Frank H. Mason, 1 October 1875–1965
A marine painter in oil water-colour, etcher, illustrator and poster designer. Born at Seaton Carew, C. Durham, he was educated at HMS
Conway and served at sea for some time. Later he was engaged in engineering and ship building at Leeds and Hartlepool. Travelled extensively abroad and painted many marine and coastal subjects, often in water-colour, exhibiting at the RA from 1900. He contributed artwork to The Yachting Monthly during its early years. Served as a Lieutenant in the RNVR during First World War in the North Sea and Egypt.
He was elected a Member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1904, and served in Directorate of Camouflage, Naval Division, in World War II. He became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour in 1929. He lived in Scarborough from about 1897 and then London from 1927. On moving to Scarborough, he studied painting under Albert Strange. He was a member of the Staithes group of artists which flourished between 1894 and 1909. His works were purchased by Lloyds of London and the Imperial War Museum. He exhibited at the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1961, and is represented in many private and public collections both in England and abroad. He died on 25th February 1965.
Examples of his paintings may be seen in the National Maritime Museum, The Dundee Art Gallery and The Grey Art Gallery, Hartlepool. An exhibition of his work was organized by Edward Yardley at Hartlepool & Scarborough in 1996.
Designed posters for the railways, advertising Yorkshire, and lived for many years in Scarborough. Elected to the RI in 1929, he is represented in several public collections including Cartwright Hall, Bradford, Dundee City Art Gallery, Gray Art Gallery Hartlepoole.
Thanks to Edward Yardley for various details of Mason's life!
Linked here are some articles and artwork Frank Mason provided to The Yachting Monthly, mostly in 1907.