The Cornwall Blog

Guillaume Rivaud as Arthur Announcing crowdfunding campaign for Devon & Cornwall indiefilm “Mordred”, showcasing local actors and local history /Arthurian legend “I am what you made me become!” is the tagline of the film, spoken by Mordred. How relevant that seems! This production aims to not only showcase very heavily researched Dark Ages (6th century) history of Devon and Cornwall, linked to some of the very earliest and less known Arthurian legends, but also equally to showcase the amazing skills by local actors, filmmakers, and other production creatives - a lot of film work happens in the southwest but very often local people are passed over completely for roles, in favour of imported talent due to stereotypes of "local people being no-good". Since there are very few opportunities, we decided to make our own and claw our own way up. There is a national campaign at the moment for the recognition of working-class actors, who on a national scale, not just loc...

If you mention places in Cornwall Padstow definitely comes to mind. This little harbour town attracts many visitors every year and has no shortage of things to do. Helping to put Padstow on the map is of course Rick Stein and his culinary prowess. Turn pretty much any corner and you will find a Stein's patisserie, seafood restaurant, fish and chips or cooking school! Definitely worth sampling on your Cornish holiday. The harbour is the place to be, watch the wildlife across the estuary as the fishing boats bob up and down. With a real variety of independent and high street shops, cosy pubs and delicious restaurants, Padstow doesn't disappoint. If you are needing a place to stay and are looking for a bed and breakfast full of character and style, look no further than Armsyde Bed and Breakfast. This handsome home is just a stone's throw from the harbour and is finished to a high standard. The 18th century former sea merchant's house has been converted into ...

Looking for a fun way to spend the day? Want to learn more about our wonderful Cornish wildlife? Join our knowledgeable staff and students to explore and survey the wildlife around Penryn campus on Saturday 21st May from 10am-5pm. This FREE event is open to all ages and is brilliant for families who are looking for entertainment with an educational focus! Activities will include nature walks, small mammal trapping, treasure hunts, moth trapping and many more. Enjoy our raffle with amazing prizes, make your own wildlife with our arts and craft stalls, get your face painted and have a jump on the bouncy castle! Wildlife and charity organisations from all over Cornwall will be joining us with loads of exciting stalls, activities and opportunities for you to get involved in. Food and drink will be available to buy from a range of local suppliers, and in the shops on campus. This is the fifth annual BioBlitz and following the success of the previous events, this year’s is set to be ...

With ceramics by Adam Buick and Rowena Brown 25 March to 6 May 2016 Porthminster Autumn by  Emma Jeffryes New Craftsman St Ives open their 2016 season with an exhibition of work by St Ives artist Emma Jeffryes, Jerwood Makers prize winner Adam Buick and ceramic artist Rowena Brown. In recent years Emma Jeffryes has established herself as one of St Ives’ most distinctive and well-loved painters. Her naive paintings of the town’s unique landmarks and vistas draw on a palette of vivid ocean colours and her lively brushwork conveys the vibrant energy of this busy coastal community. Ceramicist Adam Buick, who has shown at New Craftsman since 2010, was one of only five artists selected for the prestigious Jerwood Makers prize in 2013. His beautifully understated, Korean inspired Moon Jars are created from clays, grit and metal ores sourced directly from the land around him and focus on the individual’s subjective experience of landscape. Ceramics by Rowena Brown...

Join us for this FREE Community Event on Saturday 12 March 2016 Come along to the Leach Pottery on Saturday 12 March and help us decorate tiles for a new mural we are creating for Smeatons Pier. The mural will decorate the pier’s newly refurbished sheltered seating area as part of the St Ives regeneration project, and you can be a permanent part of it by creating your own unique design. During the session you will be asked to create a design on paper, before transferring it to your tile and painting it. Finished tiles will be fired at a later date and successful designs will be included as part of the mural project. We are running four one-hour sessions throughout the day. All ages and abilities welcome. Sessions will run from 10-11am, 11.30am – 12.30pm, 1.30 to 2.30pm and 3-4pm. This event is FREE but booking is essential. Maximum two tickets per booking. See our Eventbrite page via www.leachpottery.com or direct at www.eventbrite.co.uk to book your place now. Leach Pot...

Barry Krzywicki | Group of porcelain sake cups on a tray The Leach Pottery begin their 2016 schedule with a varied exhibition of contemporary pots selected by John Bedding, a one time student of Bernard Leach, ex Leach potter and current Joint Acting Director of the Pottery. The works of individual studio potters are highly unique. Each have different strengths to their work: some makers adhere strongly to tradition; some, through the repetition of familiar shapes and glazes, make pieces which evidence their expert craftsmanship; others have an inquiring mind and are strong on innovation and experimentation; still others have a strong sense of design, creating works that are clean, sharp and precise. As a well-known collector and authority on contemporary ceramics, John has chosen works which define these varied qualities and demonstrate the breadth of skill and creativity to be found in pottery today. The exhibition includes traditional stoneware by Phil Rogers and John Jelf...

Cornwall is just the perfect location for a wedding. We might not be able to guarantee the weather but we can the scenery! The good news is there is not only great choice with venues and photographers and caterers, but makeup artists in Cornwall too. Nicky Law is one such artist who covers all of Cornwall and some of Devon. She specialises in wedding and bridal makeup but also brings her expertise to your home for special occasions, fashion shoots and proms. With such a romantic setting there is plenty of scope to make that special day one to remember. Nicky says "Creating your bridal look should be an exciting and enjoyable experience and by working together and using quality products is how this will be achieved!" She is a local girl, growing up in Port Isaac and her love for the county is infectious. She recently was wed herself so knows how important the experience of getting ready can be. Bringing out your natural beauty and giving you that confidence is so important...