Ponte Vechio Market, 1996

Frank Hodgkinson (1919 - 2001) studied at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales while supporting himself by producing illustrations for magazines.

In he enlisted in the AIF in 1940, and left for the Middle East later that year. From 1942 to 1943, he served in New Guinea on the Kokoda Track and was mentioned in despatches in 1943. During this time he acted as an unofficial war artist. Promoted to lieutenant in 1944, he was placed in charge of the 7th Military History Field Team. In 1945 he became on official war artist attached to the 7th Australian Division. He accompanied the 7th from Queensland to thei amphibious assault on Borneo, capturing the experiences of the troops.

By 1947 he was a civilian, and he left Australia to tour and paint Europe. He was twice "hung-on-the-line" at the Royal Academy before returning to Australia in 1953.

Winning the inaugurak Rubenstein Travelling Scholarship in 1958 took him back to Spain. He would make several returns to Australia for exhibitions until, in Perth in the late 196os, he visited the north-west of Western Australia. This reawakened his interest in the Australian landscape, and he moved to Queensland in 1970.

His work appears in the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, almost all Australian State Galleries, many University collections, and in private, corporate and public collections in the UK, USA and Europe.

You find out more about him at: http://frankhodgkinson.com