'Born in Austria of Czech parents in 1886, Kokoschka is probably the most celebrated artist to have actually lived in Polperro, Cornwall. Regarded as one of the great Viennese artists, he came to England in 1938 after fleeing Prague and settled in Polperro the following year. He and his wife, Olda, spent nine months there, renting Cliff End Cottage. He produced a number of watercolours of the local scenery while his wife Olda ran a pastry shop.

Only a year later, however, the couple returned to London, convinced that their neighbours were suspicious of them.  After the war, Kokoschka moved to Switzerland where he remained until his death in 1980.'

(Information given on www.polperro.org/artists.html)