Frederick James Taylor

In his own words...
Born on Good Friday 15th April 1949 and my only claim to fame is that I share the same birthday as Leonardo da Vinci. My father, grandfather, etc were coal miners and it was inevitable that when I left school at 15 I went to work down the mine. This was in South Yorkshire and later Nottinghamshire. After 14 years (10 on the coalface) I left to become a mine lecturer at Worksop College. Following this I went to live and work in the Power Industry South Africa and later back in the UK with National Power.

I started painting at 19 after an injury at work left me at home for a couple of weeks. My first painting of a horse turned out to be a donkey despite all my efforts and I nearly gave up. My father encouraged me to keep trying so eventually painting became part of my life. In South Africa I joined the Krugersdorp Railway Preservation Society and painted a picture of a locomotive to raise funds for them. Occasionally I was asked to do some drawings for the magazine. Also, being in S. Africa I became interested in the wildlife and the beautiful scenery.

Returning to the UK in 1988 I joined National Power as an engineer and was made redundant in 1999. I set up my own business as a therapist (reflexology/reiki) and also as an amateur artist. Currently I work part time in a Collectors shop, and paint when I can.

I am a member of various art societies, including the Guild of Wiltshire Artists and the Swindon Artists Forum and the Lydiard art group.