Francis Evelyn MIDDLEDITCH

Francis Evelyn MIDDLEDITCH
Frank
1903
1996

Frank Middleditch was born in Edmonton, Middlesex. He was educated at Stationers' Company's School in Hornsey, after which he won a scholarship to Hornsey College of Art. He trained as an industrial designer and was a member of the Society of Industrial Artists (MSIA).

From 1929 to 1932 he was in India, serving as a volunteer in the Calcutta Light Horse Regiment. During World War II he was in the Home Guard (as a private) from 1943 to 1944.

A radio he designed for Bush, while he worked for De La Rue, was in the 1946 'Britain Can Make It' exhibition at the V&A. The model, originally in black, became immensely popular and was then produced in several colours, as well as for the export market with translated words; a mahogany-coloured version is in the permanent collection of the V&A.

In 1935 he married a classically trained singer, Felise. During the 1950s they were living in Lympstone near Exmouth in Devon. Alongside Clifford FISHWICK and Amy ELTON, he became a member of the Kenn Group, a society of professional artists based in Exeter, whose group shows were usually held in the city's Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM).

In 1962 he and Felise moved to Cornwall and were living at Fenton Pits, outside Bodmin, and later they moved to Egloshayle, Wadebridge. In 1963 Frank had a solo show of paintings at the Poly, Falmouth, and a solo show of engraved slate, collages and drawings in the RAMM in 1971. During a long artistic career, his work was also shown at the New English Art Club, Royal Academy, Royal West of England Academy, Birmingham City Gallery and Brighton City Gallery.

He died in Truro in 1996.

media

Painting, design, drawing, collage, gouache, engravings, engraved slate

works and access

The Box, Plymouth

exhibitions

1946: 'Britain Can Make It', V&A

1962-1963: 'New Painting in Devon' - a seven-month touring exhibition sponsored by the Arts Council

1963: The Poly, Falmouth

1971: RAMM

1982: Kenn Group of Artists, RAMM'

1991: 'Collages & Drawings by Frank Middleditch', North Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery, Camelford

 

memberships

MSIA (Society of Industrial Artists)

Kenn Group of Artists

St Austell Arts Club

Camel Art Society