ST Ives in Cornwall may be famed for its colony of artists, but our very own St Ives was once a town with a similar reputation – and a new exhibition has gathered all the evidence together of the town’s artistic heritage.

ST Ives in Cornwall may be famed for its colony of artists, but our very own St Ives was once a town with a similar reputation – and a new exhibition has gathered all the evidence together of the town’s artistic heritage.

The Norris Museum’s new exhibition – part of the 900th anniversary celebrations – concentrates on a group of people who have had a big effect on St Ives ... the local artists.

St Ives had its own artists’ colony between 1880 and 1930, and many of their works will be on display at the museum up until September 30.

Bob Burn-Murdoch, museum curator, said: “The Norris Museum’s fine collection of local paintings is a tribute to the generosity of the people who have given them to us over the years.

“That generosity is continuing, so we are able to mark the St Ives 900 celebrations by displaying some of the pictures given to us recently.

“Almost every painting in this exhibition is on display here for the first time. And almost all of them have been restored before being displayed – which shows the generosity also of St Ives Town Council and the Friends of the Norris Museum who have paid for this work to be done.”

INFORMATION: The Artists of St Ives exhibition is open Mondays to Saturdays, 10am-5pm and Sundays 2-5pm. Admission is free.

Bridget Flanagan’s new book on local artists (recently featured in The Hunts Post) examines St Ives’ artists.