Sunburst, Sennen
West Cornwall's wild coastline, golden beaches and historic fishing villages provided the stunning locations many of the most beautiful scenes in the recent TV series called Poldark. Join me to paint at some of the locations used as we explore the spectacular Penwith peninsula using our new home at Gwavas House in Newlyn as our base.
Where better to study painting on location than in the home of some of Britain's best loved plein air painters? West Cornwall offers a unique quality of light and stunning coastline that has attracted artists for two centuries. The fishing villages remain as characterful as ever, and the beaches are still as idyllic as they were when the Newlyn School of artists was founded, almost 140 years ago. This is one of my favourite places to paint, and I can’t wait to share its treasures with a group of up to 8 people.
Course fees
£395 per person
Fee includes 5 days of full tuition with examples, demonstrations and one-to-one guidance and feedback as you progress. One non-tutored day mid-week to explore the area at your own pace.
Our base
Gwavas House, Newlyn TR18 5LD
Our lovely home and studio in Newlyn, with views across Mount’s Bay, will offer us a base for the week. All painting locations will be within a 30 minute drive time from Newlyn. The workshop will take place in and around the stunning Penwith peninsular with locations spread out between Marazion and Land’s End. We will move to a different location each day, painting in places favoured by film crews and our plein air painting heroes of days gone by. With so many local beauty spots steeped in rich creative history, we will be spoiled for choice!
Penberth Cove
Poldark’s places
Many of the stunning locations where Poldark was filmed are within a stone’s throw of our home on the Penwith penninsular. We can visit and paint at some of the most iconic spots including Botallack mines and Penberth Cove.
The historic fishing village of Newlyn will be our hub for the week, with St Michael’s mount and Newlyn harbour on our doorstep and the delights of Mousehole just a few minutes away.
St Michael's Mount offers an iconic landmark
Iconic Botallack mine
Itinerary around the peninsular
We’ll paint together on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, on Wednesday we’ll have a free day to explore the area at our own pace (Poldark fans may want to use this day for a trip to Holywell beach and other filming locations) then we’ll paint together again on Thursday and Friday. Each day we will gather in a different location. Arrangements for parking and travel will be made in advance so that we can easily meet up and get started in the mornings
Selecting a diverse range of locations to accommodate a breadth of styles and preferences within the group, from wide open seascapes to intimate villages, we will find something different each day, all bathed in that famous Cornish light.
The magic of painting en plein air never seems to fade
Course Activities
We will begin each day with lessons and demonstrations of the specific techniques and approaches used when painting on location. Each day will focus on a different location and aspect of painting ‘en plein air’. We will study composition choices, the use of colour, brushwork and how to create focal areas in our work.
Equipment
A full list of required equipment will be issued within 6 weeks of the course.
Accommodation options
We have 2 cottages with sea views and parking available at Gwavas House for guests to rent.
Please get in touch to enquire about rates and availability.
The Nook has one double bedroom with ensuite shower room, a fully equipped kitchen/dining/living room and a patio with views across Mount’s Bay.
The Annexe has one double bedroom and one twin bedroom with a shared shower room, it has a kitchen/dining/living room and patio with views across Mount’s Bay.
Newlyn offers a broad range of Air BnB cottages and apartments in the village. There are hotels within a mile of Gwavas House in Mousehole or Penzance. And a campsite in Paul or one at Longrock.
If you're travelling down to the South West to join us for this trip, there are plenty of nearby accommodation options to suit every taste and budget.
Newlyn offers a broad range of Air BnB cottages and apartments in the village. There are hotels within a mile of Gwavas House in Mousehole or Penzance. And a campsite in Paul or one at Longrock.
It is recommended that you book your accommodation to the west side of Marazion in order to avoid long travel times to painting locations on the west coast - all painting locations will be within a 30 minute drive from Newlyn.
Staying in or around Newlyn itself will make it easier to socialise and dine with the group during the evenings.
Food
There will be an option to join the group for one or two evening meals during the course at local pubs and restaurants. Tea and coffee will be available at Gwavas House whenever we are there. Participants should make their own arrangements for all other meals.