Catherine brings both an artist’s eye and a knowledge of art historical ideas to her wide range of lectures, having studied both Fine art (Leeds and Canterbury Colleges of Art) and Art History (St. Andrew University).
Lectures include those focusing on individual artists such as Laura Knight, Henry Scott Tuke, Walter Langley and Charles N. Hemy to name a few. Catherine also gives lectures on themes in art such as abstraction and naïve art as well as different media including printmaking, sculpture and crafts. Catherine has travelled widely as a public speaker and has also written lectures on some of the art she has seen on her travels.
Lectures are 1 hour in duration and are available both live on Zoom or recorded online video. When live on Zoom there is time for Questions and Answers at the end of the lecture.
Art History Lectures at The Poly, Falmouth
From Fertiliser to Fine Art: Alfred De Pass (1861 – 1952) Art Collector and Philanthropist
Thursday 30 November Live at The Poly 6.00pm
Cost £12 + £1 Polyfund
Buy tickets from The Poly here
The art donations made by the South African philanthropist Alfred De Pass (1861 – 1952) to galleries and museums in the UK has mainly gone unrecognised. This lecture highlights some of the paintings and drawings he gave to art galleries and museums including Falmouth, Truro, Plymouth and Bristol along side the National Gallery, The Tate and The National Portrait gallery.
Rural Realism: The influence of Jules Bastien- Lepage on The Newlyn School and International Contemporaries
Thursday 25 January Live at The Poly 6.00pm
Cost £12 + £1 Polyfund
Buy tickets from The Poly here
This lecture shows the global influence of the French rural realist painter Jules Bastien- Lepage on international art in the late 19th century. His paintings of rural French peasants influenced many artists including the Newlyn School, The Glasgow Boys, the Skagen colony in Denmark and the Heidelberg group in Australia.
Norman and Alethea Garstin – Two Impressionists in Cornwall
Thursday 29th February 2024 Live at The Poly 6.00pm
Cost £12 + £1 Polyfund
Buy tickets from The Poly here
This lecture looks at the much neglected work of one of the original Newlyn School Artists Norman Garstin (1847 – 1926), his landscapes around Newlyn and his paintings of Belgium and Brittany where he spent so much time running painting courses. One of his students was his daughter Alethea Garstin (1894 – 1978) who was influenced by many of Newlyn painters including Dod Procter but came into her own as leading impressionist in the UK from the 1940s – 60s.
Alfred Wallis – Naïve Painter and Modernist Inspiration
Thursday 28 March Live at The Poly 6.00pm
Cost £12 + £1 Polyfund
Buy tickets from The Poly here
This lecture looks at the genuine naive painter and his unusual art work. We look at how to read his paintings and identity the coastline he is depicting as well as how he inspired the St. Ives Modernists Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, W. Barnes- Graham and Christopher Wood.
Please note: Booking Live lecture is via the Poly only and live tickets are not transferable to Zoom.
Monthly Lectures on Zoom and recorded online video
October 2023 – April 2024
Series of 6 lectures on Zoom. Wednesdays 10.30 – 11.30am
Payment Details
Cost of lecture series: £65 for all 6. Pay with Paypal
Or buy the individual lectures below for £13 each.
(If you prefer to pay by cheque or BACS please email Catherine)
1. Falmouth, Flowers, Fairies and Travels Abroad
Pioneer Women Artists in Falmouth (17th century to 1940)
Online recording. Cost £13
From Anne Killigrew (1660 – 1685) to Marjorie Fischer Williams née Murray (1880 – 1961) this lecture includes women artists living and working around Falmouth and South Cornwall who painted either as a hobby or as professionals. Artists also include Sophie Anderson, Ellen Genn, Georgina Martha de L’Aubiniere and Winifred Freeman,
2. Colourful Characters – Laura Knight’s Models
Wednesday 8 November 10.30am Cost £13 Also available as an online recording
In this lecture we look at some of the many models Laura Knight painted throughout her career and stories of some of the more colourful characters.
3. From Fertiliser to Fine Art: Alfred De Pass (1861 – 1952) Art Collector and Philanthropist
Wednesday 6 December 11.00am Cost £13 Also Available as an online recording
The art donations made by the South African philanthropist Alfred De Pass (1861 – 1952) to galleries and museums in the UK has mainly gone unrecognised. This lecture highlights some of the paintings and drawings he gave to art galleries and museums including Falmouth, Truro, Plymouth and Bristol along side the National Gallery, The Tate and The National Portrait gallery.
4. Rural Realism: The influence of Jules Bastien- Lepage on The Newlyn School and International Contemporaries
Wednesday 31 January 2024 10.30am. Cost £13 Also available as an online recording
This lecture shows the global influence of the French rural realist painter Jules Bastien- Lepage on international art in the late 19th century. His paintings of rural French peasants influenced many artists including the Newlyn School, The Glasgow Boys, the Skagen colony in Denmark and the Heidelberg group in Australia.
5. Norman and Alethea Garstin – Two Impressionists in Cornwall
Wednesday 28th February 2024 10.30am Cost £13 Also available as an online recording.
This lecture looks at the much neglected work of one of the original Newlyn School Artists Norman Garstin (1847 – 1926), his landscapes around Newlyn and his paintings of Belgium and Brittany where he spent so much time running painting courses. One of his students was his daughter Alethea Garstin (1894 – 1978) who was influenced by many of Newlyn painters including Dod Procter but came into her own as leading impressionist in the UK from the 1940s – 60s.
6. Alfred Wallis- Naïve Painter and Modernist Inspiration
Wednesday 3 April 10.30am Cost £13 Also available as an online recording.
This lecture looks at the genuine naive painter and his unusual art work. We look at how to read his paintings and identity the coastline he is depicting as well as how he inspired the St. Ives Modernists Ben Nicholson, Winifred Nicholson, W. Barnes- Graham and Christopher Wood.
Image credits:Lecture 1. Lowestoft Mackerel boat at Flushing Quay, 1896, By Winifred Freeman Lecture 2. Gypsy Splendour, 1939 by Laura Knight ©Nottingham City Museums and Galleries Lecture 3.Portrait of Alfred De Pass, pencil, 1899 by Augustus John ©Royal Institute of Cornwall. Lecture 4. Poor Fauvette by Jules Bastien-Lepage ©Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Lecture 5. A View of Newlyn from the North Pier, c.1892 by Norman Garstin ©Newlyn Art Gallery .Lecture 6. the Blue Ship. c. 1934? by Alfred Wallis ©Tate Gallery