About · Biography & CV
Isla Carrow
Painter · Oil on linen
Isla Carrow paints the Cornish coast from a net loft above St Ives harbour. Her work moves between seascapes, colour studies made at the tideline, and quiet interiors in winter light.
She grew up in Penzance, the daughter of a boatbuilder, and studied painting at Falmouth and the Royal College of Art before coming home to Cornwall in 2012.
Her paintings are held in collections across the UK, Denmark, the USA and Australia, and she shows regularly with Gull Street Gallery in St Ives.
N° 01 — Artist statement
“I am interested in how light changes what we think we are looking at. A harbour at low tide, a jug on a table, a band of wet sand: none of them is ever quite the same twice. Painting is my way of paying attention to that.”
N° 02 — Curriculum vitae
Exhibitions, awards and collections
2022
Rooms in Winter, Salt House Gallery, Penzance
2019
Tidal, Hartwell Contemporary, Bristol
2016
First Light, Gull Street Gallery, St Ives
2021
Royal West of England Academy Annual Open, Bristol
2018
Six Painters, The Ropery, Falmouth
2025
Shortlisted, Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize
2023
Studio residency, Galerie Havn, Copenhagen
2020
Arts Council England, Developing Your Creative Practice grant
2017
Winner, West Country Painting Prize
2024
Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Penzance
2021
The Hartwell Collection, Bristol
2019
Private collections in the UK, Denmark, the USA and Australia
2026
Harbour Light, exhibition catalogue, Gull Street Gallery
2025
“Painting the Tideline”, Coast & Country magazine, spring issue
2022
Rooms in Winter, artist’s book, edition of 100
2006
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Falmouth School of Art
2010
MA Painting, Royal College of Art, London
Shown with & worked with
Gallery
2016–2026
Gallery
2022
Gallery
2025
Gallery
2023
Gallery
2024
Publisher
2025
Institution
2024
Printmaker
2024–2026
N° 03 — Kind words
Isla’s painting changed the whole feel of our sitting room. We still notice something new in it every morning.
Hannah & Joe Whitfield
Collectors, Bristol
We commissioned a painting of the view from our cottage. Isla sent photos at every stage and the finished piece was even better than we hoped.
Margaret Ellison
Commission client, Mousehole
One of the most thoughtful painters of the Cornish coast working today. Her winter light is unmistakable.
Dr Ruth Pascoe
Curator, Penlee House
The print arrived beautifully packed, with a handwritten note. It is the first piece of real art I have bought and it will not be the last.
Sam Okafor
Collector, London
Isla’s work sells to people who come back again and again. Collectors trust her completely.
Elinor Trevail
Director, Gull Street Gallery