About Terry Fyffe
(Terrence FFyffe)
As the dux of his school and a talented sportsman, Terry Fyffe could have chosen any path. The path he chose was that of an artist, dedicating himself to the pursuit of creative expression and spiritual exploration. He described his style as ‘figurative, expressionist painting, about the struggle for self-realisation.’
Terry Ffyffe (1952-2018), a multi award winning Australian artist, was born in Melbourne, the eldest of 11 children in a traditional Catholic family.
Terry attended St Joseph’s College, Melbourne before studying Painting at Prahran College of Art, (now Swinburne University), Melbourne from 1975-1977, under notable artists Jeffrey Makin and Roger Kemp.
After living the Bohemian life of a painter in Melbourne’s Carlton district, and travelling extensively through the Australian Outback, Terry staged several solo exhibitions before moving to England in 1979. His intention was to study the Old Masters of european painting and return home, but Cupid had other ideas.
In 1983 he married Joan Preston, a spiritualist, and became stepfather and provider to her two young children, Matthew and Daniel. The family settled in Romford, London where Terry lived and worked as a professional artist for the next four decades.
As early as 1990, Terry adopted the professional name Ffyffe, signing his paintings with the distinctive double ‘F’ that became his hallmark.
The life of the figurative artist meant a precarious existence, with the struggle to sell works, acquire materials and pay his way in the world. Through the 1980’s Ffyffe supported himself and his family through commissioned portraits, having a stint of clerical work in London and doing odd labouring jobs in Essex. Throughout, he remained committed to his journey and continued to paint.
Though unknown in the UK he sought to gain a name for himself by painting portraits in the window of an arts supplies shop in Romford to support himself while developing his uniquely expressive style. He won commissions for murals in and around Romford (Amalia’s Pub and Secrets Nightclub) and gradually began to build a following.
From 1994 until 2006 Ffyffe taught art at Fairkytes Art Centre in Hornchurch, mentoring and encouraging budding local artists.
Ffyffe was deeply interested in all dimensions of life and loved nothing more than engaging in extended conversations to get to the heart of whatever was being discussed, preferably over a glass of wine. He painted from the heart, loved the human form, and delved into humanity’s capacity for both good and evil.
FFyffe’s Catholic faith profoundly influenced his life and art, however his spiritual journey was also shaped by six months spent at a Buddhist Monastery in the Glasshouse Mountains in Queensland as a young man. This experience established a lifelong practice of yoga and meditation.
He became a member of the Third Order of the Carmelites and served as president of the local chapter of the Knights of St. Columba for many years. He led several pilgrimages to Walsingham dressed in medieval monks attire to raise money for women in need, among other causes.
His journals reveal his deep engagement with questions of faith, humanity and self realisation. This spiritual introspection informed much of his work including his haunting and thought provoking series from the 80’s and 90’s that grappled with the problem of evil in the world. Warehouse A (1995) in a commentary on the Bosnian genocide, stands as one of his most harrowing and impactful pieces. At all times his art reflected his pilgrim journey of faith.
With the same tools at his disposal, he could capture the transcendent beauty of the human form and spirit through his portraits and his study of the human body. On the advice of Lamont Gallery, Terry painted many nudes which were commercially appealing in the late 90’s and were the subject of a solo show ‘Studio Secrets’ in 1998.
Ffyffe’s artistic talent and dedication began to gain recognition in the 1990’s. He won a number of National Competitions, notably the Discerning Eye in 1995 and his works drew the attention of notable art critics Edward Lucie-Smith and the late Daniel Farson who introduced him to the London School. He held several successful solo exhibitions at the now defunct Lamont Gallery from 1998-2004.
In 2001, his exhibition ‘Sunburnt Country’ focused on the harsh beauty and primitiveness of the Australian outback. Said Terry, “In my work, I am trying to express the spiritual search countless explorers have made in my country, looking for the answers to the big questions.’”
Ffyffe’s next major works were his Allegorical and self-reflective pieces, on the artist as fool and alchemist, which explore the quixotic life of the struggling artist in all of its pathos. These works, though occasionally whimsical, invite the viewer to reflect deeply on what it means to live authentically. His later allegorical works, (modern takes on the Greek myths), display his growing mastery of both technique and composition, and reveal his philosophical insights into universal tropes of love and free will.These works were exhibited in a solo exhibition ‘The Artists as a Fool… and his Muse’ in 2004.
Ffyffe’s penultimate series The Passion of Christ (2011 – 2012), consisted of a dozen large confronting canvases, showing his deep identification with the humanity and humility of Jesus in his suffering. These works are powerful testaments to his faith and ability to confront the profound mysteries of life and death.
