classes & Events

We’ve set up a little pop‑up café for the St Ives September Festival. Drop by for self‑service hot drinks in the cosy nook room, just off the main exhibition space.

• £25 per portrait

• Drop in between 10.30 - 5.00 pm

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. 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, Erin Lacy,

• Peter Giles - Art Shop/ 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 26 Sept

• Zoe Eaton: Studio One / 13th, 18th, 20th Sept, 11 - 4 pm

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.

Take your first steps into abstract painting, whether you are a complete beginner to painting or wish to explore your abstract side. 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. Book via eventbrite below or see details at top of page.

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.

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.

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.

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, explore brushes, tools and papers - During the afternoon work on a watercolour seascape or still life composition on quality watercolour papers.

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 a number of 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.