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Art Courses, Painting Classes & Learning to Paint in Cornwall

From weekend watercolour workshops to residential art schools, Cornwall's light and landscape have drawn painters for over a century - here's where to learn, whatever your level.

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Cornwall's artistic heritage runs deep, from the Newlyn School painters of the 1880s to the modernist colony that grew up around St Ives in the 20th century. That legacy lives on in a strong network of art schools, studios and workshop providers offering everything from a single afternoon's watercolour taster to week-long residential courses in oils, acrylics and mixed media.

Dedicated art schools including Newlyn School of Art, St Ives School of Painting and Cornwall School of Art near Truro run structured day and residential courses taught by professional artists. Smaller, more informal providers - Barnoon Arts in St Ives, Elements Art Cornwall in Lanner, Stable Art in Bodmin and Susie Ray Workshops near Padstow - offer regular local classes, while Cornwall College Camborne runs an affordable evening course for absolute beginners.

Watercolour specialist Sarah Bell teaches popular workshops at the historic Union Hotel in Penzance, and for those staying near the Tamar Valley, Callington School of Art runs residential courses close to the Devon border.

A note on this guide

One practical note: Art Craft & Laughter CIC in Plymouth is included here, but its sessions are primarily wellbeing and learning-disability support groups built around craft activities, rather than formal painting tuition - worth knowing before you book.

Good to know before you go

  • Booking essential: course dates, prices and materials lists can change - always check the provider's own website before travelling.
  • Residential vs day courses: Newlyn School of Art, St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall School of Art and Callington School of Art all offer residential options with accommodation, as well as shorter day courses - check which you're booking.
  • Materials: some providers include materials in the course fee, others ask you to bring your own - confirm what's provided before you go.
  • Accessibility: studio and venue access varies considerably, from purpose-built art schools to converted farm buildings and chapels - contact the provider directly to check access to the specific venue.

Art Courses & Painting Classes in Cornwall & Plymouth

Penzance & Newlyn

Residential & Day Courses

Newlyn School of Art

The Old Board School, Chywoone Hill, Newlyn, Penzance TR18 5AW

A well-established art school based in Newlyn's former Board School, running an extensive programme of landscape, coastal and figurative painting courses taught by professional working artists. Courses range from single-day workshops to residential weeks with accommodation, covering oils, acrylics, watercolour, drawing and mixed media.

  • Format: Day, weekend and residential courses year-round.
  • Parking: On-site and local street parking.
  • Contact: 01736 365557.
Visit official website
Workshop

Watercolour Workshops Cornwall (Sarah Bell)

The Union Hotel, 60 Chapel Street, Penzance TR18 4AE

Watercolour tutor Sarah Bell runs popular workshops for beginners and improvers in the ballroom of the historic Union Hotel on Penzance's Chapel Street, with occasional sessions at other Penzance venues. Workshops cover techniques for capturing Cornwall's coastal light, from loose expressive washes to more detailed studies.

  • Format: Day workshops, typically monthly.
  • Also teaches: Sessions across Cornwall and into Devon - check current dates and venues.
View current dates

St Ives

Gallery & Classes

Barnoon Arts

1st Floor, Tregenna Place, St Ives TR26 1SD

A gallery, art supplies shop and teaching studio tucked just off Tregenna Place in the heart of St Ives. Runs regular art classes and workshops for adults and children covering painting, drawing and other media, alongside outdoor art classes exploring St Ives' harbour and coastline.

  • Access: Via the alley linking Tregenna Place and Chapel Street.
  • Contact: 07900 095203.
View workshops & events
Historic Art School

St Ives School of Painting

Porthmeor Studios, Back Road West, St Ives TR26 1NG

Founded in 1938 and based in the artist studios overlooking Porthmeor Beach, this is one of Cornwall's most historically significant art schools, linked to the St Ives modernist movement. Runs day, weekend and longer courses in painting and drawing for all levels, plus separate life-drawing classes held nearby at the Island Centre (TR26 1NT).

  • Format: Day, weekend and multi-day courses.
  • Life drawing venue: Island Centre, St Ives TR26 1NT.
Visit official website

Truro

Residential Courses

Cornwall School of Art

The Coach House, Bodrean, Truro TR4 9AG

Based at the Coach House on the Bodrean estate about 4 miles north-east of Truro, this school runs residential and day courses in painting, drawing and printmaking taught by visiting professional artists, with on-site studio space and accommodation for residential students.

