Robert Percy Kelly

Place: Workington

Born: 1918

Death: 1993

Biography:

Percy Kelly was an English artist, footballer, postal worker, and cross-dresser from Cumberland. He is known for his drawings and paintings depicting industrial coastal landscapes in decay, which he hoarded during his lifetime. Kelly was born in Workington, England in 1918 and died in 1993. He grew up around the villages and fells of the Lake District and came from a strongly religious household, a mix of Plymouth Brethren and Methodist. Kelly left school at 14 to work for the Post Office, but his talent for drawing was recognized and he was encouraged to pursue a career in art. However, he returned to work for the Post Office after serving in the Royal Signals during World War II. Kelly's art was influenced by the industrial landscape of the area where he grew up, and he took inspiration from the villages and fells of the Lake District. He is known for his unique linear style and his superb draughtsmanship. Kelly was also a keen footballer, cricketer, fell runner, and a member of the Marron Cycling Club. In the mid-1930s, he was transferred to Kendal Post Office as a qualified telegraphist. Kelly's art was not widely recognized during his lifetime, but he has since gained a reputation as one of Cumbria's best loved artists.