Percy Craft 1856-1932

Born in Milton, Kent, in 1856, Craft was the son of John Craft. Following a private education, he studied at University College London before enrolling at Heatherley's School of Fine Art and later the Slade School of Fine Art, where he was taught by Sir Edward Poynter and Alphonse Legros. Unlike many of his contemporaries, there is no evidence that Craft undertook further artistic training in the ateliers of Paris, making his artistic development firmly rooted in Britain.

In 1885, Percy and his wife, Alice Elizabeth Craft, were among the first artists to settle in Newlyn, initially lodging with Stanhope Forbes. They quickly became central figures within the expanding artists' colony, contributing not only through their creative work but through an extraordinary commitment to community life. Alice led needlework classes for the pioneering Newlyn Industrial Classes, an initiative that evolved into the celebrated Newlyn Copper movement, while together the Crafts assisted J.D. Mackenzie and F.W. Bourdillon in managing the Fishermen's Rest on Newlyn Old Pier, an important centre for education and recreation within the village.

Few artists contributed more to the social fabric of Newlyn than Percy Craft. An accomplished actor, musician and writer, he organised and directed the artists' amateur dramatic society, staged theatrical productions, gave musical recitals, wrote poetry and composed music. His organisational abilities proved equally significant in the artistic sphere. When Newlyn Art Gallery opened in October 1895, Craft served on its provisional committee and became its first Honorary Secretary, playing a key role in establishing what would become one of the Newlyn School’s most important exhibition venues.

As a painter, Craft devoted much of his attention to the lives and labour of Cornwall's fishing communities. His works combine careful observation with a strong sense of narrative and theatrical composition, reflecting his lifelong involvement in the performing arts. While sharing Walter Langley's fascination with the hardships and heroism of the fishing industry, Craft's paintings often possess a greater sense of movement, spectacle and dramatic staging. Among his finest achievements are Hevva! Hevva! (1889) and Tucking a School of Pilchards (The Tuck Boat) (1897), both now in the collection of Penlee House Gallery & Museum. These ambitious canvases rank amongst the most accomplished depictions of the Cornish pilchard industry produced by any member of the Newlyn School.

The Crafts left Newlyn in the late 1890s, spending around six years in Huntingdonshire. There, Percy once again became deeply involved in local cultural life, organising theatrical and musical events with the same enthusiasm that had distinguished his years in Cornwall. During this period, fellow Newlyn artists including Thomas Cooper Gotch and George Jacomb-Hood were also active in the region.

Although no longer resident in Cornwall, Craft maintained close ties with the Newlyn. He continued to exhibit at the Newlyn Art Gallery, showing A Good Hand in 1902, and remained connected with many of its leading figures throughout his career. Following his move to London, he became an influential organiser within the wider British art world, serving for many years as Organising Secretary of the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists, working alongside fellow Newlyn painters including Thomas Cooper Gotch and George Jacomb-Hood.

Craft's commitment to promoting British art continued into his later years. He was a founder and the first Honorary Secretary of the Imperial Arts League, and in 1931 served as Organising Secretary of the Fine Art Section of the British Empire Trade Exhibition in Buenos Aires; a measure of the high regard in which his administrative abilities were held.

Although Percy Craft's reputation is somewhat overshadowed by the likes of Forbes, Langley and Bramley, his importance to the Newlyn School extends far beyond his paintings. He was one of the colony's great organisers, cultural leaders and community builders, helping to establish the institutions, friendships and creative spirit that made Newlyn one of the most significant artists' colonies in Britain. His paintings remain valuable records of Cornwall's maritime heritage, while his wider contribution to the success and identity of the Newlyn School merits equal recognition.

Percy Craft died in London on 26 November 1932 at the age of 76. His wife, Alice Elizabeth Craft, had predeceased him earlier the same year.