alethea garstin

Artist

1894 – 1978 
 
Suggested by Maisy-Sky Lumbers 
 
Maisy writes, “Alethea Garstin, born in Penzance the daughter of acclaimed Newlyn School artist Norman Garstin, forged her career and reputation as a central figure amongst the latter group of Newlyn artists. Her confident handling of paint and lively compositions prompted the St Ives modernist painter Patrick Heron to call her “England’s leading Impressionist painter. She began painting at 16 and aged 18, she had her first painting accepted by the Royal Academy. 
 
Known for her warm and engaging personality, Alethea formed close and lasting friendships with esteemed artists such as Alfred Wallis and Dod Procter, bonding over their shared passion for art and creativity. Even today, she is held in high regard and remembered with great affection within the local community. 
 
Alethea received no formal tuition as a painter but was probably largely taught by her father. She became influenced by the Fauvist painters, whose work is characterised by strong colours and bold brush strokes. Her mature work, which was usually on a small scale, used a limited palette and broken, loose brushwork. She often painted en plein air directly onto board with a toned back-ground and using square hog-hair brushes. Her subjects included many of the scenes and characters she witnessed on her travels through Ireland, Belgium, Italy, France and to the Isles of Scilly as well as friends and views closer to her Penwith home”. 

penleehouse.org.uk