PENN, Audrey

1897 - 1992

As Audrey Lees, she was born at Altrincham, Cheshire on 21 January 1897, second daughter of wealthy Joseph Dickinson Lees (11 September 1861-22 November 1940), and his wife Edith née Martin (6 July 1868-30 April 1963), daughter of Edward Harrison Martin, who married at Madeley All Saints', Staffordshire on 11 November 1890. In 1911, Audrey was a 14-year-old, living at Pownall Hall, Wilmslow, Cheshire with her parents, 49-year-old Joseph and 42-year-old Edith, two siblings Geoffrey William Martin (1891-1968) and Edith Margery (born 1893) and they retained nine indoor servants. A self-taught artist but later attended sketching classes with Jack Merriott (1901-1968), R.I., she worked in watercolours. Audrey married at Whittllebury Church, Towcester, Northamptonshire on 20 January 1920, Major Frank Penn, M.C. (18 August 1884-23 April 1961), of 2nd Lifeguards, their son John Penn was born at Towcester in 1921 and shortly afterwards they moved to Bawdsey Hall, Woodbridge, Suffolk from where Audrey did her painting. Audrey is especially known for her skies and marsh landscapes and held solo exhibitions at Russell Gallery, Ipswich; Woodbridge Gallery later the Deben Gallery, Woodbridge and Reid's Gallery, Aldeburgh and has exhibited at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour. As Mrs F. Penn, in 1933 she exhibited at the Ipswich Art Club from Bawdsey Hall, two watercolours 'Gobblecock Hall, Suffolk' and 'Crofter's Cottage at Ardnamurchan' and became a member from 1950 and at their centenary in 1974 her watercolour, 'Debenham Mill' was exhibited. In 1939, living at Bawdsey Hall, Suffolk with four servants, and where her husband Frank died in 1961, aged 76 and Audrey Penn died at Hall Farm, Bawdsey on 21 February 1992.

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Works by This Artist