Made in Ross, the artist’s collective based in the Market House, Ross-on-Wye, is delighted that John Penny, a former Mayor of Ross-on-Wye, has chosen the this as the venue for his current exhibition which showcases his more recent watercolours and includes a few of his previous oils.

Now in his 91st year, John Penny has been drawing and painting all his life and is still going strong. Mr Penny is a local man. In 1959 he moved to Stoke Priory in Worcestershire, and has spent most of his life in The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

Mr Penny came from a teaching background. He taught at Abenhall School, Mitcheldean for 10 years before moving to the Bishop’s Blue Coat school in Hereford where he was Head of House and Senior Art Teacher for 18 years.

Mr Penny works in many mediums, but oils and watercolours are his main love. A member of Wye Valley Artists Society, during his career John has contributed to many exhibitions. Most recently his work has been exhibited at: Royal Academy, Royal West of England Academy, Society of Marine Artists, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Paris Salon (where he received an honourable mention).

In addition to teaching and painting, Mr Penny found time to raise a family and contribute to community life. He was actively engaged in local politics and fondly remembers serving as Mayor of Ross during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1976. His wife, Jess Penny, who sadly passed away in 2015, was a local Head Teacher and one of the founding members of the Phoenix Theatre in Ross, a keen member of what was then called the Ross Operatic and Dramatic Society (ROADS).