  • Location: Around 8 minutes' drive north-east of Truro city centre.
  • Format: Residential and non-residential day courses.
Visit official website

Mid-Cornwall: Lanner, Budock Water & Carharrack

Workshop

Elements Art Cornwall

The Lanner Centre and Studios, Lanner TR16 5SZ

Runs regular painting and drawing classes at three village hall venues in mid-Cornwall: the Lanner Centre and Studios, Budock Water Village Hall near Falmouth (TR11 5DN), and the Mills Hall in Carharrack near Redruth (TR16 5QW). A friendly, community-based option for local weekly classes.

  • Other venues: Budock Water Village Hall TR11 5DN; Mills Hall, Carharrack TR16 5QW.
  • Parking & access: Available at all three sites.
View venues & courses

Bodmin

Workshop

Stable Art / Cornwall Craft Classes

The Chapel, Fletchersbridge, Bodmin PL30 4AN

A creative hub based in a converted chapel just outside Bodmin, offering workshops in painting and a wide range of other craft mediums under its Cornwall Craft Classes banner - an inspiring, informal setting for a single-day taster or a regular class.

  • Contact: 01208 72518.
  • Format: Day workshops across painting and other craft media.
View classes

Padstow Area

Residential & Day Workshops

Susie Ray Workshops

The Studio, Tregidier, Trevean, St Merryn, Padstow PL28 8PR

Painting classes and workshops for beginners and established artists, run from a purpose-built studio in the countryside near St Merryn, close to Padstow. Offers both half and full-day workshops as well as stay-and-paint options for those wanting a longer creative break.

  • Format: Half-day, full-day and multi-day workshops.
  • Setting: Rural studio near St Merryn.
View & book workshops

Callington & the Tamar Valley

Residential Art School

Callington School of Art

Lower House, 9 Church Street, Callington PL17 7AN

A residential art school set in the Tamar Valley on Cornwall's border with Devon, running structured multi-day painting and drawing courses with accommodation included, taught by professional tutors in a historic townhouse setting.

  • Format: Residential courses with on-site accommodation.
  • Contact: 01579 383491.
Visit official website

Camborne

Evening Course

Cornwall College Camborne - Introduction to Painting

Trevenson Road, Pool, Redruth TR15 3RD

A beginner-friendly evening course introducing the foundations of painting in a relaxed, supportive environment - covering the colour wheel, mixing colours, value and intensity, while creating still life, portrait and landscape work inspired by movements such as Impressionism and Fauvism.

  • Schedule: Thursdays, 18:00-20:00, over 8 weeks.
  • Level: Adult leisure course, no formal qualification required.
View official course

Just Over the Border: Plymouth

Not in Cornwall, but worth knowing about if you're staying in or travelling via South East Cornwall.

Devon - Not Cornwall

On Course South West

Cobourg House, Mayflower Street, Plymouth PL1 1QX

Plymouth's adult-education provider runs a broad arts and humanities programme from its Mayflower Street centre, including painting, drawing and introductory art & design courses for adults of all abilities.

  • Contact: 01752 660713.
View arts courses
Devon - Not Cornwall

Art Craft & Laughter CIC

Lower Ground Floor, 6 Shelley Way, St Budeaux, Plymouth PL5 1QF

A community interest company running craft and creative sessions for adults with learning disabilities and for mental health and wellbeing support. Worth knowing that this is primarily a wellbeing and support service built around craft activities, rather than formal painting tuition.

  • Sessions: Learning disability groups Tuesdays & Thursdays; wellbeing drop-ins Wednesdays & Fridays.
  • Contact: 07880 327022.
Visit official website
Devon - Not Cornwall

The Box - Adult Art Workshops

Tavistock Place, Plymouth PL4 8AX

Plymouth's award-winning museum and gallery runs periodic adult creative workshops as part of its rotating events programme, including life-drawing sessions and courses with visiting artists. These come and go with the seasonal events calendar rather than running continuously, so check current listings before planning a visit.

  • Format: Rotating seasonal workshops - check current events.
View current events

Choosing an Art Course

Complete Beginners

Cornwall College Camborne's Introduction to Painting and Stable Art's day workshops are both affordable, low-pressure starting points for absolute beginners.

