Fred Yates

For the English painter born in 1854, see Frederic Yates. For the chess player, see Frederick Yates.
Fred Yates
Born Frederick Joseph Yates
(1922-07-25)25 July 1922
Urmston, Lancashire, England
Died 7 July 2008(2008-07-07) (aged 85)
England
Nationality English
Known for Painting

Fred Yates (25 July 1922 – 7 July 2008),[1] born Frederick Joseph Yates, was an English artist. His paintings are included in many private and public collections including Brighton and Hove Art Gallery, Liverpool University, the University of Warwick, Torquay Art Gallery and Russell Coates Gallery Bournemouth.

Biography

Fred Yates was born in Urmston, Lancashire, England in 1922. He began his working life as an insurance clerk but this career was cut short by the Second World War, during which he served as a Grenadier Guards. His twin brother was killed during the failed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.[1]

After the war Yates took up painting on his return to Manchester - initially as a painter and decorator. It was whilst working in Manchester, and training to become a teacher, that Yates began painting - much in the vein of L. S. Lowry; although he strove for recognition in his own right, and achieved this in his later years.

Cornwall

By 1970 Yates was living and working as a painter in Cornwall, England. In Cornwall he painted almost exclusively outdoors - scenes of local village life, clifftop and beach scenes. It was around this period that Yates' commercial success began after the "St Ives 1939-64" exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London.[2] It was also around this time that Yates had a solo exhibition in Geneva which saw some of his work purchased by Henri Cartier-Bresson.[2] Yates has works in private collections in France, UK, Canada and the United States of America.

France

In the early 1990s Yates moved to France to a small village called Rancon in Department 87, Haute-Vienne . Here he painted local scenes, one of his favorites being a small chapel in the woods just outside Rancon, called Saint-Sulpice. He both met and encouraged local artists and worked with British artists based in the area.[3] He collected houses like people collect stamps and soon acquired several, each as individual as himself.

In his later years, he purchased a house in Drome, Rhône-Alpes, where the light and air were more suited to a man in his 80's. Despite his advanced age he continued to paint regularly and travel widely right up until his death. Fred also had a small home in Sablet

Death and memorial

Yates died of a heart attack on returning to England in July 2008. A Fred Yates Society has been established to assist in preserving and promoting his work. Yates is buried in one of his favourite spots in Cornwall overlooking St Michael's Mount.

Collections

Books

Fred Yates, John Martin, Francis Mallet, Fred Yates: C'est votre passion, monsieur! (London, White Lane Press, 2007) [4]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Mallett, Francis (31 July 2008). "Fred Yates: Reclusive artist whose bold style brought him success late in life". Obituary (London: The Guardian). Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  2. 1 2 "Fred Yates: Self-styled 'happy Lowry'". The Independent (London). 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  3. ↑ http://www.geoffbunn.com/yatesism.html
  4. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fred-Yates-Votre-Passion-Monsieur/dp/customer-images/0955266726

External links

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