They will re-open in the autumn to provide six artists' studios on the site where many of the Newlyn painters worked in the late 19th century.

Trewarveneth Studio originally served as the local infant school. The artist John Wells bought the building in 1967, and he and the sculptor Denis Mitchell subsequently used it as their studios.

Following the death of John Wells in 2000, it was bequeathed to the Borlase Smart Trust, and the Trust changed its name to acknowledge this bequest.

The Trust started to raise funds to carry out all the necessary repairs and alterations and the fund-raising target was finally reached earlier this year thanks to substantial private donations and important contributions from Arts Council England, Rural Cornwall Partnership, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The renovation works are being carried out by Paul Mitchell Builders of Penzance.

Chris Hibbert, the Trust manager, said: "I am so pleased that Trewarveneth Studios will soon be re-opening to provide much-needed work space for local artists. It is very satisfying to be able to restore this lovely old building, and to contribute to the regeneration of Newlyn.

"I am most grateful to all the individuals and organisations that have made this possible. Special thanks are due to my predecessor Cath Wallace, who started this project and was responsible for raising much of the funding."

* To obtain more details about these studios, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or send a stamped addressed envelope to Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, c/o Barn House, Mill Road, Penponds, Camborne TR14 0QH.

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN 

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