Ian Laurie was born in 1933, he is self-taught, moving from industry to artistry about 30 years ago when he and his wife opened a gallery specialising in original hand-made prints by artists working in that medium. His own hobby of sketching soon became etching and it was not long before he was producing etchings in limited editions. His work gradually became known to other galleries and during the seventies and eighties his primary outlets were Liberty`s and the Medici Gallery in London. His etchings were prominently featured in the 1980 Liberty annual catalogue and more recently were selected for inclusion in a range of Cornish craftwork sold at Buckingham Palace.

Fifteen years ago he opened a small studio gallery in Newlyn where he continued to produce scenic and figurative etchings, however, in the painterly environment of Cornwall he was soon also working with brushes, pallette knives and acrylic paint producing his version of the Cornish landscapes. His 1989 "one man show" in Penzance was well received and a good review in the Western Morning News provided the impetus to "carry on painting". Ian`s paintings have also been selected for hanging in the "Laing" Art Exhibition in Bristol Cathedral in 1993 and 1994 and he has also more recently had his paintings shown in the exhibition of the Penzance Society of Artists.