A new exhibition is shining a spotlight on a much-loved painter and her deep affection for West Cornwall.
Porthminster Gallery in St Ives is hosting Joan Gillchrest: A Passion for Penwith and its People from August 8 to September 26, 2026, featuring a curated selection of paintings by the late Mousehole-based artist Joan Gillchrest (1918–2008).
The exhibition is part of the gallery’s autumn 2026 programme.
Gillchrest was known for her distinctive naïve style and evocative scenes of Newlyn, Mousehole, and St Ives, often depicting bustling harbours, everyday life, and the characteristic 'fisherfolk' of the region.
Her work drew strong influence from the St Ives School and artists such as Alfred Wallis, Christopher Wood, and Bryan Pearce.
The exhibition will also include selected pieces by Bryan Pearce, alongside maritime-themed ceramics by Anne Barrell, and mixed media works by Ann Winder-Boyle.
All works on display will be available for purchase.
Gillchrest’s framed paintings are priced between £1,900 and £8,000, ceramics by Anne Barrell range from £50 to £400, and works by Ann Winder-Boyle are priced at £725 each.
The exhibition coincides with the St Ives September Festival.
Born Joan Linda Gilbert Scott in 1918, Gillchrest was educated at Rosemead School, Upper Chine School on the Isle of Wight, and Wadhurst Boarding School, before travelling to Paris in 1934 to study French and develop her artistic passion.
She trained at the Grosvenor School of Art from 1935 to 1939 and exhibited early on at the Royal Academy, the New English Art Club, and with the London Group.
During the Second World War, she served as an ambulance driver for Westminster Hospital.
In 1942, she married Samuel Gillchrest, and together they had two children.
Following her divorce in 1953, she modelled for London fashion houses while continuing to paint.
Gillchrest established her artistic career from her home in Mousehole, exhibiting throughout Cornwall and beyond.
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