Author: David Tovey

Publisher:

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13:

This unique social history of the St Ives art colony not only looks at the way of life enjoyed by the artistic community, but also assesses, for the first time, the impact of the artists on the town and the townsfolk. In addition to well-known names, such as Adrian Stokes, Julius Olsson and William Titcomb, there were many other long-term resident artists, who enjoyed varying degrees of success in the art world, but who had much appreciated talents in other directions, as, for instance, photographers, comic artists, designers, architects, writers, musicians, actors or sportsmen. After considering the surprising diversity of their backgrounds, the book looks at the range of accomodation that the artists chose - from hotels, humble lodgings, rented homes of varying standards and sizes, in and out of town, to purpose-built architect-designed dream homes. It then looks extensively at the wide range of old buildings in the fishing quarter that were commandeered for studios - net lofts, music pavilions, mine engine houses etc, as well as the complexes on Porthmeor, many of which have now proved to be purpose-built by local entrepreneurs.