A striking new memorial celebrating the generations of mariners who helped shape St Ives has been installed at the landward end of Smeaton’s Pier.
Created by local sculptor Tom Leaper, the eight-foot bronze sculpture is titled Landing the Catch and depicts two pilchard fishermen working together over their catch. Looking out across the harbour and St Ives Bay, the memorial now stands in the heart of the landscape whose history it represents.
The installation marks the culmination of more than two years of planning, creating, fundraising and specialist production.
The project was developed by Tom Leaper with the support of Penwith Gallery, with the ambition of creating a lasting public tribute to St Ives’ mariners, fishermen and boatbuilders. While the town is internationally celebrated for its art, its artistic story is inseparable from the working maritime community that came before it.
Before St Ives became known around the world as an artists’ colony, it was one of Cornwall’s most important fishing ports. In 1847, more than 400 boats and 735 men were reportedly employed in the local pilchard fishery. The sea provided livelihoods for generations of families and influenced the character, traditions and development of the town.
The fishermen, boats, harbour and changing Atlantic light later became a source of inspiration for the many artists drawn to St Ives. The memorial brings these two important parts of the town’s identity together.
Tom created the original sculpture in the former Methodist Chapel opposite Penwith Gallery—a particularly meaningful setting, as the chapel was once attended by many local fishermen and their families.
Catherine from Visit St Ives was fortunate enough to visit Tom while he was creating the sculpture and see the figures taking shape. It makes seeing the finished bronze in its permanent position especially memorable.
Once the original sculpture was completed, it was moulded in silicone and fibreglass before being transported to the specialist Fabrication Facility foundry. There, it underwent the complex process of being cast in bronze and prepared for its final installation.
Fundraising was an important part of the journey. A limited collection of smaller bronze versions, known as maquettes, was created and sold through Penwith Gallery, raising approximately £45,000 towards the casting, production and installation of the full-size memorial. Those who supported the project in this way have become part of its lasting legacy.
The St Ives Mariners Memorial is not dedicated to one individual. It honours all the men and women whose lives were connected to the sea—from the fishermen who faced its dangers to the families waiting ashore, and the boatbuilders and wider community who supported the industry.
The words displayed on the memorial—“Meat, money and light, all in one night”—recall the importance of a successful pilchard catch. Fish provided food, an income and oil for lighting, meaning one catch could bring security and celebration to the entire community.
Tom has described creating the memorial as a privilege and a way of recognising the courage and resilience of St Ives’ fishing community. Its completion was made possible by the generosity of people who share a love for the town and want its maritime story to be remembered.
There could be few more appropriate locations for the sculpture.
Constructed between 1767 and 1770, Smeaton’s Pier has been at the centre of harbour life for more than 250 years. It remains part of a working harbour today, with St Ives still home to the largest handline fishing fleet on Cornwall’s north coast.
From its new position, Landing the Catch looks out over the waters where generations of local fishermen worked. It is a powerful reminder that the harbour is more than a beautiful view: it is a working place with a history of skill, courage, hardship and community.
The memorial gives residents and visitors an opportunity to pause, look more closely and reflect on the people whose lives helped create the St Ives we know today.
We hope it will become a much-loved landmark for generations to come.
The St Ives Mariners Memorial can be found at the landward end of Smeaton’s Pier. Pictured are sculptor Tom Leaper
