Gallery of the Month: New Gallery, Portscatho

GALLERY OF THE MONTH

In the 18th century, Portscatho was a bustling fishing community, its harbour popular for its protection from the prevailing winds.

Pilchards were cleaned, salted and packed into wooden barrels, and the majority were sold into the Mediterranean market. These days, there are very few local fishermen left, and like many communities on the Roseland peninsula, this pretty village has turned to recreational boating and tourism.

Where Portscatho scores highly is in its status as an art colony. While St Ives, Newlyn and Falmouth have all hosted groups of prodigiously talented artists, Portscatho offers a bijou, 21stcentury equivalent, with even the historic fisherman’s shelter a seasonal art gallery.

At its heart is the New Gallery, which has been in Portscatho for 37 years and in The Square for 21, during which time it has built up a loyal following. I arrive to find gallery owner Chris Insoll wrapping a painting for a regular customer. “People come not so much to look around, but to add to their collections,” he says. Part-time opening hours only serve to heighten the sense of anticipation: “Three customers on a Thursday morning is not unusual. We close for lunch, and it’s not uncommon to find a queue waiting at 2pm.”

Chris founded the Portscatho Art Society in April 1984. His own work appears in collections including the Royal Cornwall Museum and Falmouth Art Gallery, and it’s hard to pin him down to a single style of painting – artwork on show at the New Gallery varies from fine art to abstract, still life to portraits, oils and acrylics to pencil drawings.

The society now has 12 members, and over the years the gallery has featured work by an impressive roster of eminent artists including Grace Gardner and Rose Hilton.

The gallery is two shops knocked together, while upstairs a flat has been turned into a studio with facilities, available to any visiting artist. The studio has been described as a “treasure trove” and “an Aladdin’s cave” on numerous occasions; these may be cliches, but the reality doesn’t disappoint.

Every available wall surface is hung with work by member artists and others, many (especially those by Chris) depicting the sash window with its delectable view over the rooftops and out to sea. A chaise longue is a favourite spot for portrait sitters.

There’s a comprehensive library of art literature, and dotted here and there are items of artistic and emotional significance: a palette and a paintbox used by Stanhope Forbes (1857 – 1947) and still used by Chris to this day (“I painted a whole series using that box while exhibiting in London”), and an easel that once belonged to British painter Sir Matthew Smith (1879 – 1959).

Were it not for the sea view, you might imagine yourself in a bohemian garret in Montmartre. “In a more commercial gallery, this room would be stripped out, the floors scrubbed and white walls hung as more gallery space, everything for sale,” says Chris. “But our studio has a practical use.” When not busy, the artist on duty can retreat upstairs to continue work in progress, with half an eye on the baby monitor that serves as CCTV.

A table is set for lunch, which becomes a common theme. Chris brings out crab with crusty bread and salad; he likes to take care of his friends. Most meetings (like mine) are posted on Facebook: “People follow us and like to see us having lunch and enjoying life.”

Eric Ward is a regular visitor; formerly harbourmaster of St Ives, he enjoyed one of his earliest shows at the New Gallery and has remained loyal for over 20 years. He is now a painter of some renown, especially for his en plein air painting, and it gives him great pleasure to be actively involved in the gallery. Many customers time their visits deliberately to coincide with his: “Eric holds court on Thursdays,” laughs Chris.

Other members include Chris’ wife, Andrea Insoll, who produces paintings based on a combination of flora, still life and geometric patterns, as well as collages made from her beach combings; Andrew Tozer, who chooses to paint life’s simple pleasures - boats at rest in a harbour, a figure in the quiet of the studio, precious family moments; former restaurateur Ann Long, who earned accolades from Michelin and Egon Ronay before retiring and concentrating on her painting; Nina Packer, whose passion lies in mark-making and colour, whether using a charcoal stick, crimson oil paint or an etching press; and two Devonbased artists, en plein air specialist Danny Holmes-Adams and Chris’ own mentor Trevor Felcey, who tutored him at the Chelsea School of Art.

A website was launched during the pandemic, Chris having resisted thus far on the grounds that “a small screen doesn’t do the artwork justice”. Having been coaxed into the 21st century, he went through his customer card index, identifying those who might appreciate the new tech and sending them personal letters hand-written in fountain pen. "It's good value and brings us repeat business,” he says of this oldschool approach. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. l

The New Gallery, Portscatho, TR2 5HW. Open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm (or by appointment). www.thenewgalleryportscatho.co.uk

Nina Packer Eric Ward Andrew Tozer

Andrea Insoll Trevor Felcey Chris Insoll