b. 1912 in Birmingham; d. 1986

Portrait painter and engraver. Studied at Birmingham College of Art (1929-36), recipient of the Rome Scholarship in Engraving (1916) and studied at British School of Rome (1936-39). One-man exhibitions at Colnaghi's (1948), Oxford (1952) and Birmingham (1954). Taught at St. Martin's School of Art (1946), Central School of Art (1946) and Engraving British School at Rome.

Throughout his career Freeth secured memberships to the UK's highest artistic establishments including the Royal Academy (associate in 1955; member in 1965), the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (associate in 1937; member in 1946), the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours (associate 1948; member in 1955; President 1974-76), and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (member in 1949).

Robins is represented by public collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy of Art, National Coal Mining Museum, and regional collections in Birmingham, Brighton, Durham, Manchester and Southampton.

(Benjamin Angwin - October 2014)