Mayes Creative

25/02/2026

Sister organisation St Ives Film: 2026 4 day workshops registration now open! 16 and 8mm film shooting, hand processing, projection and general analogue fun by the ocean! Deadline 16th March for first round and 10% off :) www.stivesfilm.com

Registration is now open for our Spring and Summer 2026 film schools! You have 2 weeks to apply to our first round and benefit from 10% off our full price :)

Choose from:
April 13th -16th (Monday to Thursday)
May 11th -14th (Monday to Thursday)
June 8th -11th (Monday to Thursday)
August 10th -13th (Monday to Thursday)

Price: £425 for 4 days £382.50 with 10% discount applied
supported place for Cornwall artist @ £195 - chosen by need and enthusiasm!

First Round and 10% off closes in 2 weeks on Sunday 15th March 2026
DM if you would like to apply but need time to pay - we know it's tough out there right now :)

Join us for a special four-day workshop in the inspiring surroundings of St. Ives, Cornwall, where we’ll explore the art and craft of experimental analogue filmmaking. We’ll be working at the renowned Porthmeor Studios, overlooking Porthmeor Beach, as we explore the dramatic contrasts of light across the St. Ives peninsula—from the lively surf and rock pools of Porthmeor to the serene waters of Porthgwidden, home to seals, and (if we’re lucky) dolphins and tuna! Our emphasis is on a relaxed and enjoyable experience, whilst having time to play with film.

This workshop will focus on playful and experimental 8mm and 16mm filmmaking techniques, understanding vintage camera options and using affordable and recycled materials without the need for a formal darkroom.

We will consider the basics of artisanal film production, learning from our tutors' filmmaking practices, developed over the last 20 years, which incorporate a kitchen-friendly and eco-aware approach to working with photochemical film. We share ways in which you can source affordable and recycled film making materials, working without a formal darkroom and how to align our film making practice with contemporary climate and waste-aware concerns. Workshops led by St Ives Film founder Joanna Mayes, with James Holcombe of Erehwon Film joining for our larger workshops in April and June.

Link to apply and more info our bio!

07/02/2026

Deep Time and the Neolithic Mind:
Dartmoor Spring Residency –
Monday March 9th to Thursday March 12th 2026
 
This residency invites artists to explore the “Neolithic mind” through the unique landscape of Dartmoor, one of Britain’s richest prehistoric terrains, marked by stone rows, cairns, hut circles, and the enduring presence of deep time. The Neolithic on Dartmoor reflects a shift toward settled life, new relationships with land and weather, ritual gathering, and the crafting of meaning through material and place.
We invite artists to join us to respond to, reinterpret, or interrogate this early layer of human consciousness as it resonates through Dartmoor’s moorland, geology, ecology, and ancient structures. How might Neolithic ways of knowing—cyclical time, material sensibility, animistic worldviews, communal ritual offer new perspectives on our contemporary relationship with landscape, memory, and environment?
Artists working in any medium are encouraged to use Dartmoor itself as catalyst, collaborator, or provocation in exploring the Neolithic mind.

Residency Location
We reside in a beautiful centre near South Zeal with direct access to the high moors. Residency led by artist filmmaker and researcher Dr Joanna Mayes and archaeoastronomer Carolyn Kennett FRSA

Pricing
* £375: Full price, includes shared accommodation for three nights.
* £325: For participants arranging their own accommodation.
* £250: 1 x Subsidised artist place for those in need of support (competitive, limited availability).
* £200: 1 x Subsidised local artist place (selected by need and enthusiasm, limited availability).
Early Bird Discount: Apply quickly and prompt payment to receive 10% off!
More details and to apply - link in bio to MayesCreative.com

archaelogy

24/01/2026

Deep Time and the Neolithic Mind:
Dartmoor Spring Residency –
Monday March 9th to Thursday March 12th 2026
 
This residency invites artists to explore the “Neolithic mind” through the unique landscape of Dartmoor, one of Britain’s richest prehistoric terrains, marked by stone rows, cairns, hut circles, and the enduring presence of deep time. The Neolithic on Dartmoor reflects a shift toward settled life, new relationships with land and weather, ritual gathering, and the crafting of meaning through material and place.
We invite artists to join us to respond to, reinterpret, or interrogate this early layer of human consciousness as it resonates through Dartmoor’s moorland, geology, ecology, and ancient structures. How might Neolithic ways of knowing—cyclical time, material sensibility, animistic worldviews, communal ritual offer new perspectives on our contemporary relationship with landscape, memory, and environment?
Artists working in any medium are encouraged to use Dartmoor itself as catalyst, collaborator, or provocation in exploring the Neolithic mind.

