Freda Surgenor

Freda was born in Harrow, England, and studied art and later graphic design and illustration at Bourneville School of Art, Birmingham, United Kingdom. She worked in London as a graphic designer in publishing as well as illustrating two children’s books and teaching art for several years. Since arriving in Australia in 1982, Freda has established herself through solo exhibitions and group shows as a highly respected acrylic and watercolour painter. Freda has been featured as a master painter in both the Water Colour Annual ’98 and International Artist Magazine. Articles on her work have since appeared in Australian Artist Magazine. She is a multi-award winning artist, including the Mosman Art Prize, the Royal Easter Show and the CASS Art of Sydney Awards.

Freda has been a member of Oatley 101 Society of Artists for over 20 years and has exhibited in all their exhibitions and served on their committee. In 2017 she was made a Life member for her services to the society. In October 2003, Freda was accepted as an exhibiting member of the Royal Art Society of NSW and has showed her work in all their exhibitions since then. In 2009, Freda was elevated to “Fellow”. In early April 2023, Freda became a member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists and later that month was elevated to Exhibiting Member. Freda, who has always been interested in people, both at work and play, demonstrates a high level of excellence using vibrant colours to depict a great variety of subjects from landscapes through waterscapes, cityscapes, still-life, floral, portraiture, life painting and miniatures.

Freda is totally dedicated to her work – when she’s not painting she is thinking about it. She feels that good draughtsmanship is a basis for successful painting and never stops drawing. She works in fine detail using strong colour to create pieces, which glow with life and light. This results in highly successful warm paintings, which demonstrate her ability to capture and recreate the images realistically. This is reflected by the number of her works, which are highly sought after by collectors both in Australia and overseas.