[1] Cranmer inherited the position of 'Namgis chief from his father, taking the hereditary name of Pal’nakwala Wakas, meaning "great river of overflowing wealth".
Cranmer began drawing and carving on his own early in life, but was schooled in the style and traditions of Kwakwaka'wakw art by Mungo Martin ("Nakapenkem").
[1][2] As a result of his participation in Reid's project, Cranmer's training and experience expanded to include styles of other Northwest Coast traditions, such as the Tsimshian, Tlingit, Heiltsuk, and Haida.
In 1962, in partnership with Alfred Scow and Richard Bird, Cranmer established a commercial gallery in Vancouver called "The Talking Stick".
[2] The partners wound up the business in 1967,[3] as Cranmer's growing reputation and large-scale commissions meant he had less time to devote to creating works for The Talking Stick.