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Visit Penlee House & Museum

Penlee House is a Gallery, Museum, Cafe and Shop. Situated within Penlee Park, a space to reflect and great for family visits.

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A space for exhibitions & events

Alongside our Exhibition programme we run a variety of community events and workshops. The Newlyn School and Social history galleries change often. Find out what’s on.

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A space to learn

Penlee House is committed to lifelong learning. We run workshops for all age groups and offer a school workshop programme.

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A space for all

Built in 1865, as the home of the Branwell family. Penlee House is home to many paintings by members of the Newlyn School. It is also home to the Penzance Natural History and Antiquarian Society collection.

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You can search and browse our collections online. We also have a section dedicated to the Newlyn School.

Craft, Percy

Craft’s fellow Newlyn School artists were sometimes disparaging about his work, feeling that he had bitten off more than he could chew at times. Nevertheless, he produced some key works, such as ‘Tucking a School of Pilchards’, and was a central figure in the life of the art colony and the village.

Biography

Percy Craft – 1856 – 1934

Percy Robert Craft was born in Kent in 1856 and educated privately. He studied at Heatherley’s and the Slade in London, but there is no evidence to suggest that he travelled abroad to study, like so many of the other Newlyn artists.

In 1885, Craft and his wife came to Newlyn and lodged in the same house as Stanhope Forbes. Although Craft exhibited at the Royal Academy, he often struggled to sell his work.

However, he was the organiser, inspiration and director of the Newlyn artists’ informal Dramatic Society and was an excellent actor. He also sang, gave recitals and wrote poetry and music.

Craft was also closely involved in the formation of the Newlyn Industrial Class (who were responsible for the making of Newlyn Copper) and helped J. D. Mackenzie and F. W. Boudillion to run the Fisherman’s Rest.

Percy Craft and his wife left Newlyn in the late 1890s and eventually moved to London, where Craft was particularly active in the organisation of exhibitions for the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists, of which many of the Newlyn artists were members.

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Visit Us

Penlee House is a beautiful art gallery and museum, set within sub-tropical gardens, with a great café.

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Exhibitions

Our vibrant exhibition programme celebrates the nationally important art and history of West Cornwall.

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Learning

From school visits to family activities, talks and walks, there are plenty of learning opportunities at Penlee House.

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Our Café

Enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee at the Orangery Café, with its sunny terrace overlooking the park.

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