Selected for St Ives Society of Artists Spring Open Exhibition 2026

There are some emails you open and immediately hold your breath.

This was one of them.

Finding out that two of my pieces had been selected for the Spring Open Exhibition at the St Ives Society of Artists is something I don’t think I’ll ever become used to.

And honestly… I don’t want to.

Because the feeling?
It’s exactly the same every time.

A kind of childlike excitement. The sort that bubbles up unexpectedly and makes you stop for a second and think, “How is this actually my life?”

One of the selected pieces - ‘Into Still Water’

The Spring Open Exhibition is one of Cornwall’s most respected and long-standing exhibitions, showcasing a curated selection of contemporary artists alongside emerging talent.

To have work selected means it’s been chosen purely on merit - judged, simply for the strength of the piece.

That never gets old.

Both pieces continue my exploration of textured seascapes, using reclaimed textiles, sand, and materials shaped by the coastline.

They’re not just paintings of the ocean.

They’re built from it.

Layers of fabric, fragments of materials that have lived other lives, reshaped into something calm, immersive, and quietly powerful.

If you’re anywhere near Cornwall over the next few weeks, this is genuinely worth a visit.

Dates: 1st May – 19th June 2026
Location: St Ives Society of Artists

It’s the kind of space where you can slow down, take it all in, and discover artists you might never have come across otherwise.

And if you do visit, I’d love to know what you think.

Gem

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What Is Textured Art?

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6 Years of Painting the Ocean: The Story Behind My Underwater Collection