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...

Things to Do in Padstow: A Local Guide If you mention places to visit in Cornwall, Padstow is never far from the conversation. This little harbour town attracts plenty of visitors, particularly in summer, but there is a good reason for that. With the Camel Estuary on one side and the north Cornish coast on the other, you have food, beaches, walking, cycling and boat trips all within easy reach. Of course, Padstow has become famous for its food too. Rick Stein helped put the town firmly on the foodie map, but these days there is a whole collection of places to eat and drink, from fish and chips by the harbour to rather special dinners. So, if you are planning a day or a few days in Padstow, here are some of our favourite things to do. Explore Padstow Harbour The harbour is really the heart of Padstow and probably the best place to start. Fishing boats still work from here alongside yachts, pleasure boats and the little ferry crossing the estuary to Rock. Grab a coffee, wande...

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...

There is so much to see and do in Cornwall this time of year! Many people see Cornwall purely as a Summer holiday destination, but the magic of a Winter in Cornwall is the moments of beauty that you can have all to yourself. The light is just so spectacular - unwind with a stroll through the Wind and the Willow woods in Lerryn, or perhaps explore Bodmin Moor, or have a wind swept beach all to yourself. The peace and stillness is just so beautiful, however, if you prefer a little more bustle every little town is alight with Christmas markets and entertainment at the moment. With late night shopping, mulled wine and mince pies galore communities come alive this merry season. If you are not lucky enough to call this little piece of England your home, there are some beautiful places to stay. Imagine a country cottage with a farmhouse kitchen, chunky stone walls and cosy log fire! If you want fashionable North coast of Cornwall and 5* luxury you can do no better than Rooke Cottages. ...

  From the 28 November 2015 to 16 January 2016 the renowned St Ives ceramic studio Leach Pottery are hosting an exhibition. Douglas Fitch and Hannah McAndrew present A Love Affair with Clay, these established potters have lectured in Japan and the USA and are presenting their new work. Now partners in marriage as well as ceramics, much to the delight of the pottery community, you can see their shared influences of English pottery. They share their time between Hannah’s studio in a quiet corner of rural Galloway, Scotland, and Douglas’s studio in mid Devon. Hannah loves pots that have a purpose and Douglas decorates his with appliqué decoration or sgrafitto, using traditional slips made from local materials. Founded in 1920 by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada, the Leach Pottery, St Ives, is among the most respected and influential potteries in the world. Over the last hundred years it has forged the shape of Studio Pottery in the UK and beyond. So for somethi...