The artist was born in Redruth, Cornwall, the son of Richard PENPRASE and his wife Susan Ann. He studied art at the Redruth School of Art and as a student he had nine sheets of drawings and studies purchased by the Victoria & Albert Museum. He also assisted his father in church decoration and restoration, with drawings.

In 1911 he moved to Belfast as a teacher in the College of Technology, College Square, from which he retired 42 years later. He exhibited his work at the Royal Ulster Academy and at the Ulster Arts Club of which he was President.

In 1936 he began to build 'Bendhu House' at Ballintoy, County Antrim. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland showed his work in special exhibition 1977, and he died the following year.