Frank Gordon

Frank Gordon has painted most of his life. He is largely self-taught and lists his major influences as Bruegel, Bosch, Glasgow artist Peter Howson and New Zealand artist, Michael Smither.There is usually an element of humour in his work with colourful characters engaging in their own mini dramas.
In 2000 Frank settled in Dunedin from his home in Glasgow, Scotland and his love of the Otago landscape, culture and people is evident in much of his work. In August 2005, Frank had his first solo exhibition at the Cleveland Living Arts Centre, Dunedin. This was a very successful show, with most of the works selling on opening night. In September 2005 Frank won the highly commended prize for painting in the Cleveland Art Awards, judged by Neil Roberts (senior curator of Christchurch Art Gallery). Frank has also been a two time winner of the Yellow Pages cover – with his paintings gracing the Otago phone books in 2006 and 2007.

“I like to produce paintings that present a situation whether it is unusual, fanciful or a step beyond reality. There is usually an element of humour in my work. I don’t consciously set out to achieve this it just seems to evolve with the process. Sometimes it is more subtle than others which are obviously a little bit quirky or even downright slapstick.”

As a trained psychiatric nurse, and working daily with people that have experienced mental health problems, Frank’s life is as colourful as his paintings. He tries to explore and express on canvas the story of people, the highs and lows, the dreams, quirks and absurdities of being human.

For most of 2010 Frank has been working towards his third solo show with Gallery De Novo, Frank Gordon’s A - Z of Saints. This is a show that Frank has wanted to do for some time, due to his upbringing in a strongly Catholic Scottish environment that has given him vivid memories of the images of Saints.

“I find religious art fascinating; I’m inspired by its use of intense light and colour and how it depicts drama, peace and moments of revelation, sorrow and joy. In some works, I have not strayed too far from a traditional format, but in others, I have portrayed my own interpretation of their story.”

Kereru with Morning Coat Oil on Canvas 39 x 39 cm	The Lost Takahe Oil on Canvas 34 x 34 cm

St Olga of Kiev Oil on Canvas 50 x 60 cm SOLD	St Elisabeth of Hungary Oil on Canvas 59 x 110 cm SOLD	St Gabriel, St Michael & St Raphael Oil on Canvas 50 x 71 cm

St Brigid Oil on Canvas 27 x 43 cm	St Dymphna Oil on Board 27 x 59 cm SOLD	St Lawrence Oil on Canvas 30 x 44 cm SOLD

St Isidore Oil on Canvas 34 x 46 cm SOLD	St Ursula Oil on Board 34 x 29 cm SOLD	St Winifred Oil on Board 33 x 20 cm

St Zoe Oil on Paper 20 x 15 cm	St Kevin & St Patrick Oil on Wooden Finial SOLD	St Quentin, St Seraphina and St Valentine Oil Wash on Paper 27 x 31 cm SOLD

St Yvette Oil on Board 7 x 14 cm SOLD	St Joan & St Xystus 30 x 57 cm SOLD	St Francis Oil Wash on Paper 42 x 60 cm SOLD

St Francis Oil on Board 27 x 40 cm SOLD	St Thomas Oil on Board 15 x 44 cm SOLD	St Ninian Oil Wash on Paper 18 x 27cm

Fisherman's Tale Oil on Board SOLD	St Christopher Oil on Suitcase 30 x 20 x 11 cm	Life in a Caravan Oil on Canvas SOLD

The Flying Poet Oil on Canvas	The Book Club Oil on Canvas SOLD	A Musical Landscape Oil on Canvas SOLD

Fun at the Fete Oil on Canvas SOLD	Dunedin Festival of Too Much Water Oil on Canvas SOLD	Work & Income NZ (with Dogs) Oil on Canvas SOLD

Late for School Oil on Canvas SOLD	Graduation Day Available as a signed limited edition print (exclusive to Gallery De Novo)	The Old Dunedin Post Office – The Unseen Stories Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

The Land of Blue and Gold Oil On Canvas SOLD	Escaped Logo Causes Panic in Dog Park Oil on Canvas SOLD	West Harbour Flying Club Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

Another Day at the Office Acrylic On Canvas	Fly Fishing Acrylic On Canvas SOLD	Off to Work Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

The Tramping Ground Oil On Canvas SOLD	Fish and Chip Catfight Oil On Canvas SOLD	Dairy Farmers Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

Love over the Taieri Plain Oil on Canvas SOLD	Lucy Late Oil on Canvas SOLD	The Gale Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

Venus Reborn in Otago Oil on Canvas SOLD	Waterbirds Oil on Canvas SOLD	A Bad Start to the Evening Oil on Canvas SOLD

Breakfast Time Oil on Canvas SOLD	Shipyard Tales Oil On Canvas SOLD	The Man that Left it all Behind Oil on Canvas SOLD

The Reality Show Acrylic on Canvas SOLD	The Log Splitter Acrylic On Canvas SOLD	Tam O'Shanter Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

Servants Ball Acrylic On Canvas SOLD	The Shoe Sale Acrylic On Canvas SOLD

Please contact us on art@gallerydenovo.co.nz for information on the artists

Gallery De Novo Ltd . 101 Stuart St, Dunedin . Ph 474 9200 . Fax 474 9206 . email art@gallerydenovo.co.nz