Spears, Frank (1906 – 1991)

Frank Sydney Spears was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England. He arrived in South Africa as a designer
for Brimble and Briggs Ltd in 1928. He established a high profile as an artist , broadcaster and actor, but
was also known for his success in business and as a boat designer. His early work was impressionistic
and was referred to as “staid, stuffy and provincial”.

In 1949 he travelled to through the USA and here his style changed to a more abstract style. In the
1950’s he began to experiment with non-figuration, but was unable to relinquish his attachment
to figurative elements. A personal mysticism began to shape much of his thought and he became
interested in the relationship of painting, poetry and music. This was well received by art critics bored
with the conservative works at SASA exhibitions in the 1940’s. He was especially commended on the
SASA Member’s exhibition of 1950.

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Frank Sydney Spears was born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, 1906. He arrived in SA as a designer for Brimble and Briggs Ltd. in 1928. He established a high profile as an artist, broadcaster and actor, also known for his success in business activities and as a designer of boats. His early painting style was impressionistic, and his work was referred to, along with that of Sydney Carter, as "staid, stuffy and provincial" (Lewis, 1946:25). He was elected President of SASA in 1945 after first joining in 1934. In 1949 he travelled in the USA, and his style changed in response to the growing orthodoxy of abstraction there. In the 1950s he began to experiment with non-figuration, but was unable to relinquish his attachment to figurative elements. A personal mysticism began to shape much of his thought and he became interested in the relationship of painting, poetry and music.

This was well received by critics bored by the conservatism of SASA exhibitions in the 1940s. He was specially commended on the SASA Members' Exhibition of 1950 as follows: "Undoubtedly the best thing on the show is a smallish canvas Eiieen Joyce plays Chopin, by Frank Spears. Here is a genuine attempt to interpret a musical theme in terms of paint; one feels the spirit of action in the moving chords placed in a flowing design" (P.H.W.: The Cape Times: 31.8.1950). Spears' handling of paint was thought by Berman to be analogous to that of Jean Welz (1900 -1975): "His concepts are usually quiet and undramatic; still life and flower studies form a large part of his oeuvre. His palette is restrained, with distinctive use of ochres and warm pinkish tones, frequently accented by a characteristic note of Cerulean blue" (1983:434). Roses, from the SANG Permanent Collection, is typical of his later flower-pieces that were much admired. Spears retired in 1968 and in 1969 returned to England, but continued to exhibit in SA thereafter.

Exhibitor on SASA-related exhibitions c.1898 - 1950: 1934:

SASA sect., with NA, 4th Annual Exh. of Contemp. SA Art, SANG, 21 Dec. - 21 Feb. 1935.
1936: SASA 34th Annual Exh., Ashbey's Gall., Church St.,5 - 11 Aug. 1936: SASA sect., with NA & indep. artists, 6th Annual Exh. o/Cont. Art, SANG, 17 Dec. - 17 Feb.1937.
1937: SASA 35th Annual Exh., AG, Burg St., 23 Aug. 1937: SASA sect., with NA, 7th Annual Exh. of Contemp. Art, SANG, 15 Dec. - 14 Feb. 1938.
1938: SASA sect., with NA, 8th Annual Exh. of Contemp. Art, SANG, 15 Dec - 15 Feb.1939.
1940: SASA 37th Annual Exh., AG, Burg St., 29 Jan- 10 Feb.
1941: SASA38 Annual Exh., SANG, 17 Feb.-31 Mar.
1942: SASA 39th Annual Exh., SANG, 23 Feb.-18 Apr. 1942: SASA Winter Exh. (venue not stated) 14 - 29 Aug.
1943: SASA Winter Exh., MMG, 14 -25 Sep.
1944: 41st Annual Exh. of SA Contemp. Art, org. by SASA with other Societies, SANG, 25 Feb.
1945: 42nd Annual Exh. of Contemp. SA Art, org. by SASA, MMG, 6-20 Apr. 1945: SASA Members'Exh., Ashbey's Gall., Church St., 10-24 Sep.
1946: 43rd Annua! Exh. of Contemp. SAArt,arr. by SASA with NSA, MMG, 5 - 23 Apr. 1946; SASA Members' Exh., Ashbey's Gall., Church St., 6 - 20 Sep. 1947: 44th Annual Exh. of Contemp. SA Art, arr. by SASA, MMG, 11 -26 Apr. 1947: SASA Members'Annual Exh., MMG, 9 - 22 Sep.
1948: SASA 45th Annual Exh., MMG, 20 Apr. - 1 May.
1949: SASA Members'Annual Exh., MMG, 14 - 27 Sep.
1950: SASA 47th Annual Exh., MMG, (no specie dates), May. 1950: SASA Members' Annual Exh., MMG, 30 Aug. - 12 Sep.