Painters

The Newlyn School of artists... the main painters in the group were Frank Bramley, Percy Craft, H. E. Detmold, Stanhope Forbes, Elizabeth Stanhope Forbes (nee Armstrong), W Fortescue, Norman Garstin, T. C. Gotch, Fred Hall, Edwin Harris, Ayerst Ingram, Walter Langley, H. Martin, F. Millard, Marianne Stokes, Chevallier Tayler, Titcombe, Ralph Todd and Henry Scott Tuke, who painted the above portrait of Berthe Tresidder,the wife of the brother of a cricket playing friend (she was French and he was Cornish (as the surname tells us!)).

Stanhope Forbes, now the most well known of the group, arrived in 1884 and quickly assumed the role of leader. He has since become known as the founder of the colony.

In 1925 in St Ives, and very late in life, following the death of his wife, Alfred Wallis, a uneducated local Cornishman, began painting using brushes and household paints, often on scraps of card or second-hand canvases. Soon recognised as a natural, primitive talent, he specialised in portraying what he knew, which was sailing ships and the sea. Much exhibited ... including the London Tate and Tate St Ives.

Kurt Jackson is one of Britain’s leading painters. Born in 1961 his work embraces an extensive range of materials and techniques including mixed media, large canvases, relief work and print making. Kurt Jackson quotes: "In Cornwall my subjects are mostly places I know well, that I visit over and over again - certain areas of coast, moorland and valleys. I also work on projects, usually one a year, which are either based on a particular aspect of Cornish culture or on a distinct track of countryside. Capturing a fleeting impression doesn’t interest me. In all my paintings the aim is to convey my feelings and sense of awareness in that particular environment."

John Miller. Following National Service, John Miller studied architecture and was articled to the church architects in 1961. John is well known as a leading landscape artist and his continual explorations brought a fresh meaning to the word inspirational and a new element of communication into the contemporary British art scene. John Miller's work is represented in numerous public and private collections internationally.

Also see John Miller at this website

And Sir Terry Frost RA, who was one of the forerunners of abstract painting in the UK, and who lived, painted and found inspiration in Cornwall, and is known for his passionate use of lines and circles...

Plus many more!

Theatre

Situated on the cliffs, just west of Porthcurno, and created by Rowena Cade, the world-famous Minack open-air Theatre commands superb views across Porthcurno Bay , and distantly to the Lizard.

Performances by a variety of theatrical companies run from May to September ; in addition to which the Theatre is open daily for visitors and there is an Exhibition Centre , Coffee and Gift Shop.

Also very much alive, with an eclectic range of productions is the Hall for Cornwall in Truro and an active, useful website! Worth taking a look!