Wilfrid Flood

Canadian, 1904 - 1946

BiographyMr. Wilfrid Flood received his art education in England and arrived in Canada in 1924 settling in the Ottawa - Hull area. His artistic skill, style, content and subject matter show him to be equally at home in both the landscape and figurative modes of painting. He counted among his artistic friends the known Canadian painters of his day. Wilfrid applied his artistic expertise while working on an exhibit in the Wembley Room at the War Office, which was later exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition. Wilfrid attended the Bolt Court School of Art on Fleet Street in London. He immigrated to Canada in May 1924 and settled in Ottawa. "Bill" worked as a draughtsman and cartographer for the National Research Council, Department of Mines and Resources, Gauge Laboratory.
Wilfrid continued to develop his artistic style in such mediums as: water colour; oil paintings; portraits, charcoal, pastel; pencil drawings copper etching. He was known to illustrate for small books and periodicals, such as "Hysteric Histories" by Drew Thompson,"Northland Trails" by Sidney Clark Ells, "The Romance of Canada" by A.L. Burt (a book used by Canadian High Schools to teach history), and contributed numerous maps and sketches to the Canadian Geographical Journal between 1936 and 1939. Wilfrid was a constant companion of Henri Masson, Dr. Maurice Haycock, Capt. George Pepper, Tom Wood, David Westwood and L.H.S. Pereira. Wilfrid also associated with the Group of Seven, including A.Y. Jackson and Frederick Varley, from whom he purchased a painting in 1938 to help Frederick, who was in dire straits at that time. During the 1930's, he painted under the tutelage of Franklin Brownell, R.C.A., and Ernest Fosbery, R.C.A.,and Frederick Varley. According to his wife Henriette, Wilfrid and Henri were invited to join the Group of Seven, but graciously declined for unknown reasons. Wilfrid's paintings have been exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, during the Art Association of Ottawa Annual Spring Exhibitions, the James Wilson Galleries of Ottawa, the Willestead Art Gallery in Windsor, the Arnot Art Gallery in Elmira, New York, several local Ottawa art galleries and exhibits.In 1939, one of Wilfrid's paintings, "Storm Over Farrelton", was selected by the National Gallery of Canada to be exhibited at the New York World's Fair, one of 88 paintings by 53 Canadian artists represented, including paintings by the Group of Seven. Memberships and Associations:
Wilfrid was a long-time member of the Ottawa Art Club and served as President from 1932-1934, and was a member of the executive
(Secretary) of the Art Association of Ottawa from 1933 until his death in 1946. He was a founding member and instructor, along with
Henri Masson, of the Ottawa association of painters known as "Les Confreres du Caveau". Wilfrid was elected to the Ontario Society of
Artists (OSA) in 1942, and was a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC) and the Canadian Society of Graphic
Artists (CSGA). Wilfrid was also a founding member and first Secretary of the Ottawa branch of the Federation of Canadian Artists
(FCA) founded by Henri Masson in 1945.In March/April 1947, a memorial exhibit of paintings by Wilfrid Flood was presented at the Photographic Stores' Little Gallery on Sparks Street in Ottawa. He was eulogized in the promotional pamphlet by Henri Masson. At that time, many paintings were sold, and their whereabouts are unknown to this day, although several have been traced to their owners. From that time forward, nothing has been publicized about his paintings, and they sat in a closet for 52 years until late 1998, when his wife Henriette passed away. (by Mary Jo Hughes)

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