FIND out more about the St Ives colony of artists at a new art history course in Bridport.

They will take place in person on Monday afternoons in Bridport at 2pm from November 6 or online on Friday afternoons at 2pm starting on November 10. 

The course starts by explaining the history of why artists were attracted to St Ives to paint, Turner for example travelled to west Cornwall to make watercolour sketches and drawings.

The quality of the light in West Cornwall remains a factor that draws painters to the area.

There was an increase in the number of artists in the later 19th century onward, who came to Cornwall when the railway extends to Penzance. St Ives becomes a place artists feel free to experiment in their work, and there is support in the community to do so, from other painters.

Some of the artists discussed, will be Terry Frost, Bryan Pearce, Rose Hilton, Roger Hilton, Paul Feiler, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Peter Lanyon, Karl Weschke, Sven Berlin and the new movement of ceramics of Cornwall and other artists. So exciting was the art of St Ives that it attracted famous artists to visit the colony and some stayed and joined it!

The tutor will be Pam Simpson MA, Associate Lecturer University of the Arts. Pam is a professional art historian, with 35 years' teaching experience in London art schools.

The fee is £65 for six weeks, ‘drop in’ lectures can be attended for £13 each.

The classes on Monday afternoons take place at the Venue United Hall, East Street, Bridport. The online fee is £60.

To book and for more information email chris.pamsimpson@btinternet.com