In early May, artist Emily Powell travelled to the Isles of Scilly on a five-day creative expedition, flying out with Skybus from Land’s End and basing herself on St Mary’s. Armed with canvases and paint, she spent her time exploring several islands, producing a full collection of original works inspired by the landscapes, gardens and beaches she encountered.
Her trip was all about getting outdoors, seeing the islands through fresh eyes, and creating on the move.
Emily’s five day creative expedition
A five-day painting trip across the islands in May – an exploration of Land, Sea and Sky.
Here’s how Emily spent her time on the trip that inspired this return. Discover how you can follow in her creative footsteps, even if you’re only visiting for the day.
Travel info
Many travellers don’t realise that it’s possible to enjoy both flying and sailing when visiting the Isles of Scilly. With a convenient Fly + Sail ticket, your journey begins with a short Skybus flight from Land’s End Airport and ends with a relaxing return by sea on Scillonian III to Penzance.
It’s easy to reach Penzance by train, car or coach, and there’s ample parking available nearby.
Our dedicated shuttle service connects seamlessly from the train station, taking you straight to the airport. After exploring the islands, you’ll sail back to Penzance – completing your round trip with ease. And, for those catching rail connections home, you disembark just a short 5-10 minute walk to the train station for your onward travel.
Day 1
Flight to Scilly and painting at the airport
Emily travelled to Penzance via train, catching our handy transfer from the station. She was dropped at Land’s End Airport, where the creativity started before she even took off – painting in the departure lounge while waiting to board.
After a short flight with Skybus, she arrived on St Mary’s, checked into her accommodation at Altamira, and got straight to work on her first canvas, inspired by the panoramic views.
“This was my first painting on the island of St Mary’s after travelling from Land’s End with eager anticipation. I cracked open a big canvas, desperate to get the wonder and colour of this place into one piece.”
As the largest of the inhabited islands, St Mary’s offers plenty to see, do and experience – whether you’re staying for the day or longer.
Emily stayed just a short walk from Juliet’s Garden Restaurant, a firm visitor favourite perched above Porthloo Beach, around 15 minutes from Hugh Town. Like so many spots across the islands, it offers breathtaking views. The views over the harbour inspired one of the pieces in her collection.
Top tip: Even if you’re only visiting for the day, St Mary’s offers plenty of easy-to-reach viewpoints. A short walk up Buzza Hill or around Porthcressa gives you wide, scenic outlooks perfect for sketching, photography or simply taking it all in.
Day 2
Exploring St Martin’s
The next day Emily took a tripper boat from St Mary’s to St Martin’s, canvasses, paints and brushes in tow. Spoilt for choice, with some of the best beaches in the UK, Emily followed the coastal paths stopping frequently to paint along the way. The island’s clear turquoise waters, open beaches and wildflowers made a lasting impression.
“At the end of our hike across St Martin’s from quay to quay, suddenly this huge curved bay opened up to us. It was so bright and so unspoilt I could hardly take it in.”
“Please go to St Martin’s and walk the coast path from quay to quay between the tripper boat drop off and pick up. It’s so hard to describe, so you have to feel it for yourself with every sense. Flower fields, old school red tractors, pink gates, turquoise sea, soaring birds, so so much.
St Martin’s is my favourite island, and maybe even my favourite place that I’ve ever been.”
Taking a break for lunch turned into yet another moment of inspiration for Emily. Surrounded by the vibrant colours and exotic plants of Polreath Tea Room’s glasshouse on St Martin’s, she capture the scene – resulting in another joyful piece for her collection. Here you can enjoy delicious home-baked cakes, cream teas, Moomaid ice cream and local tipples in their plantsman’s garden, airy conservatory or traditional Scillonian glasshouse.
Top tip: Daily boats to St Martin’s operate from St Mary’s throughout the season. You can even manage a full circumnavigation of the island in a single day – and the coastal paths are ideal for photographers and nature lovers, especially in spring and summer when the island is at its most colourful.
Day 3
Colour and contrast at Tresco Abbey Garden
Again – travelling with St Mary’s Boatmen Association, Emily’s next day was spent on Tresco, where she spent the day at Tresco Abbey Garden. The variety of tropical plants and striking garden architecture gave her the chance to create bolder, more abstract pieces.
She painted yucca flowers, oversized blooms and vivid pelargoniums, describing the garden as “overflowing with lusciousness” – a completely different setting from the open beaches of the day before.
Top tip: The Abbey Garden is open year-round and is one of the most unique places to visit on the islands. Whether
you’re an artist, gardener, or simply looking for a calm place to explore, this is an inspiring stop worth adding to any itinerary. Day boats from St Mary’s to Tresco run regularly, making a visit to the gardens possible on either a Skybus or Scillonian III day trip.
Day 4
Inspiring future artists
On day 4, Emily spent time with children from the local school, Five Islands Academy, for a creative workshop. Old Town Beach was the perfect setting to teach and inspire the pupils.
“Looking across to St Mary’s Church, Old Town is my favourite beach on St Mary’s. It has everything; rocks, white sand, a tiny beautiful church and a gentleness I could only describe with a pastel palette.”
Sandwiched around her visits to other islands, and creative workshops, Emily covered so many corners of St Mary’s – from popular must-see spots to some of the quieter off-the-beaten track gems.
Emily writes about her visit to a spot more remote eastern shore of St Mary’s – Pelistry Bay.
“I had to throw paint at Pelistry, the wilder side of St Mary’s island. The sea was crashing about me and the work just needed to catch the energy. Painting outside is more than seeing, it’s about all the senses and really experiencing a place fully, and that’s why I love it so much.”
Day 5
A Scilly Carts tour of the islands
On their final day, Emily and her team took her creative works on a whistle-stop tour of St Mary’s, carefully transported on an iconic yellow Scilly Cart, they were able to see so much more of the largest inhabited island in just the few hours they had before checking in for their return on board Scillonian III – a perfectly relaxing end to a busy week of creativity.
Inspired to create your own Scilly story?
Whether you’re planning a full island escape or just a single day of creative exploration, retracing Emily’s footsteps is easy to do. From beach walks on St Martin’s to garden wandering on Tresco, the Isles of Scilly are a constant source of inspiration for artists and daydreamers alike.
Recreate a day from Emily’s adventure, or simply come and see what the islands spark in you.
