An enriching 4th Form Art trip to St Ives

June 1st 2026

It is always a highlight at the end of the school year to pack our bags and set off down to St Ives for four days of sun, sea, and plenty of art. Our first stop was the Eden Project with its Mediterranean and tropical biomes. A truly remarkable feat of engineering and ingenuity, it brings together countless plant species from all over the world. There was plenty to feast on with the vast array of colours and textures, and some lovely sculptural highlights too, including the bronze Dionysus and the Studio Swine installation.

Having arrived in St Ives around 4pm, we dropped off our bags at the hostel and headed straight to the beach for some fun in the waves. The sun shone and the pupils were in their element. After dinner at a local fish and chip restaurant, we headed to Porthgwidden Beach for some rounders and to watch the sun go down.

Sunday morning started with a delightfully entertaining workshop at Leach Pottery. Although it is undergoing extensive renovations, we managed to tour Bernard Leach’s old studio and kiln rooms. The pupils listened to tales of Bernard touring Japan and bringing his newfound passion back to Cornwall. Later that day, we visited Tate St Ives and were treated to a comprehensive exhibition of Aleksandra Kasuba: Shelters for the Senses. A couple of highlights were her interchanging fabrics and light display, as well as her architectural models.

We then headed to the Hepworth Garden for a chance to wander around her studio and house and see how she used to live and work. There was so much to see in the gardens, and the pupils showed a keen interest in her materials and processes.

To finish off the afternoon, we returned to the beach and hired surfboards and wetsuits. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed being back in the sea and made the most of the occasion, spending ages in the water.

After dinner, we headed to the cinema to watch The Mandalorian and Grogu. Even Miss Dixon came away having enjoyed it, and it was the perfect way to end the day.

Day 3 We set off early to Penlee House Gallery for a lovely welcome from their staff, who took us through their current exhibition on women in art. It is always a wonderful experience to see the Newlyn artists up close again, with Stanhope and Elizabeth Forbes taking centre stage.

Later that morning, we headed to Tremenheere Gardens with its amazing Skyspace by James Turrell and work by Richard Long. As the rain set in, we were keen to get to St Michael’s Mount, where we had a wonderful talk in their education centre. The tour continued up to the castle, and pupils and staff were engrossed by the history of the Mount and all it has to offer.

To round off a superb day, we travelled up the coast to the Minack Theatre to watch a hugely entertaining performance of King Arthur. We were even fortunate enough to see numerous seals playing in the sea.

Once we had packed up and said goodbye to our hostel hosts, we headed into St Ives for a gripping printmaking workshop with renowned artist Rachel Kantaris. It is our tenth anniversary of visiting her studio and making art—what a wonderful way to finish the trip. Thanks must go to Miss Dixon for all her help and positivity, as well as to all the pupils for making it such a memorable trip.

Seamus Harkness - Head of Art