 Kenneth Forbes studied first at the Newlyn School in the U.K., where he won a four-year scholarship to the Hospitalfield House school, Arbroath, Scotland l. He won a Chase Scholarship in London with a portrait sketch, and at 19 had a portrait accepted for exhibition at the Royal Academy.In all, twelve of Kenneth Forbes portraits were exhibited at the Royal Academy.Forbes enlisted in the 10th "Pals" Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in 1914 and was later commissioned from the ranks.