PERCY KELLY in St Davids

Date Posted: 1st May 2026

APOLOGIES FOR SILENCE!

I’ve just noticed it’s May. Where did the year go?

I’ve been working away on my new book and became totally lost in it. There is no title as yet … it will come … It deals with most of the questions I am frequently asked about the enigma that was the life of Percy Kelly. His work is still in great demand and growing.

The most frequent question is always ‘Why wouldn’t he sell his work? ‘

 It happened suddenly and specifically at the opening of an exhibition at the Fermoy Gallery in Kings Lynn in 1969?’  

 The sixties had brought him a decade of success - a travel Scholarship to Brittany (1964);  an NDD honours degree from Carlisle College of Art (1965); a sponsor  with all the right connections (Sir Nicholas Sekers).   PK was selling to people of great influence in the art world; had an exhibition in London’s Sloane Street attended by Royalty; his work travelled across Europe as far as Moscow and a loan of 2 paintings for an Arts Council  travelling exhibition that went to the Goldsmiths Hall London, Leeds Art Gallery,  Laing Art Gallery Newcastle and Glasgow Society of Art. The world was potentially his oyster.  He could be whatever he chose to be.

The evening of his opening of the exhibition at the Fermoy Gallery 1969 was the same day the QE2 began her maiden voyage with two of his large paintings commissioned by Cunard in the state rooms which was covered in the press.  Lady Fermoy was waiting for him to arrive at her gallery for the opening but he was late, his dog was ill and it was raining heavily. There was a crowd of eager people jostling to buy when he announced to everyone that none of the paintings were for sale – only etchings. People were obviously more than a bit upset.

In my research for the book to try to work out the reason for this  decision I have delved deeper into his life and background; revisited various places where he lived to figure out why he stopped selling his work from that evening in 1969. (he did have two very reluctant selling exhibitions before his death in 1993 but both were only held under duress and necessity.)

When I approached him by letter in 1988 as a new gallery owner, he replied ‘I cannot paint for monetary gain but when I depart this world I want people to see the beauty and truth I have endeavoured to portray.’   Percy – I’ve done my best to fulfil that one!

 I was in St Davids a few weeks ago to talk to people who remembered him when he lived there (1973– 1980).  Before I left home Michael’s last words were – ‘Hope you’re not coming back with any more Kelly paintings.’   Of course I was. I couldn’t resist Percy at his best and happiest. CARN LLIDI (illustrated) is not for sale!