Colin Orchard is one of St Ives' most respected resident artists, known as a painter of interior scenes and the landscapes of Cornwall, East Anglia and Italy. This very special exhibition celebrates his 90th birthday, and is the third in his acclaimed St Ives series of shows, held exclusively at New Craftsman Gallery since 2022.
This collection revisits the lanes and landmarks of St Ives, taking a fresh perspective on its secret corners, hidden turns, and sloping cobbled streets. Beginning with sunrise over the harbour and glimpses of Smeaton's Pier Lighthouse and the Three Arches, these paintings take us over to Porthmeor, and past the painted doors of fishermen's cottages as shafts of sunlight illuminate the walls and window boxes of Virgin Street and Love Lane. Bright views across the rooftops and from Ayr Lane are contrasted by the shadowy cut-through of Custom House Passage, and the cool interiors of the Tate Gallery, Arts Club and Barbara Hepworth Museum. Referencing West Cornwall's history of nonfigurative painting, these works bring new, subtly abstract elements to the St Ives series, reinventing forms and viewpoints whilst retaining the essential feel of this iconic Cornish town, which Colin has called home for more than 40 years.