St Ives-based artist Heather McAlpine is returning to the Crypt Gallery in May with a solo exhibition entitled Ebb & Flow.
The show brings together all of her large-scale paintings alongside new canvases and works on paper created over the past few months.
Last year, Heather had a one-week solo exhibition in the Crypt — and it flew by. It just wasn’t long enough, she said.
This year, she returns for two full weeks and is looking forward to having more time to share the work, talk with visitors, and feel the ebb and flow of being in the space.
The Crypt Gallery is a special place, full of history. Many of the great St Ives artists have exhibited there over the years, and Heather feels it’s an honour to follow in their footsteps and be part of that continuing story.
For Heather, both swimming in the sea and painting are immersive, almost meditative experiences. In the water, she feels the rhythm of the waves, the pull of the tides, the shifting energy — it’s a process of letting go and responding to the moment. In the studio, it’s the same: an act of layering, erasing, moving with intuition. Both practices are about presence, change, and surrendering to the flow.
The Crypt Gallery is the perfect setting for her larger works. The scale of the space allows them to breathe — you can step back, take in the detail, and feel completely immersed in the atmosphere of the paintings, she said.
She added: “Due to the scale of the work, they really need to be seen in person. If you’re in St Ives, I’d love you to come and experience them for yourself.”
Find out more about Heather and her work on her website. The Crypt show runs from 10th-23rd May, with an opening party on 10th May from 5-7pm — all are welcome.
The Crypt Gallery | Norway Square, St Ives TR26 1NA | stisa.co.uk/the-crypt-gallery/
