The area around the Cornish fishing village of St Ives has been associated with art for many years. Anyone with an interest in art who is staying in one of the wonderful St Ives holiday cottages will only be a step or two away from an inspiring view. Artists have lived and worked in this picturesque area of Cornwall for many years.
The St Ives School
The St Ives School was founded in 1928, when Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood visited the town and were impressed by the work of the local artist Arthur Wallis. This meeting resulted in the town being seen as an artists' colony. Arthur Wallis was a Cornish fisherman whose work was an example of nave art - where perspective is ignored - and who specialised in seascapes. Despite the admiration of Nicholson and Wood and the promotion of his work in London by Jim Ede, Wallis never made money out of his art and only sold a few paintings in his lifetime. Sadly, he died in the Madron Workhouse in Penzance and is buried in a cemetery, which overlooks Portmeor Beach and the Tate Gallery. Some of his paintings are exhibited in The Tate St Ives.
Other artists followed Nicholson and Wood to the town, including Nicholson's wife Barbara Hepworth. In the 1950s after World War II a new generation of artists followed in their footsteps. This group included Roger Hilton who was a pioneer of abstract art in post-war Britain. In 1993 the Tate St Ives was opened to exhibit the work of the St Ives School. The Tate was built on the site of an old gas works and is a three storey modernist building. It is only the second regional Tate gallery, establishing the town as an important centre for art. The Gallery also offers a Ben Nicholson walking tour around the town, which visits the places that influenced his art.
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
As mentioned, the sculptor Barbara Hepworth was the wife of Ben Nicholson. She bought Trewyn Studios in 1949 and worked there until her death in 1975; she is quoted as saying: €Finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic€, and it is easy to see why she thought so when you experience it. Her wish was that the studios should be used as a museum, and her work was donated and placed in the care of the Tate Gallery. Visiting the museum whilst staying in one of the St Ives holiday cottages should not be reserved for the adults in your party. There is an online Treasure Hunt for children on the Museum's website and the museum regularly puts on activities for children. Barbara's legacy has ensured that her beautiful bronze sculptures can still be seen in the environment they were created for.
As well as these two eminent establishments, when staying in nearby St Ives holiday cottages you will never be far away from the many other independent art galleries that thrive in the town. Many hours can be spent browsing through the exhibitions of great art from the past and the present.
The St Ives School
The St Ives School was founded in 1928, when Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood visited the town and were impressed by the work of the local artist Arthur Wallis. This meeting resulted in the town being seen as an artists' colony. Arthur Wallis was a Cornish fisherman whose work was an example of nave art - where perspective is ignored - and who specialised in seascapes. Despite the admiration of Nicholson and Wood and the promotion of his work in London by Jim Ede, Wallis never made money out of his art and only sold a few paintings in his lifetime. Sadly, he died in the Madron Workhouse in Penzance and is buried in a cemetery, which overlooks Portmeor Beach and the Tate Gallery. Some of his paintings are exhibited in The Tate St Ives.
Other artists followed Nicholson and Wood to the town, including Nicholson's wife Barbara Hepworth. In the 1950s after World War II a new generation of artists followed in their footsteps. This group included Roger Hilton who was a pioneer of abstract art in post-war Britain. In 1993 the Tate St Ives was opened to exhibit the work of the St Ives School. The Tate was built on the site of an old gas works and is a three storey modernist building. It is only the second regional Tate gallery, establishing the town as an important centre for art. The Gallery also offers a Ben Nicholson walking tour around the town, which visits the places that influenced his art.
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
As mentioned, the sculptor Barbara Hepworth was the wife of Ben Nicholson. She bought Trewyn Studios in 1949 and worked there until her death in 1975; she is quoted as saying: €Finding Trewyn Studio was a sort of magic€, and it is easy to see why she thought so when you experience it. Her wish was that the studios should be used as a museum, and her work was donated and placed in the care of the Tate Gallery. Visiting the museum whilst staying in one of the St Ives holiday cottages should not be reserved for the adults in your party. There is an online Treasure Hunt for children on the Museum's website and the museum regularly puts on activities for children. Barbara's legacy has ensured that her beautiful bronze sculptures can still be seen in the environment they were created for.
As well as these two eminent establishments, when staying in nearby St Ives holiday cottages you will never be far away from the many other independent art galleries that thrive in the town. Many hours can be spent browsing through the exhibitions of great art from the past and the present.