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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.

 

Simpson, Ruth

Ruth Alison was a talented pupil at Stanhope Forbes’ Painting School when she met fellow artist Charles Simpson, who she married in 1913. She was an excellent portrait painter, teaching the subject and also painting several of her fellow women artists.

Biography

Ruth Simpson – 1889 – 1964

Ruth Simpson came to Newlyn in 1911/12 to study at Stanhope Forbes’ Painting School. She met fellow artist Charles Simpson shortly after her arrival in Newlyn and they were married in 1913.

At first they lived in Newlyn, where their daughter Leonora was born, later moving briefly to Bodriggy at Lamorna, and then to St. Ives in 1916. In St. Ives Charles and Ruth Simpson ran a painting school, where Ruth taught portrait painting, which was always to be her special interest.

Both Ruth and Charles played key roles in the social life of the artists colony, and Ruth painted portraits of several of her fellow women artists, including Ella Naper and Gertrude Harvey.

In 1924 the couple moved to London, returning to Lamorna in 1931. She died in Penzance in 1964.

Portfolio

  • Maroon and Gold Oil on canvas. On loan from Newlyn Art Gallery.
  • The Milkmaid, c.1912 Oil on canvas

Have you seen?

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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