Elisabeth Frink

Elisabeth Frink was born in Thurlow in Suffolk . She studied at Guildford School of Art between 1947 and 1949 and Chelsea School of Art from 1949 to 1953. Her first major exhibition was in 1952 at the Beaux Arts Gallery. The Tate Gallery purchased one of her sculptures when she was just 23. Frink held teaching posts at Chelsea and St Martins Schools of Art over a period of ten years before becoming a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art until 1967.

Her work was preoccupied with certain themes such as the relationship between men and animals (for examples in her famous horse and rider, and man and horse series of prints); birds (especially birds of prey); and animals. She also depicted men flying, falling or running and produced illustrations of classic books such as Aesops Fables and the Canterbury Tales.

Although her work was figurative, Frink was not concerned with simply rendering the appearance of things. For example, capturing the spirit of an animal or bird, her idea of it, was what counted. Indeed she is said not to have drawn from life. Similarly, her illustrations for literature are not intended as precise depictions of the text so much as her reactions and comments upon it.

Although most well known as a sculptor, she was an enthusiastic printmaker and not afraid to experiment or to explore new media. She was encouraged in this by Stanley Jones, Nigel Oxley and Kip Gresham, master printers with whom she collaborated and developed highly empathic and creative relationships.

Elisabeth Frink was awarded a CBE in 1977, became an RA in 1977 and became Dame of the British Empire in 1982.

To find out more see:
Caroline Wiseman (1988) Elisabeth Frink Original Prints: Catalogue Raisonnee, Art Books International, London