British artist Terry Frost RA (1915-2003) was a leading figure in British abstract art. Born in Leamington Spa, he left school at the age of fourteen and worked at a cycle shop in Coventry until the outbreak of war. He served in Palestine and Greece, before being captured in 1941. Frost remained a prisoner until the end of the war, an experience that changed his outlook on life and introduced him to the possibilities of art.

Whilst being held prisoner in Bavaria, Frost began to paint encouraged by fellow prisoner Adrian Heath. On his return to Britain, Frost moved to St. Ives in Cornwall and became one of the artists associated with the growing artistic community in the town. He attended the St. Ives School of Art before spending 1947 – 1950 commuting to London in order to attend Camberwell School of Art. His early work was figurative, but it was the influence of Victor Pasmore at Camberwell, combined with that of the artist Ben Nicholson that led Frost to paint his first abstract painting in 1949.

In the 1950s he was employed as visiting lecturer at the Bath Academy of Art, and became Gregory Fellow in Painting at the University of Leeds 1954-56 He taught at Leeds College of Art and Reading University. In 1974 he moved from St. Ives to Newlyn, Cornwall .

Sir Terry Frost was elected Royal Academician in 1992 and made Knight of the Realm for services to Art and Art Education 1998. His work is held in numerous private and public collections around the world including The Tate Gallery London, The Museum Of Modern Art, New York City, and the National Gallery of Canada.