Cor Gallery’s Emily Dymond on art and instinct

Emily Dymond opened Cor Gallery in 2020, transforming a shop on the corner of the Old High Street that sold a jumble of furniture and antiques into a light-filled space full of modern art and contemporary ceramics. After visiting her on our trip through Falmouth to Flushing, we went back to ask a few questions about her passion for art and her instinct for curation.

“My mum moved us to Cornwall when I was eight, as she loved the idea of bringing us up near the sea. She’d also spent of her childhood here, so had strong links to the area and was inspired by its beauty.

I love seeing the seasons change in Cornwall, how dramatic the landscape can be in winter and how serene and dreamlike it is in summer. Near my home in Penryn there’s a stretch of path along the river amongst the trees. I find just being by water is calming. When the river is still it helps me to reflect and be quiet for a time.

I also cherish the sense of community here, which I feel is particularly strong in Falmouth.

Cor Gallery is my passion venture.

I grew up in a creative family, with paintings all over the walls in our house and frequent visits to galleries. As an adult I developed a personal relationship with the arts and started to have a yearning to have my own gallery, where I could show artists I really loved.

It happened sooner than I expected, as everything just fell into place. I’m having the best time watching the gallery grow, and the new and unexpected shapes it’s taking, as the journey unfolds.

To feature an artist, I have to fall in love with their work.

It’s an instant gut reaction when I see someone who I think is right for Cor. There is no question: if I have to think about it, then it’s not for Cor.

I’ve got an eclectic mix from Cornwall and further afield, from well-established artists like the renowned abstract painter Jeremy Annear to new and emerging painters like Billy Munden. He’s a young Falmouth lad who had never been with a gallery before I took him on. Billy is doing so well, and his work has gone to many a loving home.

I also have a great mix of ceramicists: the well-established Falmouth-based potter Michel Francois creates extraordinary, awe-inspiring moon jars, and Kerim Demirkan is new to pottery but creates stunning work. He’s been a real hit at Cor since I took him on early last year.

I like to dress up every day, as if it’s an occasion.

At first, I thought I should dress simply as to not clash with the artwork, but as time goes on, I’m finding the more dressed up I get the better it feels. The gallery has an atmosphere that allows for self-expression, and it makes me feel like I’m in tune with the level of creativity in the space.

My style is influenced by where I’m at in my life, be that physically or mentally, and what’s inspiring me at the time. I have had a purely vintage dress phase, a minimal phase, an all-black phase. At the moment I’m really inspired by the 70’s, its colours and the sense of freedom and fun, but in a few months, it could be a different story.

We visited Emily at Cor as part of our trip to Falmouth. Follow Print Designer Sophie and Seasalt Friend Anne as they explore the Old High Street and take the ferry to Flushing, wearing dresses from our latest collection.