ARTISTS

Coastal beauty meets creative heritage

There’s something about Scarborough’s ever-changing skies, dramatic coastline and wild moorland edges that has long drawn artists to this part of the world, and The Artist’s House is part of that creative legacy. Once home to renowned French watercolourist Paul Marny, the house continues to offer a peaceful, inspiring base for artists and art lovers alike.

A colorful illustrated cover of a book titled 'Scarborough's Paint the Town Trail,' depicting a coastal town with a sandy beach, red-roofed houses, green hills, trees, and a castle on a hilltop in the background.

A town steeped in artistic heritage

Scarborough has inspired generations of artists, from Victorian painters to contemporary creatives. In the 19th century, the town’s popularity as a seaside resort brought with it a wave of painters, drawn to the dramatic cliffs, changing seascapes, and genteel spa life. Notable visitors included J.M.W. Turner, who sketched coastal scenes on his tours of Yorkshire.

In the decades that followed, Scarborough remained a magnet for artists. John Atkinson Grimshaw captured its twilight harbours, and maritime painter Albert Strange found endless inspiration here. The surrounding coastline, fishing villages and moors became recurring subjects in both painting and photography. Even nearby Whitby became central to the photographic work of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, whose images of Yorkshire life are still celebrated today.

Four people stand in front of paintings depicting landscapes with trees and buildings in a museum exhibit on colonialism and orientalism.

A contemporary creative scene

That same spirit of creativity continues to thrive in Scarborough today. The town is home to several excellent galleries and arts venues:

  • The Scarborough Art Gallery, set in a beautiful Italianate villa, displays both historic and contemporary works

  • Woodend Gallery and Studios hosts exhibitions and supports working artists with studio spaces just a stone’s throw from The Artist’s House

  • The Old Parcels Office Artspace, in a striking converted railway building behind the train station, regularly hosts exhibitions, talks, and artist residencies featuring both local and national talent

  • North Yorkshire Open Studios (dates vary) invites visitors into artists’ homes, studios, and workspaces across the region, with several located in the neighbourhood surrounding The Artist’s House.

You’ll also find pop-up exhibitions, workshops and independent galleries scattered throughout town, especially in the warmer months.

A blue commemorative plaque on a brick wall honoring artist Paul Marny, stating he lived and worked in this house from 1890 to 1905.

Stay in a space with an artistic spirit

The Artist’s House is part of Scarborough’s creative story. With high ceilings, tall windows, and plenty of natural light, it offers the kind of space artists have always appreciated - quiet, spacious and full of character. Each of the four self-contained apartments is thoughtfully designed to provide both comfort and a sense of place, making it well suited to short breaks or longer, more focused stays.

Set in the South Cliff area, just a short walk from galleries, gardens and the sea, it’s an ideal base for anyone looking to engage with Scarborough’s artistic heritage, whether you’re here to make work or simply enjoy the setting that has inspired generations.