Peter Lanyon (1918-1964)
Peter Lanyon was born in St Ives, Cornwall. His painting tuition began in 1936 when he received instruction from Borlase Smart, a local landscape painter. In 1937 he attended Penzance School of Art and in that year met Adrian Stokes. In 1939 he met Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo and under their influence the direction of his work changed. Lanyon began making constructions, many as preparatory ideas for painting. From 1940 to 1945 he served in the RAF. Opportunities to exhibit and sell in the USA led to a looser and more open kind of painting. He was a member of the Crypt Group and a founding member of the Penwith Society of Arts.

Penwith member. Founding member 1949
Further information. Peter Lanyon by Margaret Garlake