Sir Terry Frost Art for Sale: Prints & Originals

Sir
Terry Frost

Sir Terry Frost was a British abstract painter known for his use of bold, geometric shapes and bright colours to create dynamic compositions inspired by the Cornish landscape. If you’re looking for original Terry Frost prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

Biography

Terry Frost was a British abstract painter whose artwork was informed by his love of colour, light, and form. Born in October 1915, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, Frost's artistic journey began not in the classroom but on the battlefield. As a soldier during World War II, he was captured in Crete and spent four years as a prisoner of war in Germany. It was during this time that Frost discovered his passion for art, turning to sketching and painting as a way of escaping the harsh reality of his surroundings.

Returning to England in 1946, Frost was determined to pursue a career in art, enrolling at the Camberwell School of Art in London. While studying under painters such as Victor Pasmore and Ben Nicholson, Frost encountered the abstract style that would come to define his oeuvre. A chance meeting with the renowned St Ives artist Barbara Hepworth in 1949 led Frost to move to Cornwall, where he became part of the thriving artistic community.

A chance meeting with the renowned St Ives artist Barbara Hepworth in 1949 led Frost to move to Cornwall, where he became an integral part of the thriving artistic community. Frost's early work was heavily influenced by the landscape of Cornwall, with its rocky shores, fishing boats, and endless horizons.
His paintings were characterised by their bold colours, geometric shapes, and rhythmic compositions, which evoked a sense of movement and energy. Frost's love of abstraction allowed him to experiment with various mediums, from oil and acrylic paint to collage and printmaking.
Frost's artistic maturity came in the 1960s, with his signature Sun and Moon paintings. These iconic works are characterized by their vibrant colours and bold, circular shapes, which evoke the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the moon. Frost continued to explore the themes of light and form throughout his career, focusing on the interplay between colour, shape, and space.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Frost's work continued to evolve, adopting a more minimalistic approach as he explored the concept of colour as a physical presence. These monochromatic canvases, with their subtle variations in tone and texture, demonstrated Frost's commitment to pushing the boundaries of abstraction.
In 1951, Frost was awarded a prestigious Gregory Fellowship at the University of Leeds, which allowed him to dedicate his time to painting and teaching. During this period, his work began to attract critical acclaim, and he was invited to exhibit alongside the likes of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Ben Nicholson in the trailblazing “Situation” exhibition at the RBA Galleries in London.
Throughout his career, Frost received numerous accolades for his work, including the John Moore's Painting Prize in 1965 and a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1998. He was also elected a Royal Academician in 1992.
On September 1, 2003, Terry Frost passed away at the age of 87. Today, his work continues to be celebrated by collectors and institutions worldwide, with major retrospectives held at the Tate Gallery in London and the Royal Academy. With his distinctive style and unyielding passion for abstraction, Terry Frost remains one of Britain's most significant and enduring artists of the 20th century.

Red, Black, and White, Leeds (1955) marks a pivotal phase in Terry Frost's artistic journey, conceived during his time as an educator at Leeds University until 1957. This artwork serves as a visual interpretation of the Yorkshire landscape. During this period, Frost relied on vertical elements to convey the vastness of the landscape. The deliberate choice of a monochromatic palette, punctuated by vibrant red and orange tones, enhances the sense of geometric abstraction, aligning with Frost's later mature artistic style. This seamless fusion of form and colour generates a dynamic and multi-dimensional experience, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the captivating world crafted by the artist.

The groundbreaking sale of this artwork, achieving a price of £313,250 (fees included) at Sotheby's in November 2011, solidifies its position as the most expensive work ever sold by Terry Frost.

Red, Black and White (1957)serves as a product of international influences from Terry Frost's encounters with American painter, Sam Francis and French painter, Pierre Soulages. Drawing inspiration from these encounters, Frost combines elements from their respective styles to create a work of distinct character.

Soulages' influence is evident in the bold presence of thick black brushstrokes, which adds depth, texture and emotional intensity to the. Frost's engagement with Francis is reflected in the meticulously executed dripping techniques observed in the vertical elements of the artwork. These techniques not only add dynamic movement to the piece but also evoke a sense of fluidity and spontaneity.

Despite its smaller size, Red, Black and White captivates viewers with its skilful arrangement of vertical forms extending from the outermost edges. Through this deliberate composition, Frost succeeds in capturing a panoramic vista framed by the underlying structure of the landscape. It is within this abstracted framework that Frost's brilliance shines as he harmoniously merges diverse perceptions of the surroundings into a cohesive visual narrative.

In 2018, this artwork achieved substantial recognition at Sotheby's in June 2019, fetching an impressive £250,000 (fees included).