Terry Frost RA English, 1915-2003

Works
  • Terry Frost RA, Long Bow (Kemp 176), 1998
    Terry Frost RA
    Long Bow (Kemp 176), 1998
    Silkscreen print with collage elements on Arches paper with full margins.
    Signed and dated Terry Frost 98 (lower right), numbered from the edition of 50 (lower left).
    Image: 27.5 x 87 cm.
    Sheet: 50 x 108 cm.
    Frame: 58 x 105 cm.
    Edition number 38 of 50
  • Terry Frost RA, Orange Sun Newlyn (Kemp 206), 2000
    Terry Frost RA
    Orange Sun Newlyn (Kemp 206), 2000
    Silkscreen printed in colours on Velin Arches paper with full margins.
    Signed and numbered from the edition of 100 in pencil.
    Sheet: 63.5 cm x 51 cm (25 x 20 in.)
    Number 48 from the edition of 100
  • Terry Frost RA, Untitled 08 (Kemp 117), 1989/90
    Terry Frost RA
    Untitled 08 (Kemp 117), 1989/90
    Linocut printed on Zerkall 225gsm paper.
    Signed, dated, and numbered from the edition of 40 in pencil.
    Image: 30.5 cm x 48 cm (12 x 19 in.)
    Sheet: 55 cm x 64.5 cm (21 3/4 x 25 1/2 in.)
    Frame: 57.5 x 72.5 x 3.5 cm (22 1/2 x 28 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.)
    Number 18 from the edition of 40, aside from 5 APs
Overview

‘‘A circle means so much to me; it’s become like a god. I can use it in any colour I want, and often I use it in black, because I think a black sun is beautiful.’’

Born in Leamington Spa in 1915, Frost started painting in 1941 as a prisoner of war in Bavaria. On his return to Britain Frost moved to St Ives in Cornwall, to be amongst the burgeoning artistic community there. His work reflects the inspiration he found in the Cornish light, glittering seas and watery reflections.

 

Frost worked as Barbara Hepworth’s assistant in 1951 and had his first solo exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in 1952. He was awarded the John Moore’s Prize in 1965, elected to the Royal Academy in 1992 and knighted in 1998.

 

Sir Terry Frost took his inspiration from nature; the sun, moon, water, boats and the female form are recurring motifs in the works here on show. Abstracted into sensuous circles and curves, dramatically coloured in blues, reds, oranges, yellows and black, Frost believed that the interplay of colour and shape could realise an event or image more successfully than imitation.

 

His works are held in many public and private collections worldwide, including: Tate Gallery, London; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; National Gallery of Canada; and National Gallery of New South Wales, Australia.

Exhibitions
Virtual exhibition