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Penny has always enjoyed illustration, a craft she chose to enhance when she studied Zoology at Sheffield University; anatomical drawing being one of her specialities. When she became a researcher at Cambridge she also attended evening classes at the Anglia Polytechnic to improve her drawing skills. Her research in animal behaviour made her hyperaware of her surroundings and, although her art might appear abstract on the surface, there’s an underlying scientific element to her depictions of nature.
From these early scientific beginnings, life took an unexpected turn and Penny became an art and antiques dealer living in the Cambridgeshire Fens. |
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Books on colour, design, and art history were her new reading matter, and it was during that time that she took up painting.
Following a move to the far west of Cornwall in 2008, Penny set herself up with a large home studio in which to pursue her passion for oil painting on a large scale, with the sea becoming her central subject matter. For three years she trained with Doris Lindeman in St Ives and never looked back.
Following a move to the far west of Cornwall in 2008, Penny set herself up with a large home studio in which to pursue her passion for oil painting on a large scale, with the sea becoming her central subject matter. For three years she trained with Doris Lindeman in St Ives and never looked back.
With her home and studio now just a mile or so from the shores of Mount’s Bay, Penny became an avid sea swimmer and now plunges into the Atlantic most days, in all weathers. Therefore, it’s no surprise that her seascapes place the viewer firmly in the sea itself and are painted from the perspective of a swimmer. Penny’s work is absorbing and exhilarating – you can almost feel the salty spray when you’re in front of one of her canvases!
Penny is also a keen walker and always carries a sketchbook, where she makes notes as well as watercolour sketches, and often has a camera slung over her shoulder. Back in the studio, she surrounds herself with these snippets of inspiration, gradually imbibing them as visual aids throughout the painting process. She applies layers of paint using brushes, cloths, palette knives and even her hands to manipulate the paint. Building texture in some areas, smoothing and simplifying in others, she eventually finds a powerful balance.
Penny is also a keen walker and always carries a sketchbook, where she makes notes as well as watercolour sketches, and often has a camera slung over her shoulder. Back in the studio, she surrounds herself with these snippets of inspiration, gradually imbibing them as visual aids throughout the painting process. She applies layers of paint using brushes, cloths, palette knives and even her hands to manipulate the paint. Building texture in some areas, smoothing and simplifying in others, she eventually finds a powerful balance.
WHERE TO SEE PENNY'S WORK
Over the years Penny has exhibited with many local galleries in Penzance, Sennen and Marazion. She has also displayed her work in hotels and restaurants and launched over a dozen one man shows all in West Penwith.
However, her work has sold all over the world and with the coast of America sharing our wonderful Atlantic Ocean she now has many customers across the pond.
Her work is available from the Tregonebris Studio and her paintings are also for sale through the online gallery White Court Art.
More recently Penny has been working with the owners of Sancreed House Retreat, the former home of artist John Miller. With art on the walls and a deep interest in the art history of the area, the owners, Pablo and Grove, are dedicated to promoting local art. The perfect interior of Sancreed House creates a magnificent back drop for displaying Penny's work.
Over the years Penny has exhibited with many local galleries in Penzance, Sennen and Marazion. She has also displayed her work in hotels and restaurants and launched over a dozen one man shows all in West Penwith.
However, her work has sold all over the world and with the coast of America sharing our wonderful Atlantic Ocean she now has many customers across the pond.
Her work is available from the Tregonebris Studio and her paintings are also for sale through the online gallery White Court Art.
More recently Penny has been working with the owners of Sancreed House Retreat, the former home of artist John Miller. With art on the walls and a deep interest in the art history of the area, the owners, Pablo and Grove, are dedicated to promoting local art. The perfect interior of Sancreed House creates a magnificent back drop for displaying Penny's work.