b. 1922 Fred Yates grew up in Urmston, a suburb of Manchester. His career as an insurance clerk was cut short by the outbreak of war and he served in the Grenadier Guards until 1945 when he returned to Manchester as a painter and decorator. Untutored, but with tremendous self-discipline, Fred began to paint pictures of the rich industrial architecture of Manchester, the red brick terraces and the commotion and humour of street life. After twenty years teaching, he gave up and devoted his entire energy to painting. While he still painted scenes of Manchester, he also worked on sunnier landscapes, new faces and activities that surrounded him. His paintings are included in many private and public collections.