Chappel Galleries
Contemporary Fine Art
Established 1986
T: +44 (0) 1206 240326
E: info@chappelgalleries.co.uk
Chappel Galleries
Contemporary Fine Art
Established 1986
T: +44 (0) 1206 240326
E: info@chappelgalleries.co.uk
Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm or by appointment
Sizes quoted are of artworks. Where enquiries of prices are made on the gallery, the work is subject to availability and the price to change.
Roy Freer initially studied at Birmingham College of Art in the 1950’s. It was whilst working as a lecturer at Cassio College, Watford that Roy started to exhibit in galleries around the country. During that period he was elected to the Pastel Society; being a popular and active member.
By 1982 when Roy and his family lived in Clophill, Bedfordshire, he was finding that the demand from galleries for his work required that he set up as a professional artist so he ceased his lectureship and four years later he was ready to set up his studio near Crystal Palace to meet this demand. During this time, he also became a member of the ROI; the RI and the NEAC regularly exhibiting at all these Society’s exhibitions both at the FBA and further afield. By now his work was being collected by many loyal followers.
Once established Roy moved with his wife Sally in 2000 to Sudbury, Suffolk where he worked and exhibited regularly until his final days in his purpose-built studio.
Paul Curtis, NEAC shares these memories:
Roy was a quiet and gentle friend who spoke through his paintings. In
a mixed exhibition of work by members of the New English Art Club at
the Mall Galleries his work would gently tap you on the shoulder as you
passed by and a second look made you aware of Roy’s bigger formal
ideas depicted in soft colour and light that are caught with strong,
confident brush marks.
Roy’s subjects are about familiar domestic objects that he interpreted in abstract shapes of colour and tone - always figurative but never illustrative. His work reflected his determination to take a chance, he searched for truth in order to get it right. His work looks so free but it is all carefully considered.
As past students from Birmingham College of Art in the early 60’s, where the gentle Arts and Crafts philosophy touched all four of us: Tom Coates, Roy, Dennis Minchin and me would meet regularly to discuss our professional work and current exhibitions in Dennis’s wonderful garden in Bourneville.
Roy and Sally’s riverside house in Suffolk has drawings and paintings on their walls by other artists (not their own work!) and these reflect their way of life. They enhanced and reflected the thorough research that informed Roy’s creative practice.
Roy was more than a painter’s painter; his work speaks for itself. We miss him greatly - but his work lives on.
1953 - 56 Bournville School of Art
1956 - 58 Birmingham College of Art
1968 Birmingham University Art Teachers Centre
1982 - 90 The Pastel Society
1987 Royal Institute of Oil Painters
1989 Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours
2000 New English Art Club
1986 The R.I. Bronze Medal
1994 The Llewellyn Alexander Award
1986,97 The Cornellissen Prize
1992 The Catto Gallery Award
1995 The C. Roberson Prize
1997 The Stanley Grimm Prize
1980 Digswell Arts Centre, Welwyn Garden City
1981 Luton Museum & Art Gallery
1981 Hitchin Museum & Gallery
1982 The Morley Gallery, Westminster
1983, 84 Dower House Gallery, Berkhampsted
1983 Brighton Polytechnic
1983 Walton Hall, Open University
1986 The Yarrow Gallery, Oundle School
1986 Dan Sullivan Gallery, Beford
1987 - 2000 Alternate years The Anna Mai Chadwick Gallery, London
1990 West Dean College, Sussex
1994, 96, 2000 Catto Gallery, London
1997, 99 The Manor House Gallery, Chipping Norton
1998 The Linda Blackstone Gallery, Pinner
1998 Orleans House, Richmond
1999 The City Gallery, London
2004, 06 Cedar House Gallery, Surrey
2005 Chappel Galleries, Essex
2006 RBSA with Tom Coates, PPNEAC
2008 Wittingham Fine Art, Oxfordshire
2023 Bedford School, Bedfordshire
2024 Chappel Galleries, Essex
1982 The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1988 The York Contemporary Arts Fair
1988 Bedford Artists Exhibition, Cyprus
1990, 91, 92, 93 The Adam Gallery, Bath
1990 The Daler Gallery, Bournemouth
1990 The RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, Pastel Exhibition
1990 The Hunting Prize Exhibition
1990 Singer Friedlander Competition
1996, 2010, 11 David Messum Gallery, London
1999 The John Blockley Gallery, Gloucestershire
1999, 2006, 22 Kentmore House Gallery, York
1999, 2000 The Linda Blackstone Gallery, Pinner
2000, 01, 02 The City Gallery, London
2001, 17, 18 The Thompson Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
2002, 03 Cedar House Gallery, Surrey
2003, 04 Hunter Gallery, Suffolk
2005 Islington Art Fair, London
2007 Oakham Gallery, London
2007 FBA London - ‘Originals ’ - Selected Artist
2007, 10, 12 Lynne Strover Gallery, Cambridge
2010, 11, 12 Wittington Fine Art - Oxfordshire
2009 FBA, London - Grand Opening - Selected Artists
2011 FBA, London - Discerning Eye - Selected Artist
2011 Gainsborough’s House, Suffolk
2011 Lime Tree Gallery, Suffolk, also Bristol
2015 The Quiddity Gallery, Andover
2018 The Geedon Gallery, Essex
2018 Chappel Galleries, Essex
2020 Sudbury Arts Centre, Suffolk
2021 FBA London - NEAC, ROI, RI - Featuring a Memorial to Roy Freer
2022 FBA, London - Roy Freer Legacy Exhibition (on-line)
1987 The Alcoa Manufacturing UK Ltd
1992 Shell UK, Northern Ireland
1995 Fidelity Unit Trust, Snooker International
1981 Bedford Education Authority - Beech Hill School
1996 Kentmore House Gallery & County National Gardens, York
1997 Kentmore House Gallery, paintings of musicians at Early Music Festival, York
Throughout his Professional Career, Roy Freer contributed to Art Publications and gave Demonstrations and tutored Art Courses.
FBA, London: Federation of British Artists.
RBSA: Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.