His final series, Cosmic Art…Painting the Light (2014 – 2016) saw Terry re-engage with the marbling techniques of his early Australian paintings. This vibrant and celebratory collection explored themes of creation, light, and the interconnectedness of the universe, culminating in a major solo exhibition in 2016.
Terry’s works are often confronting and at times sombre, always beautiful, and forever eliciting further insights, challenging the viewer to look beyond the surface and discover deeper meanings.
Through his long connection with Fairkytes Art Centre, Hornchurch, Romford, Ffyffe inspired many budding artists as well as the broader community through his public art mural commissioned in 2004 for the Upminster Library. He also led many community art events such as the Big Draw Project for the London Borough of Havering in 2004 which demonstrated his commitment to making art accessible and meaningful for all.
After separating from Joan in 2004, Terry had his marriage annulled and devoted himself entirely to painting until meeting Tessa Okposuogu, a Barrister, whom he married in 2012. The couple remained married until Terry’s death in 2018.
In late 2016, Terry was hospitalised with the cause unable to be diagnosed. His health continued to suffer and in early 2018 he returned to Australia to seek additional medical support. Available treatment was not successful and he passed away on 20 July 2018, aged 65.
Terry Ffyffe’s legacy lives on through his art, which continues to inspire and challenge viewers. His works are held in private collections in the UK and Australia, and his public murals remain a testament to his enduring impact on the communities he touched.
Meet the artist!
Watch Terry paint and talk about his artistic journey.
This short video recorded in 2017 is the best way to gain an insight into the artist and his work.
Born: 21 December 1952
Died: 20 July 2018
Nationality: Australian
Known for: Painting
Education
1964-1969 St Joseph’s College, Matriculation, Melbourne
1975-1977 Prahran Art School, Melbourne (now Swinburne University) Incomplete
Exhibitions
2017 ‘Transformations’ St Stephen Walbrook, London
2016 ‘Painting the Light” 5th Base Gallery, London
2013 Passion of Christ, The Eternal High Priest Church, Gidea Park, Essex
2013 Upminster Public Library Mural
2005 ‘What Is Realism’, Ablemarle Gallery, London
2004 On the Wall, Grand Hall, Olympia, London
2004 ‘The Artist as a Fool…and his Muse’, Lamont Gallery, London
2003 One Man Show, Queen’s Theatre, London
2003 Charity Art Show, Australia House, London
2002 Spring Collection; Lamont Gallery, London.
2002 Art Fair. Business Design Centre – Lamont Gallery, London
2002 A.A.F. 2002, Battersea, – Lamont Gallery, London
2001 ‘Sunburnt Country’ – Lamont Gallery, London
2000 ‘Transformations’ – Lamont Gallery, London
1999 – 2001 Contemporary British Art Fair. Business Design Centre, London
1999 – 2001 Battersea Art Fair, Battersea, London
1999 Gallery Artists – Lamont Gallery, London
1998 Summer Show – Lamont Gallery, London. Portofolio, First Site, The Minories,Colchester
1998 ‘Studio Secrets’ – Lamont Gallery, London
1997 Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk on the Border. Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich. First Prize
1997 Erotica: The Erotica Gallery. Olympia, London
1996 Logos National Art Exhibition – Logos Gallery, London
1996 Leeds Castle Open Landscape – Leeds Castle, Kent
1996 The Discerning Eye Exhibition – Mall Galleries, London
1995 Art 95. Business Design Centre, London
1995 The Discerning Eye – Mall Galleries, London. Award Winner
1994 Quest for Beauty – Roy Miles Gallery, London
1994 Portobello Festival Open – Tabernacle Gallery, London
1994 Contemporary Christian Art – Crypt Gallery, London
1994 Corr Contemporary Art, London
1993 The Pied Piper – Alternative Arts, London
1991 ‘Mail on Sunday’ Wall. International Art Fair, London
Articles and Reviews
2023 Weltgeist of an Artist, Denis Taylor, Painters Tubes
2001 Sunburnt Country; Edward Lucie-Smith. Lamont Gallery
2000 Artists Eye, Art Review
1999–2000 Front Cover of Art Review, Millennium Edition
1999 Artist Eye, Art Review
1996 ‘Portrait of the Artist as a Fool’ Art Review Yearbook
1995 Evening Standard, Robin Stringer
1995 ‘Paint it Red’, film by Mark Adely. Channel One
1995 ‘Only Fools’, David Lee, Art Review.
1994 ‘Best Exhibition of the Year’ David Lee. Art Review
1994 ‘Vandals Slash’- Dalya Alberge, The Independent
1994 ‘Spiritual Material’ – Dan Farson, Mail on Sunday
1991 ‘Wall to Wall Triumph’ – Dan Farson, Mail on Sunday
Awards
1997 Eastern Counties Open Art Competition
1995 ‘Discerning Eye’ National Art Award
1991 New Artists Wall at Art London