Jo Downs Handmade Glass - St Ives

Walking into Jo Downs' studio in St Ives, you're immediately confronted with colour - glass vessels catching the light, each one looking nothing like mass production. This is working glassblowing on a small scale, the kind of place where you can actually see the artist at work if you time it right.

Jo creates handmade glass pieces, mostly functional stuff - vases, bowls, drinking glasses - but with the kind of finish that makes you want to touch them. The studio doubles as a gallery, so everything on display is for sale. Prices reflect the handmade nature of the work, so don't expect bargains, but if you're after something genuinely original to take home, it's worth a look.

This works best for adults who appreciate craft and aren't after a traditional tourist attraction. Kids might find it interesting for five minutes, especially if they catch a demonstration, but there's not much to do once you've looked around. The real appeal is watching someone who knows their trade - glassblowing demands precision and nerve.

St Ives itself is mobbed in summer, but slipping into a studio like this feels properly local. It's a short walk from the seafront chaos. If you're based at Polmanter Touring Park or St Ives Holiday Village, you're minutes away. Worth an hour of your time, particularly on a rainy afternoon when everything else feels too crowded.