Frederick Donald Blake (1908-1997) Watercolour & Oils

Frederick Donald Blake (R1,RSMA, NEAC) (1908-1997) very attractive watercolour, oil, ink on clay based paper. Excellent condition. Signed. 37cm x 47cm. . C 1955

Born in Scotland in 1908, Blake's family moved to London and he trained at Camberwell School of Art and at fifteen years of age started work as an architectural draughtsman in the interior design business. Early in 1940 he was drafted into a small group of war artists producing propaganda work for the Ministry of Information. During this period he began to exhibit his paintings. He had work shown at the Royal Academy together with other Open Exhibitions in London.

As a freelance designer after the war, he worked for the aircraft industry, the railways and on road safety campaigns to mention but a few. But it was his painting that always took first place. By the early 1960s he had earned himself a considerable reputation as an artist. After much experimentation he had perfected the use of a clay-coated paper, which freed him from many of the limitations inherent in the medium watercolour. Having finished the painting he applied a coat of varnish, which brought another depth and dimension to his work. But it was not just his technique that was unique, it was the style and quality of his work that attracted so much praise and admiration. He was elected a member of the RI, the RSMA, the NEAC, the Chelsea Arts Club, the Wapping Group of Artists and the London Sketch Club serving on the councils of all these societies. In 1982 he won the Hunting Art Prize for his watercolour "Stormy Harbour". His work has been shown in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Düsseldorf and Brussels as well as a number of noted galleries in London. Regular contribitor at RI.

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