ON a sleepy country lane near Falmouth a new art school is soon to open in a farm yard with a unique history.

For over 30 years Higher Spargo Farm has worked to support and nurture up and coming artists, designers and fabricators, providing affordable studios and a thriving community in the surrounding outbuildings.

Now this unique community will open its doors to aspiring and established artists in a new purpose-built studio classroom – formerly a shelter for cows and their calves.

Tim Shaw RA will run the first two courses – three and seven days – on sculpture modelling starting August 1. Tim has been working at the yard since 1990 and is now an eminent contemporary visual artist and sculptor, recognised internationally.

Carlos Zapata, also working at the yard for over two decades sculpts powerful emotional works in wood, including making automata – moving sculptures. His course, scheduled for September, will focus on this latter practice, participants being able to design and make their own automaton over two days.

Emily Roberts uses foraged materials in her practice to make inks and paints, and will run a two day life drawing course later in August. Participants will learn how to forage and process materials to make their own drawing charcoal and natural inks.

Alex Midlen, school director comments: “Higher Spargo has become such a unique place through all the artisans based here. We thought it was time to share the experience by opening up the yard and to enable people from all backgrounds to benefit from the experienced artists here by running high quality courses to small groups. It is so exciting that the first course is just a few weeks away!”

To book and be the first to join this new artistic community, visit: www.higherspargoartschool.org