Visit West Cornwall

Paintings and Pottery

In addition to the Tate Gallery, there are many places in the town where examples of its artistic tradition can be seen.

In 1920 Bernard Leach and Hamada made the journey halfway round the world to set up a pottery at St. Ives in Cornwall. The pottery was built with the aid of a grant from the Handicrafts Guild. Hamada returned to Japan in 1928 but frequently visited St. Ives. After his death in 1979, Janet Leach, Bernard's wife kept the pottery open and when she died in 1999 the present owner, Alan Gillam bought the pottery and the Pottery Cottage next to it is now open as a museum showing many examples of work of fine potters.
The Leach Pottery is situated in The Stennack, St. Ives
Tel: 01736 796398

Dame Barbara Hepworth, the great sculptress lived in St. Ives at her Trewyn Studio, which is today a memorial museum. The museum is now under the administration of the Tate Gallery. Other examples of her sculpture grace public places in the town, notably outside the Guildhall and in the parish church.
Barbara Hepworth Museum, Barnoon Hill. Tel: 01736 796226

Over forty galleries to browse around. Many are open in the summer evenings.

St. Ives Festival of Music and the Arts

In recognition of the town's creative inheritance the St. Ives September Festival celebrates its Musical and Artistic heritage every year. The festival runs through the middle two weeks in September and includes a variety of performances including classical music, jazz and folk. There are 'open days' when local artists open their galleries to the public and numerous other events, including poetry readings and exhibitions.

St. Ives School of Painting, Back Road West - Tel: 01736 797180
Penwith Gallery, Back Road West - Tel: 01736 795579
Society of Artists and the Mariners Gallery, Norway Square - Tel: 01736 795582
The Old Salthouse Gallery, Norway Square - Tel: 01736 795003
Wills Lane Gallery, Wills Lane - Tel: 01736 795723
New Millenium Gallery, Street an Pol - Tel: 01736 793121
St. Ives Ceramics, 1d Fish Street - Tel: 01736 794930
The Sloop Craft Workshops - Tel: 01736 796051

In addition to the larger galleries, there are a whole host of studios and galleries representing the contemporary arts scene. Mainly concentrated in St. Ives, Penzance and Newlyn, with a few more isolated examples.

For details of opening times please contact individual galleries