Summer in Cornwall: A Guide to Coastal Art & Hidden Beaches
There's nowhere quite like Cornwall in summer. The light changes everything — the way it catches the harbour water at golden hour, the way it turns the sea a shade of turquoise you'd swear belonged somewhere more exotic. As a fine artist and illustrator based right here in Newquay, I've spent years chasing that light along the Cornish coast, sketchbook in hand, trying to capture what makes this place so utterly magical. For me, it is focusing on location and under the surface of the ocean. My Father - he painted these magnificent watercolour and linear contemporary studies of the beautiful coves of Cornwall.
This summer, I wanted to share some of my favourite spots — the ones that keep drawing me back, brush in hand, ready for new works of art— and the stories behind the prints I've created of my Fathers studies of them - here is a selection of his works. Whether you're a visitor discovering Cornwall for the first time or a local who knows every cove by heart, I hope this gives you a fresh way to see the coast we love.
The North Coast: Wild, Windswept & Wonderful
Newquay Harbour
I'll start close to home. Newquay Harbour is one of those places I never tire of observing. At low tide, the fishing boats rest on the sand and the whole scene takes on a quiet, timeless quality that feels a world away from the busy beaches nearby. The Newquay Harbour print tries to capture exactly that stillness — the colours of the boats, the texture of the harbour walls, the particular quality of Atlantic light on a clear summer morning.
Porth Beach, Newquay
Just a short drive from the town centre, Porth Beach is a hidden gem that many visitors walk straight past on their way to Fistral. It's a beautiful, sheltered cove — perfect for families and for artists looking for a quieter composition. You will find that the Porth Beach Newquay print celebrates this underrated stretch of coastline in a contemporary and surrealist effect.
Mawgan Porth Beach
Further up the coast, Mawgan Porth is one of those beaches that genuinely takes your breath away on a clear day. The wide arc of sand, the dramatic cliffs, the surf rolling in — it's a painter's dream. The Mawgan Porth Beach print is one of my personal favourites from the collection.
Perranporth Beach
Three miles of golden sand, dramatic dunes, and that incredible open-sky feeling — Perranporth is quintessential Cornwall. I love visiting it in the late afternoon when the light goes warm and the shadows stretch long across the sand. My father created a fun, atmospheric study of this beautiful location and you can find the Perranporth Beach print now in the shop.
Sennen Cove
Right at the tip of Cornwall, Sennen Cove feels like the edge of the world in the best possible way. The surf here is legendary, and the views back towards Land's End are extraordinary. The Sennen Cove print captures the wild energy of this special place.
The South Coast: Harbours, History & Hidden Coves
Fowey
Fowey is one of those Cornish towns that feels like it was designed to be painted. The estuary, the pastel-coloured houses tumbling down to the water, the sailing boats — it's endlessly picturesque. Daphne du Maurier loved it here, and honestly, it's not hard to see why. The Fowey print tries to do justice to its quiet, literary charm.
Charlestown
Step into Charlestown and you step back in time. This perfectly preserved Georgian harbour — famous as a filming location for Poldark — is one of the most atmospheric spots in Cornwall. The tall ships, the cobblestones, the sense of history — I find it endlessly inspiring. Find the Charlestown print in the shop.
The Old Custom House, Padstow
Padstow is beloved for its food scene, but it's the architecture and harbour that keep me coming back, I would love to create a series of paintings inspired by Padstow alone. The Old Custom House is a beautiful historic building right on the quayside — full of character and Cornish history. Padstow, was one of my Fathers most visited spots, he loved the quaint charm of the town along with its laid back lifestyle. Here you can see the Old Custom House Padstow print.
Old Watch House
Another piece of Cornish coastal history captured in paint — the Old Watch House print is a love letter to the working heritage of the Cornish coast.
Mevagissey
Mevagissey is a working fishing village that has somehow managed to stay wonderfully itself despite being one of Cornwall's most visited spots. The double harbour, the brightly painted boats, the narrow streets — it's a joy to visit, so make sure that one is on your list. The Mevagissey Boats print celebrates the fishing heritage that defines this place.
Polperro
If Mevagissey is charming, Polperro is utterly enchanting. Tucked into a steep valley, accessible only on foot or by horse-drawn cart, it's one of the most unspoiled fishing villages in England. Dad had painted it multiple times and it never gets old. Explore the Polperro fishing village print, the Polperro Fishing Boats print, and his vibrant Polperro in Colour print — each one captures a different mood of this magical place and showcases his art style beautifully.
Further Afield: The Iconic Spots
St Ives
No guide to Cornish coastal art would be complete without St Ives. This town has been drawing artists for over a century — the Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden, the Leach Pottery — and the light here really is something special. My father had painted the harbour and the fishing boats many times, and as I browse the many studies he has of this idyllic location, I'm always finding something new. Browse the St Ives Fishing Boats print and the St Ives Cornwall print in the shop.
Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful places in Britain. The serpentine rock formations, the impossibly turquoise water, the white sand — it looks like it belongs in the Caribbean. Painting it is both a joy and a challenge. The Kynance Cove print is one of the most popular in the collection, and it's easy to see why. Taken from above, the composition focuses heavily on the rock formations and wild flowers that hug the cove, crystal clear waters reflecting the turquoise of the sky, no wonder this is a famous spot for tourists and locals alike. This study shows a contemporary and modern abstract feel, doused in lashes of watercolour and vivid hues, celebrating this with his signature linear sketch style, it brings a fun element to a naturally spectacular destination.
Bring a Piece of Cornwall Home
Whether you're visiting Cornwall this summer or dreaming of it from afar, I hope these prints bring a little of that coastal magic into your home. Each one is painted from life — from hours spent at these locations, watching the light change, listening to the waves, trying to capture something true about this extraordinary place. With this, I have included a complete page of works dedicated to my late Father, to honour his hard work and dedication within artistry and his love of Cornwall.
All location prints are available for £24 each and make a beautiful, lasting reminder of a Cornish summer. And help to capture those memories made at your place of choice. Browse the full collection in the shop.
A blog dedicated to R Singleton and his beautiful studies of the Cornish coast. More prints will be dropping on his page soon so make sure to check back frequently - or join our mailing list to receive updates on latest artworks, new print collections and location drops as well as future offers too.
Hannah x