Frederick Gore, C.B.E, R.A
b. 1913

Frederick Gore's career has followed the classic pattern of an academic education in the Fine Arts and has resulted in success at every level in spite of it.

Born in Richmond, Surrey in 1913, Gore was the son of Spencer Gore, a founder member of the Camden Town Group. His childhood was surrounded by art and artists and at the age of 19, young Frederick won a scholarship to Oxford. He read classics and studied painting at the Ruskin School. Two years later he joined the Westminster School of Art and came into the sphere and under the influence of both Gertler and Bernard Meninsky. At the age of 24, with a wealth of experience already behind him, Frederick Gore joined the Slade and held his first one man exhibition at the Redfern Gallery. An invitation resulting from this show took him to Greece where he saturated himself and his palette with colour and sunshine.

However, storm clouds were brewing and he returned to England upon the declaration of World War II and joined the army. Painting was shelved for the period of hostilities, but Frederick Gore's sketch book went with him wherever he was sent.

When he was released from the army in 1946 he got a position teaching at the St Martin School of Art and also at the Epsom and Chelsea Schools. In 1951 he was made the head of the painting department at St Martin's and was elected a Royal Academician. In 1973 Gore was made the chairman of the exhibition committee at the Royal Academy and worked in this capacity until 1987. Gore was awarded the CBE in 1988 and was honoured by a major retrospective at the Royal Academy in 1989.

Frederick Gore will be remembered as being one of the first of the 20th Century British Artists to travel abroad and paint pure colour in the countries he visited. As such, this academician with a classic education used the lessons of the past to see the twentieth century through the eyes of the impressionists, whilst retaining the firm and resolute disciplines of the 19th century masters. The result is that Gore has become one of the first true British impressionists, judged by his own quality and ability. His views of Provence, Italy and Greece are those of an Englishman abroad and are proud to stand as such.

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