About Frank Henry Mason
Frank Henry Mason (1875-1965) was born in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool in County Durham. He was an artist best known for his maritime, shipping, coastal and harbour paintings, and as a creator of art deco travel and railway posters.
He studied as a cadet at the naval school ship HMS Conway at Birkenhead. Upon leaving, he spent time at sea and trained with arsons as a marine engineer for steam powered ships working at Hartlepool, Leeds and Scarborough, eventually settling in Scarborough around about 1894.
Mason had always been interested in drawing but hadn’t received any formal training in art. However, there was an artistic community in Scarborough. He then went onto studying at the Scarborough School of Art with Albert Strange. By 1890, his work became more advanced and popular, this is when he started to receive commissions from art dealers. Around 1898 he decided to quit marine engineering and take up art full-time. In 1901 he became a founding member of the Staithes Art Club.
During WW1, Mason was appointed shipping war artist in the RNVR as lieutenant in command of a Motor Launch in the North Sea, and Egypt. The Imperial War Museum holds 56 of his paintings from this period.
On returning from the war, Mason worked with the community at Ebberston Hall near Scarborough and he travelled abroad extensively. He painted many subjects generally in watercolour.
During the 1920s and 1930s he designed poster artwork for Great Northern Railway, Great Western Railway, London, Midland and Scottish Railway, North Eastern Railway, London and North Eastern Railway, British Rail and Underground Group railway companies and ocean liner companies.
Mason was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1904 and elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 1929.
He was an early member of the Society of Graphic Art and exhibited with them in 1921.
Mason had exhibitions of his work at the Royal Academy from 1902 onwards.
