Fred Yates British , 1922-2008

Fred Yates was an English artist from Urmston, Lancashire, best known for his richly impastoed naïve paintings and his affectionate depictions of everyday life. His work often captured ordinary people engaged in their daily routines, rendered with warmth and character.

The loss of his twin brother at Arnhem in 1944 had a lasting impact on Yates, who remained a gentle and private individual throughout his life. Despite this, he frequently painted en plein air and was always approachable, happily engaging with those who stopped to watch him work.

After serving in the Grenadier Guards and a brief, unsatisfying period in the insurance industry, Yates secured a place at Bournemouth Teacher Training College, where he received his formal artistic education.

He later taught painting in Devon and along the south coast, though teaching never truly suited him. Yates saw himself first and foremost as a painter, and in 1968 he made the decisive move to pursue art full-time. Relocating to Cornwall, he became particularly associated with scenes of coves and harbours, as well as Cornish cottages and woodland paths.

His reserved nature lent itself to a largely solitary lifestyle, often living in simply furnished homes in both Britain and France. His first solo exhibition took place at the Reynolds Gallery in Plymouth in 1976. In later years, he developed relationships with London galleries including Thompson’s Gallery and the John Martin Gallery. Earlier support from venues such as the New Street Gallery in Plymouth, Avalon Art in Marazion, and Courcoux Contemporary helped establish his reputation among collectors.

France eventually became an important base, and Yates moved frequently, living in old mills and village houses. Wherever he settled, he painted the surrounding people and landscapes before moving on in search of new light and scenery. His style evolved over time, becoming looser, more experimental, and increasingly confident. As his career progressed, he was able to work with better materials, often applying paint directly from the tube in thick, expressive layers. He worked quickly, using brushes, palette knives, and even his fingers to build texture—his earlier Northern and Cornish works are often painted on board.

In his final years, Yates began the journey back to the UK, intending to settle in Frome, but sadly passed away in 2008 before completing the move.

He is buried in Marazion, Cornwall, overlooking his beloved St Michael’s Mount.