I first visited St Ives in 1978 with my parents when I was six years old. Since then, I have returned many times to this special place, which has become a touchstone for me. St Ives, also known as Porth Ia, is a coastal town in Cornwall with a rich history associated with the sea, fishing, mining, and the arts.
The inevitable decline of the fishing industry due to overfishing has seen the town become increasingly reliant on tourism. As a result, the cobbled streets and stone cottages that once housed local residents are now mostly holiday lets and second homes. Property prices have sky-rocketed, forcing many locals to move away from the harbour or out of the area altogether.
If there are no local people living and working in St Ives, it could be likened to a museum or theme park where visitors come to experience the past. My photography project aims to capture the nostalgia of a time of independent traders, fishermen, and architecture that makes the town and harbour so popular today.
The photographs in this project were taken with traditional medium format film. While taken in modern times, the camera and technology used have an historic aesthetic that is sympathetic to the history of St Ives. The images capture the essence of the town and its people, both past and present.
This project is a personal response to why I and many others repeatedly return to this one location along the North Cornish coast. It is a celebration of St Ives’ unique character and its enduring appeal.
