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| Sir Terry Frost A Leamington Lad |
The show opens with early ephemera and paintings from Frost's POW years at Stalag 383 following his capture on Crete in June 1941. His incarceration and well documented meeting with Slade trained Adrian Heath was the catalyst that would change Frost forever and set him on the long road to his amazing artist success.
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| Madrigal 1949 |
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| Early POW paintings and 1950 paintbox |
Early family portraits, sketches, Frost's paint box circa 1950 (complete with screwed up paint tubes) and even a postcard detailing his 'change of address' to Stalag 383 make for fascinating viewing. Oil on canvas Madrigal 1949 Frost's first abstract work of note and based on the poem by W H Auden is a masterpiece worth visiting for alone. Other works from the Leamington permanent collection featured include two great oil on canvases Orange Umber 1960 (bought for £75 in 1962) and Orange and Blue 1963.
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| Terry Frost Orange Umber 1960 |
The exhibition then moves to the later years featuring many of Frost's colourful and much loved prints and collages from the Leamington and Warwick University (where Frost received an honorary degree in 2000) collections respectively.
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| Terry Frost acrylic and collages |
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| More signature work |
Frost was able to pass on his love of the visual arts and joy of colour with prestigious teaching posts at Bath Academy and Leeds and Reading Universities. He was elected RA in 1992 and Knighted in 2000.
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| Untitled (Newlyn) 1995 |
The last piece in the show 'Life is just a .....2003' is a heartfelt poem by Terry's son Adrian.
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| Life is Just a.... 2003 |
The PV was a highly charged event with many family and friends that feature in the Terry Frost story present to honour the man and the artist. A speech by Terry's son Anthony and heckled in humour by brother comedian Stephen was rousing and emotional at the same time.
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| A Leamington Lad PV |
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| A Leamington Lad PV |
The book introduced and edited by Leamington's chief curator Dr Chloe Johnson accompanies the show and is great at £6.
Having eagerly awaited the show since finding out about it on visiting Anthony Frost for a
cuppa in May I am now eagerly awaiting going back and seeing it again!
For anyone with an interest in Terry Frost or St Ives in general this is a MUST SEE and for anyone new to the genre treat yourself it's FREE - you will LOVE it.
A Leamington Lad runs at Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum till 11th Oct. Also watch out for Stalag Happy - the award-winning play based on the true and moving story of the artists Sir Terry Frost and Adrian Heath whilst interned at WWII POW Camp Stalag 383 - featuring Sir Terry's grandson Dan Frost.
For further reading Terry Frost A Painter's Life by Roger Bristoe published by Sansom & Co
Do please checkout more Modern and Contemporary St Ives Art & Ceramics at Orangehat
