Frank Johnson
A prolific portrait painter who taught commercial
art, drawing and painting at Bradford Regional
College of Art from 1952 to 1980. After retirement
Frank continued to visit the Art School to draw in
the life classes.
Frank, born in Leicester in 1917, worked as a
commercial artist until the WWII, when he
was enlisted into the Royal Air Force.
In 1947 he went to study painting at Leicester
College of Art and in 1952 was appointed as
a tutor at Bradford Regional College of Art.
Frank continued to work at the Art School until
1980 and even after that he was a frequent
visitor to the life drawing classes held in the
evenings.
During his time at Bradford, Frank taught
many people who were later to find fame
particularly David Hockney, David Oxtoby,
John Loker, Tony Bevan and Doug Binder.
Frank and another tutor, Derek Stafford, often
used to exhibit at the Royal Academy and
in 1957 they persuaded David Hockney to
submit pictures for the Academy’s Summer
exhibition, and of course he was accepted.
Frank gave David Hockney support and
encouragement at Bradford, supporting his
transfer from the commercial art course to the
painting course.
Frank exhibited frequently throughout his life
particularly in Yorkshire. His work was included
in the Four Artists exhibition at Bradford City
Art Gallery in 1961 and in 1964 exhibited in
Yugoslavia at The Museum of Modern Art.
Frank’s work is included in public collections
in Bradford, Leeds and Glasgow and shows
the influences of Sickert and particularly the
Euston Road School (an art school which gave
its name to a group of English painters, active
in London between 1937 and 1939.The
painters emphasized naturalism and realism).
Frank’s work is noted for its tenderness and
compassion, particularly the life drawing
which shows great sensitivity. Frank output
was great. He often enjoyed drawing and
painting his students and fellow colleagues,
many of whom today treasure the portraits
that Frank painted of them.
Photograph by Andy Vaines