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1910 - 1995
Self-taught artist in oil, pastel, watercolour and ceramics. Born in London, the son of George Thomas Fidler, rose-grower. He began painting full time in 1954 when the influence of Abstract Expressionism and action painting was just spreading to Britain. A chance meeting with Jackson Pollock around that time also had a lasting effect. In 1957, he took part in his first major exhibition in Moscow. The following year he was included in the Paris exhibition "Towards the Future". In 1959, he has his first solo exhibition at the Drian Gallery in London, followed by many regular shows there. Through the early 1960's he also exhibited in London with the Free Painter's Group and at the Ben Uri Gallery.
"FPG news" (The Free Painters Group Newsletter) of Spring 1963 featured an appraisal of the salient stages of Frank's work, which included a personal statement as follows: - "Fundamentally I am fully aware of the incessant struggle for existence in all living things. Not only in man and the other obviously predatory creatures but in vegetable growth too. In fact the coexistent beauty and brutality, the stark inevitability of the growth-decay cycle, in plant life seems somehow to be more terrifying than nature red in tooth and claw. The wonder of this cruel and ever-changing natural life is my fertile soil and the passionate will to paint, like a seed. The work seems to sprout and unfold like a living plant - never really complete. Even when a painting is physically finished the growth seems to continue, providing humus for seeds to come." Also developed an interest in clay at about this time. This interest in ceramics led to a number of public commissions, including two ceramic murals for St. Albans Civic Centre. At around the same time became disillusioned with the London art scene and cut his ties with the capital although he did become an active member of the Harlow Playhouse Gallery where he became friendly with the sculptor Henry Moore. This friendship continued until Moore's death in 1986 by which time Frank had abandoned abstraction and begun to record the landscape around his home in pastels, watercolour and pencil. He continued to draw up until his death in 1995, by which time he had become a forgotten figure.
Exhibitions Include:
British Artists in Moscow; Free Painters and Sculptors; “Towards the Future”; One-man shows at Drian Galleries (1958,59,61,63,69); Ben Uri Art Gallery; Ceramic murals in numerous public buildings in Herts, notably St. Albans Town Hall.