Watercolour Specialists

Watercolour Workshops Cornwall (Sarah Bell) and Susie Ray Workshops both concentrate specifically on watercolour technique for beginners and improvers.

A Creative Break Away

Newlyn School of Art, St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall School of Art and Callington School of Art all offer residential courses with accommodation included.

Regular Local Classes

Elements Art Cornwall's village hall classes in Lanner, Budock Water and Carharrack are good options for an ongoing weekly class close to home.

Serious Study

The dedicated art schools - Newlyn, St Ives and Cornwall School of Art - offer the most structured, in-depth tuition from professional working artists.

Wellbeing & Community

Art Craft & Laughter CIC in Plymouth offers craft and creative sessions focused on wellbeing and learning-disability support rather than formal tuition.

Art & Painting Course Guide

Provider Area Format Main Subjects Best For
Newlyn School of ArtNewlyn / PenzanceDay & residentialLandscape, coastal & figurative paintingStructured tuition, creative breaks
Watercolour Workshops CornwallPenzanceDay workshopWatercolourWatercolour beginners & improvers
Barnoon ArtsSt IvesClasses & outdoor sessionsPainting, drawing, mixed mediaAdults & children, holiday tasters
St Ives School of PaintingSt IvesDay, weekend & longerPainting, drawing, life drawingHistoric art-school setting
Cornwall School of ArtTruroResidential & dayPainting, drawing, printmakingImmersive residential study
Elements Art CornwallLanner / Budock Water / CarharrackWeekly classPainting & drawingRegular local classes
Stable ArtBodminDay workshopPainting & craftInformal, affordable tasters
Susie Ray WorkshopsSt Merryn / PadstowHalf, full & multi-dayPainting, watercolourCountryside studio setting
Callington School of ArtCallingtonResidentialPainting & drawingTamar Valley residential courses
Cornwall College CamborneCamborne / Pool8-week evening coursePainting fundamentalsComplete beginners, low cost
On Course South WestPlymouth (Devon)Adult educationPainting, drawing, art & designStructured adult courses
Art Craft & Laughter CICPlymouth (Devon)Support group sessionsCraft & creative wellbeingWellbeing & learning-disability support
The BoxPlymouth (Devon)Seasonal workshopsLife drawing, mixed mediaOccasional adult workshops

Frequently Asked Questions

Cornwall has several dedicated art schools offering painting tuition, including Newlyn School of Art near Penzance, St Ives School of Painting, and Cornwall School of Art near Truro. There are also smaller workshop providers such as Barnoon Arts in St Ives, Elements Art Cornwall in Lanner, Stable Art in Bodmin and Susie Ray Workshops near Padstow, plus evening courses at Cornwall College Camborne.

Yes. Newlyn School of Art, St Ives School of Painting and Cornwall School of Art near Truro are all dedicated art schools running day and residential courses across painting, drawing and other fine art disciplines. Callington School of Art in the Tamar Valley also runs residential art courses.

Yes. Watercolour Workshops Cornwall, run by tutor Sarah Bell, holds watercolour classes at the Union Hotel in Penzance and other venues across Cornwall and Devon. Susie Ray Workshops near Padstow and several of the dedicated art schools also run watercolour-focused courses.

Yes. Most providers on this page, including Cornwall College Camborne's Introduction to Painting evening course, Elements Art Cornwall, Stable Art and the residential art schools, welcome complete beginners as well as more experienced painters.

Yes. Newlyn School of Art, St Ives School of Painting, Cornwall School of Art and Callington School of Art all run residential and multi-day courses with accommodation, alongside their shorter day and evening classes.

Yes. On Course South West runs adult-education art and design courses from Cobourg House in Plymouth city centre, and The Box periodically runs adult life-drawing and painting workshops as part of its rotating events programme - check their current listings for dates.

Course dates, prices and availability change throughout the year. The details shown above are those published by providers at the time of research - always check the provider's official website before travelling. Providers are included where a current art, painting or drawing course, workshop or established art school could be verified; Cowslip Workshops (textiles-focused) and an unverifiable "Ocean City Arts" listing have been omitted for accuracy. Cornwall Online is not responsible for the content of external websites linked from this page.

Page last updated: August 2026