The Cornwall Blog

"Tall Ships and Small Ships" - by John Dyer, the Festival's "Artist in Residence" A picture is telling thousands of words as school children across the country knuckle down to interpreting an oil-based celebration of one of this year’s great world Maritime events – the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta. Artist in residence for the Regatta, John Dyer, has unveiled his fireworks and fiesta painting, based on memories of the last Falmouth Tall Ships Festival in 2008, which, with the help of story-tellers, performers, a playwright and a hip-hop poet, is getting youngsters deeply immersed in their own paint and salty tales. Damian Dibben, creator of the world famous “The History Keepers” time-travel series is part of the creative team for the BIG Art & Storytelling Tall Ships Project says, “This is a brilliant, original competition. John Dyer’s picture is bursting with character, life and colour – I can’t wait to see what stories it inspire...

The North Coast of Cornwall has so much to offer, and a real variety of accommodation too. When I think about holidays I think home from home, I want luxury but also privacy. A really lovely cluster of holiday cottages in the little village of Chaple Amble provides just that, Rooke Cottages. Nestled in the rolling hills of Duchy farmland these beautifully renovated cottages provide an ideal base to explore North Cornwall. Within easy reach are the popular destinations of Padstow, Port Isaac, and Wadebridge. You can cycle the camel trail, surf at Polzeath beach or sit with a glass of something cold in a lovely harbour side restaurant in Padstow.  The farm has seven cottages all with private gardens and one beautifully furnished apartment in Wadebridge. The farm cottages have wood burning stoves for cosying-up after a healthy dose of fresh air. They even provide a room to dry wetsuits and parking for your boat (or car)! Little ones are well catered for with a playground an...

In January 2013, the government launched a scheme to provide free boilers with free installation to eligible applicants as part of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) – £1.3bn project to reduce our energy consumption and pull individuals out of fuel poverty. Part of the ECO is the Affordable Warmth Obligation scheme, which helps individuals who couldn’t otherwise afford it, to install more energy efficient systems. This should result in reduced energy costs through the use of for more efficient boilers than older models. Penryn based Blue Flame Heating Solutions are recognised installers for Cornwall and have already seen success in working with customers to help them review their eligibility, and then installing brand new boilers into properties in the area. They provide no obligation consultations to find out if a free boiler is available for customers, based on whether they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. Funding for the scheme ends in March 2015, so it’s import...

Beginning their 2014 exhibition schedule, Leach Pottery St Ives present and exhibition of work by British potter Mike Dodd showing from the 15th February to the 30th March 2014. A largely self-taught artist whose work has received widespread critical acclaim, Dodd studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge and a one year ceramics course at Hammersmith College of Art before setting up his first studio in Sussex in 1968. In 1975, along with friend and potter Peter Schofield, he founded the Cider House Pottery at West Cornwall’s Godolphin estate, where they built a small wood-fired climbing kiln, and later constructed and worked with a traditional Thai kiln. Dodd remained in Cornwall until 1980, when he travelled to the central jungles of Peru to build a wood-fired Anagama kiln for an Amuesha Community, in a project funded by Oxfam and Survival International. He now works from his studio near Glastonbury in Somerset. Producing work that has been referred to as ‘pottery without ego’, ...

Phil Beer is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music. A dazzling instrumentalist, he is perhaps best known as one half of the internationally acclaimed folk megastars Show of Hands, 2010 winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Duo and Best Song “Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed.” However, not only is he a musician, songwriter, composer and producer, he is also a top flight fiddler in the all-star line-up, Feast of Fiddles, and his skills don’t stop there, he also plays slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro, not to mention contributing rich vocals. Phil Beer is appearing at this special “one night only” gig to show his support for Gorsedh Kernow, Cornwall’s own Gorsedd, which exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall. This event is generously supported by The Painted Bird, St Ives and Harding Laity Estate Agents of St Ives. Sunday 16th February 2014, 7.30pm (doors 7pm). St. Ives Guildh...

From the 15th to 30th November 2013, Lighthouse Gallery present an exhibition of new works by two exceptional painters whose works draw inspiration from the landscape and its wildlife. Catherine Hyde trained in Fine Art Painting at Central School of Art, London. She is well known for her symbolic and richly atmospheric paintings of hares, stags, owls and fish whose journeys through her broad, glowing canvases bind the elements, seasons and beauty of the landscape together. Catherine recently illustrated Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy's original fairytale ‘The Princess’ Blankets’ and Saviour Pirotta’s ‘Firebird’ which were both nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award for distinguished illustration. Ingebjorg Smith is a Masters graduate of the Glasgow School of Art and has worked as an illustrator for BBC Scotland, Gaelic Children's TV, Canongate Press and designed posters, sets and costumes for theatre productions Wildcat and Halaballoo. Painting from her studio amid the...

The Courtyard Deli When visiting Cornwall there are so many fine places to eat but so many of them are hidden away and often locals hot spots. I wanted to share my favourite hidden places to eat in Cornwall, local ingredients cooked beautifully and once found you will also be going back for more. The Courtyard Deli Falmouth. This is a true hidden gem and when I say hidden unless you know about the small alleyway leading up to the Deli you wouldn’t know it was there. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful coastal town of Falmouth this Deli is definitely worth hunting down. With all the usual food you expect to find in a deli from beautiful breads to local cheeses they also serve amazing homemade cakes with delicious coffee. But the best thing about the Deli is when the Deli transforms into a tapas bar in the evening. My favourite is their Cornish mackerel fillets. Jon's Bistro Jon’s Bistro at The Bre Pen farm Mawgan Porth. When looking for hidden spots you can’t get mor...