The sunshine artist returns home Inside Cornwall - April 2004 Sun and bright natural light are a constant motif in many contemporary reviews of Heath's paintings, and the current exhibition enhances his reputation as the 'sunshine artist'. Heath fell under the influence of Stanhope Forbes in his early Cornish work, painting typical Newlyn fishing scenes, but once he moved to Lamorna, as Alison [Lloyd] points out, "Heath's palette became brighter, rendering his seascapes and landscapes with a permanent feeling that the sun shone for him." Whilst not as prolific a painter as some of his contemporaries, Heath possessed a rare talent. Whether painting land of seascapes, sunlit interiors, exquisite studies of flowers or natural portraits of children, his work reveals a painterly command of his medium. With its soft definitiions, natural tones and strong brush strokes, his work is reminiscent of the French impressionists. An excellent book by Hugh Bedford accompanies the exhibition. Full of delicious snippets and tales about the Newlyn and Lamorna artists as well as the Heath family, it is worth treasuring for one delightful poem alone. Written and illustrated by Alfred Munnings, it tells of Heath's wife, Jessica and an evening ride on her pony. For further details, see below.

Gallery revives work of 'sunshine artist' Western Morning News - 3rd April 2004 Alison Lloyd, director of the Penlee Gallery, said visitors were in for a "surprise". She said Heath's work was well-known on greetings cards - but this was a chance to see the full repertoire of his paintings. "In his day he was reasonably well known and his work was certainly acclaimed. He became known as the sunshine artist because he painted particularly wonderful sunlit images of his family and home." His use of colour and light became a major feature of his work. Ms Lloyd said his later works captured the golden afternoon light. "It is really redolent of the age of innocence. It was post-war but there was a real feeling of peace and harmony. They are joyful paintings. "In Lamorna there is that wonderful reflected light from the Penwith peninsula, surrounded by the world's largest mirror. It is that, that he captures," she said.

Runaway success: Penlee House Gallery and Museum exhibits splendid work of Frank Gascoigne Heath The Cornishman - 29th April 2004 A 'must see' show, opened by Elizabeth Bolitho, President of the Friends of Penlee House, in the presence of several members of the artist's family, and stuffed, as the Christmas stockings of the Heath's children would have been, to the gunnel with good things, one doesn't need to be a genius to guess at this exhibition being yet another runaway success for Penlee House Gallery and Museum.

		The Book
		This hardbacked, finely produced A4 size book includes 50 colour plates of paintings by Frank Heath together with many black & white photographs and illustrations of work by his "Newlyn School" friends. The book is available for purchase at £24 which includes postage & packing for UK destinations. (If you would like to order a copy, email enquiries@frankheath.com) 50p from each book is donated to Cancer Research UK.

The Cards

A selection of cards featuring paintings by Frank Heath is available: cost £1 each (of which 5p from each card is donated to Cancer Research UK). Postage & packing is included. Further information by email to enquiries@frankheath.com

Lectures on Frank Heath and the Newlyn School

Lectures (illustrated with 50 slides) to Organisations and Societies are available; for further information email the address below.