Freelance photographer, top model and actress Penny Lancaster Stewart spent her early years developing her talents as an actress and dancer.
She attended the Alma Ripon Stage School for eight years studying tap, modern and ballet, performing in local theatre shows, and passing exams at the Royal Academy of Dance.
As a teenager, as it became obvious that her looks were one of her greatest assets, Penny decided to take up a year long modelling course at the London College of Fashion; a course which she completed with distinction. In addition to her other talents, Penny also found time to become a qualified aerobics instructor.
Penny realised that, with her training and her statuesque figure, she would most likely be in demand for catwalk work; fortunately for everyone, she also found herself in demand for lingerie, swimwear, editorial and TV commercial work. Penny is also blessed with beautiful hair and skin, and she quickly found herself promoting hair and beauty products.
Her early training as an actress and dancer turned out to be useful as Penny began a career in television commercials; and over the years she appeared in campaigns for many well known international products.
Penny was always interested in how things worked on the other side of the camera, so she decided to take a two year photography course; which she passed with distinction. It was in her first year as a photography student that Penny first met her husband-to-be, Rod Stewart. She asked for his autograph and he offered her the opportunity to take his photograph the next night. He then hurriedly followed this up (some eight months later!) with a request for a date.
After graduating from her photography course with an honours diploma, Penny began to enjoy success as a professional photographer. She undertook assignments for magazines and newspapers as well as landing a year’s contract with HELLO! shooting celebrities in their homes and on holiday. She followed this with fashion and beauty assignments for women’s magazines such as Essentials; and celebrity features for Cosmo and the Sunday Times, as well as numerous features for Australian magazines (Penny now frequently photographs her husband Rod Stewart for his tour programmes, fan mail, newspapers and magazines).
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Back in front of the camera Penny fronted an incredibly successful two year modelling campaign to promote lingerie, becoming the face and body of Ultimo. More recently she has put her aerobic skills to good effect by producing her own fitness video. After the launch in Britain she went on to promote the video in Australia and the US, where she lives much of the year.
During 2005 she made her highly successful West End debut in Tonight's The Night. This was followed by a television role playing opposite Neil Morrissey in a play entitled Elixir Man; she was also the face of Specsavers in the United Kingdom.
At the end of the year she gave birth to her beautiful son, Alastair.
Perhaps the most significant event for Penny in 2007 was when she and Rod Stewart were married in romantic Portofino, on the Italian Riveria.