Updated July 2026.
When I named my copywriting and content marketing agency Coast a couple of decades back, it was never really about the coast… or Cornwall… or Penzance.
It just had the right ring to it and vaguely alluded to my locale. But, actually, all my clients were businesses and creative agencies in London or abroad. The connection with Cornwall and my home town, Penzance, was nebulous at best. I lived here. I worked here. But, as with so many freelance creatives, my business wasn’t truly here and I would never have called myself a 'Penzance copywriter'.
Cut to 2026 and things have fundamentally changed. My partner and I provide full marketing services and copywriting to three cyber security and IT firms based locally. We direct the SEO content strategy and write for Penzance BID’s Love Penzance tourism website. And more and more local businesses are coming to us for content marketing services, from lead-generation agencies to shopping centres, ebike retailers and roofing firms. Website copy, blog writing, social media services, white papers, newsletters – so much of what we do now is for local clients.
Finding local roots for my business does, I think, reflect the changing opportunities in our town. Penzance is enjoying a renaissance. A beautiful new promenade (I wrote a love letter to it here). More wildly independent shops. Idiosyncratic festivals (hello, Montol). £20m+ Town Deal funding. We are going to extraordinary places. You can't move for write-ups in the press about our indie shopping, vibrant culture and authentic vibe, which makes Penzance (should I whisper this one?) a preferred choice for many over neighbouring St Ives.
Penzance (Cornwall generally) is thriving. A while back, we even launched a Cornwall marketing agency page to talk specifically to local businesses. While we still work for clients up the line, we are more frequently looking West for copywriting and content marketing clients – and finding them. In particular, in recent years, we have developed a specialism in cyber security content marketing, IT copywriting and marketing for highly regulated industries. Cornwall has played a large role in growing this side of the business.
So… when it was time to undertake a photoshoot for my business’s About page/ social profiles etc, it seemed right that it should have some of the salty flavour of Cornwall generally and my home town in particular. Because Penzance never feels like a borrowed landscape any more. It’s front and centre in my day-to-day work. This page contains a sample from that shoot.
A huge thank you to photographer Janna Dixon. She is a relentlessly dedicated and talented photojournalist who sought out the nooks and crannies of Penzance for the right shots. Amazing work.
Thank you also to the hugely generous Susan Stuart. When I enquired if we could use her gorgeous Chapel House hotel for a couple of hours for the shoot, she came back right away with an unequivocal yes.
Finally, thanks to Penzance for shining so spectacularly on shoot day and reminding me I live – and work – in the loveliest seaside town in the UK.
It felt like coming home.
Martin Philp is co-owner of Coast, a content marketing agency based in Penzance, UK. Find out more about Website Content Writer Services, Copywriting Services, Content Strategy Services, Social Media Services and Blog Writing Services.