Penny was born and educated in Brighton, where her parents ran a well known drama school. She received her full time training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and went straight into professional theatre. She has appeared in the UK and much of Europe in theatre and TV. Penny is an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals. A festival competitor herself from an early age, she has always been associated with festival work, having run the Springboard Festival for many years. She is now President of the Sussex Festival of Dance and Song. Penny examined for Guildhall for many years in the UK and Internationally.