That special Light

Presenting “Breaking Through” original oil on canvas 100x50cm

I often get asked if it’s true that Cornwall, St Ives in particular has a special quality of light and why it has drawn artists for so many years. I believe there is something magical about the light here, but I don’t think it can be quantified. It is ephemeral and constantly changing, hence the inspiration for painters trying to capture that special something.

Truth is it’s pretty unromantic really, it’s down to the reflectiveness of the surrounding landscape. The beaches of crushed golden granite and white seashells, the light from the shallow waters and the fact that all the beaches face different directions with the harbour southfacing all add to the light quality.

Personally I like to imagine it’s some mystical laylines or that we are caught in some otherworldly bubble, St Ives is magical and if you are an early bird like myself those vast skies over the spectacular beaches are indeed otherworldly.