Over the half-term break, the KLB Art Department and Sixth Form art students travelled to Cornwall for their annual residential trip to St Ives. The three-day visit gave students a valuable opportunity to respond creatively to the Cornish landscape, museums and galleries through photography and drawing, supporting their personal investigations and exam work.

The trip began with a visit to the Eden Project, a world-renowned ecological site set within a reclaimed china clay pit. Known for its striking geodesic biomes, including one of the largest indoor rainforests, it provided a rich and varied environment for students to capture observational drawings and photographs.

On Saturday, students explored St Ives, a town celebrated for its strong artistic heritage and status as a centre for modern art. The day included a workshop at the St Ives School of Painting, where students were encouraged to experiment with new techniques. This was followed by visits to Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Sketchbooks and cameras were in constant use as students recorded ideas and developed their work.

On the final day, the group visited St Michael’s Mount, giving students a final opportunity to gather visual references before returning home.

Trip organiser Miss Bray praised the group, saying: “We were delighted with how hard the students worked throughout the trip. They fully embraced every opportunity and produced some beautiful work. It was particularly inspiring to see them at the St Ives School of Painting, where they pushed themselves to try new techniques. Their willingness to step outside their comfort zones was a real highlight.”