JOAN GILLCHREST: A PASSION FOR PENWITH AND ITS PEOPLE
"I observe people, places, buildings...everything that surrounds me and I capture this immediately by sketching. I can't wait to get home and paint from my drawings. My style is born out of a desire to give people some happiness. Life can be so sad."
Joan Gillchrest, courtesy of Gill Mitchell in 'Different Ways of Seeing', 2011.
The celebrated Mousehole-based naïve artist Joan Gillchrest died in 2008. Her passion for Penwith and its people is vividly expressed in this lovingly curated exhibition of oil-on-card paintings depicting the burly, sometimes humorous Cornish fishing life of Newlyn, Mousehole, and St Ives. Pitching and rolling fishing boats, quaint coastal harbours and villages, and their local "fisherfolk" are all on show.
From 8th August to 26th September 2026, the Porthminster Gallery presents 'Joan Gillchrest: A Passion for Penwith and its People', a selling showcase of collectable paintings by the highly-collected artist, Joan Gillchrest.
Gillchrest's naïve style was deeply influenced by the St Ives School, particularly the works of Alfred Wallis, Christopher Wood, and Bryan Pearce.
The exhibition is complemented by a selection of works by Bryan Pearce, and a new collection of quirky hand-painted maritime-themed ceramics by Anne Barrell. New works crafted from vintage books, ink drawings and beeswax on board by Ann Winder-Boyle complete the lineup.
The show will run throughout the duration of the St Ives September Festival.
All works in the exhibition are for sale, with prices ranging from £1,900 to £8,250 for framed paintings by Joan Gillchrest, £50 to £400 for ceramics by Anne Barrell, and £725 for original works by Ann Winder-Boyle.
Porthminster Gallery is proud to be a member of the Own Art scheme, which provides finance options for the purchase of original works of art and craft.
Own Art is operated by Creative United with the support of public funding from Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Please visit www.ownart.org.uk/how-to-own-art for more information.