Residency Location
We reside in a beautiful centre near South Zeal with direct access to the high moors. Residency led by artist filmmaker and researcher Dr Joanna Mayes and archaeoastronomer Carolyn Kennett FRSA

Pricing
* £375: Full price, includes shared accommodation for three nights.
* £325: For participants arranging their own accommodation.
* £250: 1 x Subsidised artist place for those in need of support (competitive, limited availability).
* £200: 1 x Subsidised local artist place (selected by need and enthusiasm, limited availability).
Early Bird Discount: Apply by the end of January and prompt payment to receive 10% off.
More details and to apply - link in bio to MayesCreative.com

27/09/2025

Today!! We are delighted that the Murdoch Flyer is coming to Hayle as part of our celebration day at Hayle Railway Station next Saturday 27th Sept! This is the first event in our Story of Steam project, kindly supported by the GWR Customer and Community Fund in recognition of the important part played by the Trevithicks in Hayle, both Richard Trevithick’s early railway locomotives and Mary Trevithick’s White Hart Hotel commissioning the first railway ‘omnibus’ carriages to bring passengers to Hayle.

On Saturday Rail Holiday are kindly opening their Harvey Carriage (entrance in the station carpark) which has been beautifully restored, with a lovely wildlife garden around it. Helston Railway are bringing their information tent to share their story and we are bringing community screen printing and badge making to help us share our railway stories!

The Murdoch Flyer is a life sized working model of William Murdoch’s early steam locomotive designs. It’s wonderful to see it working (fingers crossed the steam will be steaming!) - please come along and enjoy this amazing part of the story of steam. Helston Railway volunteers will also be coming along to share their heritage story and exciting future plans.

All welcome, free. We are also looking for stories of railways, railway engineering and the people (and horses!) who made the railway run in Hayle and around Cornwall. Please come along and share them with us.

We will be working with local schools, libraries and Hayle Day Care Centre to celebrate the Story of Steam in West Cornwall and the Hayle Railway over the coming months.

23/08/2025

November of Dartmoor! Yes our wonderful Dartmoor residency is back :). Snap up your place before they’re all gone! 10% discount for early birds before the end of August :)

20/08/2025

Looking for a little creative inspiration this Autumn? Announcing our St Just Cornwall October residency. Looking forward to being back in this lovely part of Cornwall and hope you can join us to explore this wonderful landscape with its special history including ancient sites, whilst spending time with like minded people .

See link in bio for details! 10% early bird discount until the end of August.

06/03/2025

Looking for some last minute inspiration? Why not join us for our wonderful Spring Residency on Dartmoor? We had a wonderful time there last year - lots of opportunity for creative rest and research, spending time with like minded people. LAST PLACE - 10% discount! Apply now as when it’s gone (as they say) it’s gone!!

05/01/2025

Looking for creative inspiration at the start of 2025? Our first residency of the year is on a beautiful part of the North Cornwall coast at Boscastle!. Join us for a chance to explore this special part of Cornwall, with a focus on the wonderful ancient sites of Tintagel and nearby Bodmin Moor with expert as our guide! As this is the lunar standstill year we will also be talking about lunar and other alignments at ancient sites. Plenty of time to consider creative responses to site and share skills with other participants, led by Dr Joanna Mayes. Joanna will also bring her analogue and alternative hand processed filmmaking skills to share.
Interested? Link in bio for more information and to apply. Just a few places left with applications accepted on a rolling basis :)

04/01/2025

Looking for some New Year creative inspiration? Apply now for our group Dartmoor Spring Residency! A chance to relax and have a creative recharge in the fascinating Dartmoor landscape and spend time with like-minded people. We offer a relaxed environment where people can spend time as they choose, whilst having inspiring walks and interactions with other artists, creatives and thinkers :). If you’re not familiar with Dartmoor it’s an intriguing mix of ancient, medieval and industrial heritage, now a National Park with amazing views and a feeling of space. Also sometimes mysterious and magical if the mist comes down! Led by interdisciplinary artist and researcher Dr Joanna Mayes and archaeoastronomer Carolyn Kennett FRSA. We look forward to meeting you! Link in bio for more information and to book.
Previous residents please comment with any thoughts or experiences!

28/12/2024

Looking for a little New Year inspiration? We have 2 half price places on our Dartmoor Spring residency for Devon or Cornwall artists in need of support. Priority to Dartmoor artists. Apply as usual via link in bio, stating how you would benefit from joining our residency :). More info on link in bio or previous posts. First round closes on 30th December so be quick if you’re keen!

27/12/2024

Looking for some New Year creative inspiration? Book now for our Dartmoor Spring Residency and get 10% off our 2025 prices! :). We also have 2 half prices places for local artists in need of support. We stay in a wonderful location; Bellever Forest and the beautiful East Dart River are right outside the YHA where we stay. Plenty of ancient sites to explore around the inspiring Dartmoor landscape. We are really looking forward to spending time there again - hope you can join us!