Terry Frost

We are delighted to present our latest artwork by Sir Terry Frost RA, a signed artist’s proof of Duende for Lorca (1987). To accompany this, we have put together a small showcase in store, exploring his life and work.

Alongside the artwork, we are offering a selection of beautiful books on Frost from the collection of Mollie and Graham Dark, close friends of the artist. These rare and out-of-print volumes provide a personal insight into his career and the vibrant St Ives art scene he helped shape.

Visit us in-store to explore the collection.

We are delighted to present our latest artwork by Sir Terry Frost RA, a signed artist’s proof of Duende for Lorca (1987). To accompany this, we have put together a small showcase in store, exploring his life and work.

Terry Frost (1915–2003) discovered painting in the most unlikely of places - whilst imprisoned in a German POW camp during World War II. Born in Leamington Spa, he had worked in factories before enlisting in the army, serving in the Middle East and Crete. In 1941, he was captured and sent to Stalag 383 in Bavaria.

 It was here that he met the artist Adrian Heath, who encouraged him to paint. Despite the bleak conditions, Frost found joy in colour and abstraction, later saying:

"I got tremendous spiritual experience in the war... I suddenly saw the way to express what I felt about life."

In the late 1940s, Frost moved to St Ives, a magnet for artists exploring abstraction. He found himself among a group of pioneering painters, including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Roger Hilton, Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon, Bryan Wynter, and Paul Feiler. Working as an assistant to Hepworth, he absorbed the rhythm of Cornwall’s landscape, which would become a lifelong inspiration.

He became known for his bold, joyful use of colour, inspired by the light, sea, and shapes of St Ives. His work was playful and dynamic, filled with movement and energy. His warmth and generosity also made a lasting impression on those around him.

As a friend once said:

“Terry lit up the room when he entered - he was full of laughter, enthusiasm, and a pure love of painting.”

Frost’s influence extended beyond his paintings. He was a passionate teacher, holding positions at Leeds College of Art and later becoming Professor of Painting at the University of Reading. He encouraged generations of students to experiment, to embrace colour, and to find joy in their work.

As Frost himself once said:

“Painting is an extension of life, an expression of energy, of one’s whole being.”