The St Ives Artists: A Biography of Place and Time

St Ives is unique in British art history. Between the Second World War and the 1970s, many progressive artists chose to work and often settle around this small port in the far west of Cornwall. The careers of Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Naum Gabo, Peter Lanyon, Roger Hilton, Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, Bryan Wynter and other artists associated with St Ives have received much individual attention. Yet in the broader historical picture, St Ives art is often isolated from the spirit of the times. Michael Bird has created a fascinating and highly readable account of St Ives and its artists. The question 'What was St Ives art really about?' is often asked. This book provides some authoritative, provocative and entertaining answers.