Frederick Donald Blake

1908 - 1997

Blake as born in Greenock, Scotland. His family moved to London when he was young where he studied at Camberwell School of Art, starting work as an architectural draughtsman in the interior design business. In 1940 he was drafted in to a group of war artist producing propaganda work for the Ministry of Information. After the war he worked as a freelance designer and artist. He developed a special technique for his watercolours which were painted on clay-coated paper and then varnished. This gave him more freedom of handling and great depth and dimension to his work. He was elected a member of the RI, the RSMA, the NEAC and the Chelsea Arts Club, the Wapping Group of Artists and the London Sketch Club, serving on the councils of all these societies.