Callington School of Art
Callington School of Art • 3 September 2024
Callington School of Art - available for purchase

Eighteen years ago, my husband and I made the life-changing decision to relocate from Oxford to Cornwall to establish our own art school. We acquired a generous Georgian townhouse complemented by a two-storey stone coach house, encircled on three sides by a beautiful walled garden. Starting from the ground up, we have developed Callington School of Art over the years, which ‘Artists and Illustrators’ magazine recognized as ‘one of the country’s leading residential art schools.’ As a practicing artist, I am proud to have a studio that draws admiration from all who visit.

We attract people from all walks of life and from all over the world to work in this wonderful setting of Cornwall. We are based in the Tamar Valley an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ within easy reach of both north and south coasts, both Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor and of course the Tamar Valley itself. We are also close to Cotehele, a National Trust medieval estate which is popular with art guests. It is set on the escarpment overlooking the river Tamar and is very atmospheric.

Art guests come either for a six day or a three day residential course, both of which include full board. We run life drawing days and other one day courses for local artists. We also run printmaking workshops using our large flat bed press and also photographic silk screen printing using our dark room. We chose to take small numbers, up to six, so tuition is generally individual although we have many lively group discussions.
The courses are very adaptable and relaxed, once described by one of our guests as, like a house party, all eating together and exchanging ideas and thoughts at the end of the day.

As we approach retirement, we find ourselves reflecting on our journey, and we sincerely hope that there is an aspiring artist out there who would be thrilled to take the reins of the school. It brings us great joy to imagine someone ready to embrace a different lifestyle in the beautiful surroundings of Cornwall, much like we did all those years ago when we first embarked on this adventure.
If you resonate with this vision and wish to connect with us, please feel free to reach out through our website at www.callingtonartschool.com or send us an email at info@callingtonartschool.com. We would love to hear from you!


Daniel Agra is Spanish artist of abstract and fine art photography. In the artistic field his work is defined as subjective, experimental and conceptual expressionist visual poetry, with a profound imaginative capacity and endowed with strong intuition. Defined by a resounding individual and experimental personal mark that allows him to mentally project a great deal of his compositions with a language and style full of symbolism. The defined perception and emotional depth of his work should be highlighted reflecting his interest in the subconscious, abandoned methods, dialogues and conventional and traditional photographic narratives which transcend their state to be symbolised in a deep analysis, to be recreated into a poetic frontier between the material and the spiritual, between man and the environments he inhabits, distinctive elements that emphasise the communicative character in his allegorical symbology and relative to the inner world, raising it to levels of evocative spirituality in transcendental and vindictive themes, on the existential importance of the individual in his creative freedom, a personal form of contemporary expression that does not bow to the established norms, an archetype through a vocabulary with meticulously selected images and iconographies. Over time, his works have achieved wide appreciation, recognition and international dissemination. The more than 50 awards and international honour mentions of photography that he has achieved during his career should be emphasised, he has shown his work and participated in exhibitions across various countries, as well as published in assorted media and international art guides. His work can be found in national and international museums, foundations and private art and photography collections.
This ten-piece body of work, created on fine art paper (21 x 14.5 cm), explores the emotional and societal tensions that shape our collective experience. Using acrylics, graphite, and charcoal pencils, each painting captures dynamic movement through vibrant palettes—juxtaposing warm and cool tones to evoke contrast and conflict. Black graphite and charcoal lines cut through the compositions like fractures, symbolizing resistance, boundaries, and the desire to break free from imposed limitations. The negative space, softly blended with graphite, adds depth and quiet intensity, while ghost markings—my signature underpainting technique—linger beneath the surface, hinting at unseen histories and layered emotions. These subtle traces speak to the persistence of memory and identity, even when obscured.

Victoria Moses: Grand Era Victoria Moses, born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1990, is a student at the Art Academy Hamburg, where she engages with diverse artistic media, including painting, sculpture, and digital art. Her work is characterized by a profound exploration of perception and identity search, focusing on the relationships individuals establish within society. Through her use of both vivid, figurative oil paintings and monochromatic charcoal drawings, she examines how people integrate or distance themselves in various social contexts, adopting different roles that shape their self-expression and interactions. Her latest series, Grand Era, is deeply influenced by her experience working on an ocean liner - an enduring symbol of intercontinental connection as it was in the early 20th century. Within this series, Moses portrays individuals navigating multiple societal roles, shifting fluidly between personal and professional identities. A single person may simultaneously function as a professional, a family member, a friend, and a community participant, with each role reflecting distinct expectations and responsibilities dictated by their environment. Through these themes, Moses explores the complexities of human adaptability and the intricate balance required to meet the demands of social existence. Her art contributes to broader discussions on identity, social roles, and the evolving nature of interpersonal relationships.

Critics Review: The artist's exceptional talent is evident in their masterful control of watercolour, a medium notorious for its difficulty. The painting demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of light and atmosphere, using the medium's transparency to create a luminous, hazy glow over Piccadilly Circus. This is expertly contrasted with the sharp, dramatic shadows, showcasing a remarkable ability to create depth and a sense of time. The seemingly effortless washes of colour for the background and the energetic brushstrokes for the performers perfectly balance delicate subtlety with bold expression, a clear sign of a highly skilled watercolorist. Furthermore, the artist excels at capturing the emotion and energy of the scene, not just its physical form. The dynamic poses and loose, impressionistic style of the musicians suggest movement and rhythm, as if the music is about to pour from the frame. The artist has a rare gift for distilling the essence of an urban scene—its constant motion and the unexpected joy of a street performance—and conveying it with a powerful sense of atmosphere and narrative. This ability to imbue a painting with such a strong sensory experience is a true testament to their talent. Critics - Grant Milne - Founder of Artist Talk Magazine

Laurențiu STROE is a Romanian painter known for his raw, expressive style and textured surfaces. His artwork stands out through thick layers of paint, powerful brushstrokes and pallette knives, and a strong emotional presence. Using the impasto technique, STROE applies paint so heavily that it creates a sculptural texture, adding depth and movement to the canvas.

I am a Birmingham-based artist whose work explores spiritual and emotional landscapes through fluid forms and layered textures. Through my paintings, I seek to express feelings and inner states that words cannot easily convey. I developed my practice through studying Fine Art, where I began to explore the interplay of texture, movement, and the sense of presence in painting.

Angelo Asaro is an Italian artist based in London. His journey bridges engineering and art: after earning a Master’s degree in Engineering and building a successful career as a Product Manager, he eventually followed his true calling — art. This transition allowed him to combine analytical precision with deep creative expression. Angelo’s work fuses surrealism and symbolism with strong conceptual depth, drawing inspiration from literature, philosophy, and psychology. His art has been exhibited internationally in galleries, art fairs, and virtual showcases, and has appeared in publications such as British Vogue, Vanity Fair, and leading art blogs. In 2024, he was a finalist in the ArtGemini Prize and the Zari Art Prize, both celebrating exceptional contemporary talent. He was also selected for the XV Florence Biennale and the London Art Biennale 2025, two of the most respected international exhibitions of contemporary art. Tell us about yourself. How have your roots and experiences shaped your artistic vision? My work is deeply rooted in the exploration of the human condition — the emotional, social, and philosophical threads that define who we are. My visual language combines symbolism, surrealism, and contemporary narratives, all rendered with meticulous attention to detail. My creative vision has been shaped by a rich tapestry of influences — literature, philosophy, artistic movements, and a deep investigation of psychological and existential themes. Growing up in Sicily — a land of powerful contrasts, layered histories, and a profound cultural legacy — played a fundamental role in my artistic development. The island’s literary and cultural heritage often centred on themes like identity, solitude, and the fight against social injustice, has greatly influenced the emotional and conceptual core of my work. This background fuels my desire to create art that resonates on both personal and universal levels — inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences and the intricate web of connections that shape our world. How would you define your artistic style, and what themes are central to your work? My style is a hybrid of surrealism, symbolism, and elements of pop art. I often use vivid colours, precise detail, and unexpected juxtapositions to blur the boundaries between reality and imagination. The result is a visual language that’s both accessible and layered — inviting viewers to look closer, then think deeper. At the heart of my work are recurring themes: the search for identity, the fragility of existence, and the tension between individuality and conformity.

Breaking the Frame: Art, Emotion, and Connection By Ernesto Artig As an abstract artist, I work from the inside out. My process is intuitive, raw, and rooted in emotional truth. Each painting begins as a conversation—between parts of myself, between tension and release, between what’s visible and what’s felt. I use mixed media to layer meaning and texture, letting each piece evolve organically until it speaks with its own voice. But for me, the art experience shouldn’t stop at the canvas. That’s why I founded the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM). What is the Connecting Conditional Art Movement (CCAM)? CCAM is a response to how disconnected the art world—and often the world itself—can feel. At its core, it’s about creating emotional bridges between people through the artwork they collect. Each piece within CCAM exists in dialogue with a counterpart. When a collector acquires one of these works, they agree to share their contact details with the buyer of its companion piece. In doing so, they become part of a living network—a community connected not just by ownership, but by shared resonance. This movement invites us to look at art not as a commodity, but as a conduit. A spark. A starting point for something more human. Below are four examples of paintings that are part of the CCAM. Each one holds its own emotional and visual language, but also reaches outward—toward its counterpart, and toward you. If you’re an artist who feels aligned with the ethos of the Connecting Conditional Art Movement and would like to contribute your own paired works, I invite you to get in touch. You can reach me at hello@ernestoartig.com .

In the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of Ghanaian contemporary art, Ahmed Partey stands out as a visionary whose work offers a profound meditation on ancestry, identity, and transformation. Based in Accra, Partey’s practice spans painting, pastel, sculpture, wood carving, and immersive digital technologies—including virtual and augmented reality. At the center of it all is a guiding philosophy he calls Afro-Ancestral Spiritualism: a worldview that reimagines West African spiritual heritage through a symbolic, surrealist lens. Rooted in Ritual, Reaching Toward the Unseen Partey’s work emerges from deep engagement with traditional African visual systems—particularly Ga Samai, a sacred symbolic language of the Ga-Adangbe people of Ghana. Since 2017, he has expanded this lexicon from 30 to nearly 100 symbols, breathing life into what he calls “speechless voices”—nonverbal forms that transmit ancestral wisdom across generations. His figures are elongated, mask-like, and rendered in charged states of stillness or transformation—guardians of memory who exist somewhere between the spiritual and the surreal. These figures are not portraits, but vessels: containers of emotion, myth, and psychic memory. His compositions, shaped by Ghanaian cosmologies and folklore, collapse time and space.