A new exhibition is opening next month at The Poly in Falmouth, organised by the family of Peter Oldale, who was a well-known local artist, author and local eccentric.

The show has been arranged as a celebration of his life and also his ethos – that nothing was as important as family and friends.

As well as displaying many of Peter’s paintings and prints, there will be exhibits from his daughters, son, granddaughter and grandson, in-laws, neighbours and friends. Some are professional artists, some have never painted before – but all are exhibiting in the same spirit of family.

Falmouth Packet:

Wild Sea by Peter Oldale

For many years during the late 1980s, Peter lived with his wife Adrienne and his family in Falmouth harbour, on a 65ft ex-German E-boat called Seawatch.

Peter and Adrienne ran Malins Hall Gallery on Falmouth High Street selling his paintings and also running a framing and art restoration business.

That said, Peter had many careers – he had published more than 50 books covering fiction, DIY and navigation, some of which will also be on display at the Poly exhibition.

Having lived on the boat in Falmouth, he had realised from close contact with the RNLI and Falmouth Coastguard that there was a real problem with small yachts getting lost.

He decided to sail the entire south coast, a mile offshore, taking photographs of every piece of coast to create a book of the images alongside the charts.

Added to it were the lighthouse flash and radio signals. The idea was that 'if you can see this church, this house, (other key feature) see the flashes in this pattern etc. then you are here on the chart below'.

These books were published as 'Navigating Britain’s Coastline Land’s End to Portland' and 'Portland to Dover'.

Thanks to their huge popularity, Peter was awarded 'Honorary Master of the Vessel', entitled to wear epaulettes and be addressed as 'Captain'.

Peter also had a successful film studio in Wales and had been very influential in the United Nations.

The art exhibition runs from September 17-19 and September 24-26, from 11-4pm at The Poly.