Brief Famous Artist Bio

Fred Yates - Artwork and Bio of the British Artist

Fred Yates was a reclusive painter who painted in bold colors. He was born in Urmston, Lancashire on 25 July 1922. Quitting his insurance clerk work after losing his twin brother in the Second World War, Fred decided to become an artist. He received his first formal education in art at the Bournemouth Teacher Training College learning drawing, painting and printmaking. Yates taught for 20 years after his graduation but never enjoyed the profession due to his shy nature. He then chose to teach himself to paint as an escape from the reality he despised.

In 1968, Yates quit teaching to become a full-time painter, making the bold move for the second time in his life. He moved to Cornwall, where he painted his early works of rocky beaches and village scenes using household paints. Yates continued to develop his work and slowly widened his recognition. He had his first London exhibition with Thompson’s Gallery in 1992. Yates later moved to France and continued painting. He suffered a heart whilst journeying to buy a house on his return to England in 2008, aged 85.

What is Fred Yates Known For?

Fred Yates once mentioned that he “felt closest to the man in the street and aimed to please him with his works. This is reflected in his work as Yates is famously known for his colorful landscapes and characters created from loose brushwork and child-like abstractions. Though he was a shy and isolated person by nature, he loved painting about people living their daily lives outdoors. Fred Yates is prominently known and recognized for his paintings of village sceneries in France and England, producing beautiful artworks with simplicity and a child’s mind; a firmly held principle of his.

Who was Fred Yates Influenced By?

Fred Yates was influenced by L.S. Lowry, the Manchester painter who inspired him to paint the lives of ordinary people. Yates competed against L.S. Lowry in a competition organized by the Football Association. His painting of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club is displayed in the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.

What Art Movement Is Fred Yates Associated With?

Fred Yates is associated with the Primitivism art movement.

Fred Yates Artwork

Below are some of Fred Yates’ artwork: