Over the past term, we have been learning about the artistic history of St Ives and, at the start of the Easter holidays, were able to find out for ourselves what drew so many artists to Cornwall c.1945. After settling in, we began with the much anticipated ghost walk, where we heard tales of the town’s haunted past from the charismatic and engaging Shanty Baba. Over the weekend, we churned out some fabulous artwork at the St Ives School of Painting, experimenting with new observational techniques. Sunny weather gave us the opportunity to use such tools on the beautiful scenery that surrounded us. 

On our last day, we walked down to the Tate St Ives with our sketchbooks in hand, where we were given an engaging tour around the galleries. This helped us expand our understanding of the role of the artist community in St Ives and its contributions to the wider British art sphere. After an hour of sketching, listening and wandering around the gallery (and a necessary visit to the gift shop), we set off for the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Gardens. Despite the pouring rain, we persevered with our sketching here, documenting the open, organic forms of Hepworth’s sculptures. Before heading back on the coach, everyone managed to grab a final Cornish pasty to mark the end of a wonderful trip! 

By Amara and Safia (L6)