Beside The Wave Gallery and the History of The John Dyer Gallery

Artists John Dyer, Ted Dyer & Joanne Short exclusively exhibit online and by private appointment at The John Dyer Gallery, the leading online Falmouth art gallery. This is the story of how the Dyer family founded Beside The Wave Gallery in Falmouth, its place in Cornwall’s art history, and how it evolved into The John Dyer Gallery.

Above: A John Dyer exhibition ‘Beneath Cornish Skies’ on display at the gallery in 1997 with John Dyer art poster prints, art cards and Mary Rose Young ceramics. The signage features the original hand-painted logo by John Dyer.

Decades of Art Gallery History in Cornwall

We are proud to have built over thirty-five years of experience as a gallery in Cornwall. Our main gallery, which originally represented all of our artists, was Beside The Wave Gallery in Falmouth, founded by the Dyer family in 1989 as a showcase for the art of Ted Dyer. Many people still associate Beside The Wave with our family of artists, but today all our work is represented exclusively by The John Dyer Gallery.

For a time, John Dyer and Joanne Short lived above the Beside The Wave Gallery — as did artist Richard Tuff — and the views across Falmouth Harbour strongly influenced their paintings. The late artist Fred Yates also worked from the building, and John Dyer recalls many memorable encounters with him there.

In 2005, The John Dyer Gallery was launched as an online and by-appointment gallery. This new model allowed the artists to work beyond the constraints of a traditional high-street gallery, collaborating with leading organisations worldwide and exhibiting in unique locations. The format transformed the way art could be presented and experienced, leading to major partnerships and global recognition.

In 2007, the Dyer family sold Beside The Wave Gallery to new owners. While the gallery continues under different management, the Dyer family artists no longer exhibit there, and all their new work is now shown exclusively through The John Dyer Gallery.

The Founding of Beside The Wave Gallery

In the late 1980s, Ted Dyer faced a decision: continue exhibiting at a struggling gallery in Newquay or create his own space in Cornwall. Living at Holywell Bay on the north coast, he longed to paint on the south coast and sought a property in Falmouth, a town that then lacked strong art representation.

In 1989, the family purchased a small shop on Arwenack Street. Research revealed that the Cornish name Arwenack meant “Beside the Wave” — the perfect name for their new gallery. John Dyer designed the gallery’s logo, branding, and first exhibition catalogues, laying the foundations for what became one of Cornwall’s most recognisable art venues.

Above: John Dyer paintings on display with Taja ceramics. The family retained original Regency features, allowing paintings to hang naturally in harmony with the building’s architecture.

After months of restoration and redesign, Beside The Wave opened with an exhibition by artist Robert Jones and ceramicist Paul Jackson. The gallery offered a space for Ted Dyer’s paintings alongside other Cornish artists, presenting paintings, ceramics, jewellery, and art poster prints.

Annual exhibitions became a highlight of the gallery’s calendar. By 1992, John Dyer and Joanne Short were both living and painting above the space. Together with Ted Dyer, they became the gallery’s best-known artists, exhibiting throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

The Dyer Family and Their Artistic Legacy

The Dyer family’s connection to the arts runs deep. The name “Dyer” historically refers to those who dyed cloth — a fitting lineage for a family of colourists. Ted Dyer was the best-known artist at the time, while his wife, Vivien (Angela Dyer), created bold modern paintings before dedicating herself to running the gallery. Their daughter Lesly painted watercolours and mixed-media studies of flowers and Cornish landscapes.

John Dyer trained in design in London before returning to Cornwall to pursue painting full-time. In 1997, he married fellow artist Joanne Short after she returned from studying in Italy.

Community Engagement and Exhibitions

Under John Dyer’s direction, Beside The Wave Gallery became known for its strong community connections — hosting exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations with local schools. Its shows celebrated Cornwall’s landscape, gardens, and coastal life, inspiring the approach that continues today at The John Dyer Gallery.

This spirit of accessibility and creativity lives on through Last Chance to Paint, the UK’s largest art and education project, founded by John Dyer and Joanne Short in partnership with The John Dyer Gallery.

Beside The Wave Sold in 2007

In 2007, Ted and Vivien Dyer sold Beside The Wave Gallery to new owners, closing a remarkable chapter in Cornwall’s art history. The Dyer family artists now exhibit exclusively with The John Dyer Gallery, which continues to champion their work and Cornwall’s artistic heritage.

The John Dyer Gallery Today

Above: Artists Joanne Short and John Dyer with their paintings in The John Dyer Gallery, which is online and by private appointment in Falmouth.

Founded in 2005, The John Dyer Gallery has become one of the UK’s leading online art galleries. Its innovative format allows collectors worldwide to connect directly with Cornwall’s best-loved artists. The gallery works in partnership with leading institutions and environmental organisations, presenting exhibitions and projects across Cornwall and beyond.

Clients can view original paintings by private appointment in Falmouth at the Edwardian residence that houses the gallery and the artists’ studios. Discover more and explore the latest collections at johndyergallery.com.