A look inside the studio of Sandra Blow RA
By Jonathan Grimble and Denny Long
Published on 11 September 2014
As abstract art pioneer Sandra Blow RA is celebrated by two Cornwall shows, Jonathan Grimble and Denny Long from her Estate give us a tour of her atmospheric studio space in St Ives.
Sandra Blow RA (1925–2006) first came to Cornwall in the 1950s with Roger Hilton to visit their fellow painter Patrick Heron, who lived at Tregerthen, near Zennor, on the north West Penwith coast overlooking the Atlantic. Sandra rented a cottage below Patrick's home and adjacent to the cottage D.H. Lawrence briefly lived in some time before. Sandra stayed and worked there for a year before returning to London.
In 1994 she returned to Cornwall, renting one of the famous Porthmeor studios in St Ives, before founding Bullans Court, an industrial building forming a studio and living accommodation – the space was ideal for her large canvases. The Academician worked and lived at Bullans Court until her death in 2006, exhibiting each year in the RA Summer Exhibition. Tours of Bullans Court take place throughout the year; below you can see some of the highlights of the tour.
Sandra Blow RA graduated from the RA Schools in 1947 and was made a Royal Academician in 1979.
Sandra Blow RA is at The Exchange, Penzance, until 4 October 2014.
Collage works by Blow are on view in the lower gallery of Newlyn Art Gallery until 27 September 2014.
Tours of Blow’s studio are usually on Thursdays at 11am (£5 incl. refreshments); all works are for sale, as well as DVDs, books and cards; to book, email sandrablowestate@gmail.com or call 01736 797371/756006/798704.
