Drawing
Develop a body of drawing inspired by Cornwall’s unique heritage.
Course overview
This five-day drawing course will lead you on a journey through Cornish places, landscapes and history. You'll build a body of observational drawing based on your experiences in the communities of Falmouth, St Ives and Helston.
Specialised workshops in drawing techniques and media will encourage you to reflect on your observations of place and narrative. You'll develop work that celebrates the exploration of your time here, culminating in an informal private view at the end of the week.
Course details
With a mixture of research visits on location, studio-based workshops and dedicated studio access, you'll be guided from observational drawing through to a more developed body of work which reflects a personal response to your experience.
One day will feature a trip to Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and the Tate St Ives to generate ideas in response to what you see. Another morning will be spent in Helston Folk Museum, researching objects and narrative. These visits will form the foundation of your work through the rest of the week.
You'll develop your location drawings further through guided workshops designed to explore media and process, and support your independent practice.
You'll have a dedicated shared studio with enough space for you to creatively breathe and explore, and the studios will be open from 09:00-21:00 each day.
On the final afternoon you'll come together with students from our screen printing, colour etching and painting courses for a private view and opportunity to discuss your work.
What you need to know
This five-day short course will run from 1 to 5 July 2024.
With dedicated studio access at our Falmouth Campus, you'll have the opportunity to develop your creative practice through a balance of taught technical skills during masterclasses in the mornings, and supported skill development and practice in the afternoons.
One day will feature a trip to Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and the Tate St Ives to gather ideas in response to what you see.
Our Falmouth Campus is set in subtropical gardens and is just a few steps from Falmouth town centre or a short stroll to the shores of Gyllyngvase beach.
Find out more about the facilities, access, cafes and more at Falmouth campus.
All materials for taught activities will be supplied, together with basic drawing materials for developing your work through independent practice. However, you may wish to bring your own materials that you like to work with for studio and location drawing.
There is a dedicated art supply shop on our Falmouth campus.
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes which cover your toes.
All materials for taught activities will be supplied, together with basic drawing materials for developing your work through independent practice including:
- Newsprint, cartridge paper and coloured sugar paper.
- Charcoal, 2B graphite & coloured pencils, coloured inks, oil and dry pastels, scissors, glue, bamboo pens, erasers.
The materials you choose to work in for developing your drawings through independent practice will be a personal choice and something you will need to consider and supply beyond the provisions noted above. There is a dedicated art supply shop on our Falmouth campus.
Accommodation is not included in this course cost.
If you would like to book accommodation, please find some suggestions below. Please note that we are not responsible for any accommodation costs incurred, including as a result of the course being rescheduled or cancelled.
There are a range of hotels and B&Bs available in Falmouth, within walking distance of our Falmouth Campus. We can facilitate a corporate rate for the following hotels if booked via us. If you would like to take advantage of this for your booking, please contact us.
Merchants Manor
Address: Western Terrace, TR11 4QJ
Contact details: 01326 312734
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.2 miles
Parking: 60 spaces available on site
St Michaels Resort
Address: Gyllyngvase Beach, TR11 4NB
Contact details: 01326 312707
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.2 miles
Parking: Reserved for overnight guests on a first come first served basis
The Greenbank Hotel
Address: Harbourside, TR11 2SR
Contact details: 01326 312440
Distance from Falmouth Campus: 0.9 miles
Parking: Handful of marked bays in front of hotel plus underground car park
Penryn Campus
This course is based on our Falmouth Campus. If you would like to stay on-campus at our Penryn campus, our Penryn student halls accommodation can be booked. This is a simple and affordable accommodation option and there is a regular bus service from Penryn Campus to Falmouth. A mix of double and twin bedrooms are available, each with bed, desk and en-suite shower room. Bedding and towels are provided. You should bring your own toiletries. There are shared kitchen facilities.
Lunch and tea/coffee included each day on campus, and all diets can be catered for.
On the day-trip to St Ives, lunch is not included as there will be enough of a break in the middle of the day to visit a café of your choice, or choose a takeaway lunch to take to the beach.
Course programme
This is an outline of what to expect for the week. Each day will include lunch, with time to socialise with your fellow students.
Day 1
Day one will include a life drawing workshop and some time spent in our stunning surroundings at a collaborative beach drawing session (weather allowing).
Day 2
Trip to St Ives. We will visit Porthmeor Studios for talks and a private tour, as well as the Tate St Ives. Basic materials will be available for outdoor drawing.
Day 3
We’ll have a morning on location at the Helston Museum of Cornish Life, looking at social history as a springboard into drawn storytelling. Following this, back in the drawing studio you’ll develop your ideas in a workshop in the afternoon.
Day 4
This morning you’ll have the opportunity to take a digital or analogue workshop to discover more ways to develop your ideas. In the afternoon you’ll move into independent practice to take your work in your own direction, with support on hand.
Day 5
The final day will focus on independent resolution of your body of work. In the late afternoon the course will conclude with a mini-exhibition / Private View of your work with our other Art Week course participants and a chance to celebrate your achievements.
Beth Garnett & Cally Gibson
This course is facilitated by Beth Garnett and Cally Gibson.
Beth Garnett
Beth Garnett is a Senior Technician at The Falmouth School of Art, teaching life drawing to both undergraduate and postgraduate students on Fine Art, Illustration, Drawing, Animation, plus the Integrated Foundation Year. Beth completed her MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice at Falmouth, and has worked with Woodmansterne Publishing, Marks and Spencers, the BTO, and John Lewis. She works directly with a number of independent shops and galleries, is an organising member of Makers Cornwall, and has a particular interest in children’s picture books.
Cally Gibson works at Falmouth University as a senior technician, solving software queries and teaching a broad range of digital skills to students on BA(Hons) Illustration.
Where will the course take place?
Belmont, Falmouth Campus
With dedicated studio access at our Falmouth Campus, you'll have the opportunity to develop your creative practice through a balance of taught technical skills during masterclasses, supported skill development, and independent practice.
During the course, you'll have dedicated studio access to give you the opportunity to develop your creative practice.
One day will feature a trip to Porthmeor Studios in St Ives and the Tate St Ives. Another morning will be spent in Helston Folk Museum.
Download our Falmouth Campus map below
Explore our Drawing facilities
Important information
Our campus is not fully accessible, with some activities in early Victorian three storey buildings. Please contact us if you have questions about mobility and access.
We are currently refurbishing our library building on the Falmouth Campus. Please note: there will be some noise in and near this building, which is located opposite the Printmaking studios. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Download our Terms & Conditions below
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