Read below as Cecilia (UVI/Year 13), Head Creative Arts Senior 2025–26, writes about the Creative Arts trip to St Ives. She shares the highlights of the weekend, including workshops, gallery visits, and outdoor painting sessions, giving a first-hand account of the students’ experiences and creative explorations in Cornwall. 

During the short exeat, the Creative Art Scholars from Lower Fifth to Upper Sixth, along with the Upper Sixth Fine Art students, had the privilege of visiting St Ives in Cornwall. The weekend combined several inspiring workshops with the added delight of sunny views and beaches. 

On the first day, the group travelled to Penzance to visit the Penlee House Museum and Gallery. There, they sketched a “fish wife” from observation and learnt about the history and influence of the artists in the Newlyn School of Art. A particularly memorable moment was speaking with a visitor whose relative had modelled for many well-known paintings of that era. Afterwards, the students visited the Newlyn Gallery, exploring Hew Locke’s large-scale sculptural installation Armada, a striking collection of boats of all shapes and sizes. Using a variety of materials, they carried out a series of creative exercises inspired by this work. 

The second day was spent entirely at the St Ives School of Painting, in a workshop led by local abstract landscape artist Laura Kent. She introduced the students to her processes, drawing inspiration from Cornwall’s land and seascapes. After making several sketches around the town and its beaches, the group returned to the studio to develop them further. They enlarged their compositions with ink, then ripped each piece up to reconstruct their work into even larger collages. Layers of painted paper and acrylics were added, resulting in bold, abstract pieces that reflected both landscape and imagination. 

On the third day, the group toured Tate St Ives, encountering a broad range of works, particularly those by artists such as Barbara Hepworth, who moved to St Ives after the Second World War. They also visited a temporary exhibition by contemporary artist Lilian Lijn, whose innovative use of light and movement made a strong impression. Later that day, the group headed to the beach for an outdoor painting session with landscape artist Greg Humphries. Working “en plein air,” they learnt watercolour techniques including wet-on-dry layering and glazing, before moving towards more expressive and abstract interpretations capturing the mood and energy of the beach. 

To conclude the trip, the students enjoyed time exploring the town and its surroundings before returning to Downe. The experience was both enriching and memorable, offering new insights, fresh techniques, and a deeper appreciation of the artistic heritage of Cornwall.