Christine Penberthy is an artist, author and book illustrator who was born in a village outside Birmingham. At the age of 15 she attended Sutton School of Art.  She has lived in St Ives since 1962.

Marriage and motherhood meant that her career had to be put on hold, but when time permitted she attended life classes at St Ives School of Art during the 1960s, and was taught by MARJORIE MOSTYN and LEONARD FULLER. In 1991 she completed a foundation course at Falmouth School of Art.