BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Conrad Fulke Thomond O'Brien-ffrench
2nd Marquis de Castelthomond

November 19 1893 - October 23 1986

Royal North-West Mounted Police (1910 - 1912)
MI 6 (British Intelligence Service)


Conrad FFrench was quite possibly one of the most interesting people to come to BC. He was born in London, England, and educated in Europe and England. He came to Canada to serve in the NWMP, then returned to England where he joined the Royal Irish Regiment. He served in World War One, where he was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Mons. While a prisoner he learned to speak fluent Russian.

After the war he was recruited as a "spy" by MI 6. In 1921 he travelled to India and Russia on diplomatic missions, and he began mountaineering. After his return to England he attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London, and continued mountaineering in Switzerland, Italy, France, Corsica, and Spain.

Ffrench returned to the Secret Service in advance of World War Two. He knew Ian Fleming and is considered to be part of the inspiration for James Bond.

Ffrench had a solo exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery in 1943, consisting of 30 sketches. He later had work in the 1947 annual B.C. Artists exhibition. The artist was living in Maple Bay.

He came to Canada and taught art at the Banff School of Fine Arts from 1948 to 1955.

A 1981 death certificate for his wife Rosalie Isabelle Ffrench (nee Baker) notes her marriage to Conrad, they were living on Mercer Road in 100 Mile House at the time. Their son John Ffrench of Armstrong witnessed the certificate.

The family moved to Fairholme Ranch near Banff, then to West Vancouver, and finally to Loveland, Colorado where he died at the age of 92.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION LOCATION
1943 May 21 - June 3 Solo exhibition (30 sketches) VAG

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1947 Sept. 20 - Oct. 12 VAG   B.C. Artists 16th Annual Tired Horses

References

ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
     1 reference to Ffrench.

VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY - LIST OF BC ARTISTS ON FILE (refer to VPL)

B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE (refer to BCVS)

Excellent biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_O%27Brien-ffrench

Delicate Mission, Autobiography of a Secret Agent by Conrad Ffrench
     Skilton and Shaw (Fudge and Co. Ltd), 1979, London. ISBN 0-7050-0062-1.

Clippings

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