Leighton's connections with Cornwall were through the many and various artists with whom he was related within the Royal Academy. He contributed, along with Stanhope FORBES and others, to the mural commissions being offered to outstanding artists for the central hall of the Royal Exchange in London (1894). The subject of his large decorative panel was Phoenicians trading with the early Britons on the coast of Cornwall.

As a mark of respect for the celebratory opening exhibition of the Newlyn Art Gallery in 1895, Leighton sent down a number of works for display, including a sculpture of a female head, Vittoria, and a group of prints from an earlier stay of his at Kynance. The Newlyn artists were very pleased with this compliment to their new venture from the President of the Academy.

Sir Frederic died the following year. During his life-time he exhibited widely, including seventeen works at the Paris Salons from 1855-1900, though none with a Cornish theme. Nonetheless, his Boy Holding a Vase (oil on canvas) is in the fine art collection of the Royal Cornwall Museum.