A School of Palettes

You'll find this gallery tucked away in St Ives, that lovely Cornish coastal town that's somehow managed to remain genuinely artistic despite the tourist hordes. A School of Palettes is exactly what it sounds - a working gallery focused on colour, paint, and the craft of making art. Walking in, you're immediately aware this isn't some slick commercial space. It feels like stepping into a proper artist's studio where people actually work, not just pose for Instagram.

The appeal here depends entirely on what you're after. If you paint yourself or spend time thinking about colour theory, you'll find it absorbing. The focus on palettes and working methods means you're not just looking at finished pieces - you're seeing how artists actually think. Kids under ten might get restless after twenty minutes unless they're already keen on art. But teenagers and adults with any creative bent will find it worth an hour of poking around.

With St Ives being a ten-minute walk from the seafront and packed with galleries, you'd slot this in as part of a larger art ramble rather than a standalone trip. If you're based at Polmanter Touring Park just up the road or one of the larger parks like Haven Riviere Sands, it's a straightforward afternoon jaunt into town. The gallery tends to attract a quieter crowd than the bigger museums, which is exactly why it's worth the visit. Admission details aren't widely published online, so ring ahead or drop in - either way, it won't be expensive.