1906
August 4th
Born in Walsall, Staffordshire, England
Solo
1928
Arrived in Cape Town as a designer for Brimble & Briggs Ltd
Solo
1931
Study tour of Europe
Solo
1932
Marriage to Dorothea Johnson
Solo
1933
November
Birth of first son Hilary Peter
1933
December
Third Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1934
December
Fourth Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1935
February
Frank Spears First solo exhibition
Solo
Darter Art Gallery, Cape Town
1936
August
34th Annual Exhibition South African Society of Artists
Group
Ashbey's Gallery, Cape Town
1936
May
The British Empire Society of Arts Eighth Annual Exhibition
Group
Imperial Gallery, South Kensington
1937
June
The British Empire Society of Arts Ninth Annual Exhibition
Group
Imperial Gallery South Kensington
1937
July
Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
Shaw Bros Hall, Esplanade, Durban
1937
August
35th Annual Exhibition South African Society of Artists
Group
Argus Gallery, Burg Street, Cape Town
1937
December
7th Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1938
July
36th Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artists
Group
Argus Gallery, Burg Street, Cape Town
1938
October
Birth of second son Michael John (Johnny)
1938
December
Eighth Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1939
December
Ninth Annual Exhibition of Contemporary South African Art
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1939
December
37th Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1941
February
38th Annual Exhibition of South Africa Society of Artists
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1941
February
22nd Annual Exhibition of the South African Academy
Group
Selborne Hall, Johannesburg
1942
February
39th Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artists
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1942
September
25th Annual Exhibition Eastern Province Society of Arts
Group
Arts Hall, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
1943
February
Frank Spears Second solo exhibition
Solo
Argus Gallery, Burg Street, Cape Town
1943
September
Annual winter exhibition South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1943
October
26th Annual Exhibition Eastern Province Society of Arts
Group
Arts Hall, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
1944
September
27th Annual Exhibition Eastern Province Society of Arts
Group
Arts Hall, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
1945 – 1947
Elected President of the South African Society of Artists
1945
April
42nd Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artist
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1945
October
26th Annual Exhibition The South African Academy
Group
Municipal Art Gallery, Johannesburg
1946
April
43rd Annual exhibition South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1949
Study Tour/Travelled to the United States
1950
Designed and built home in Constantia
1950
August
47th Annual exhibition by South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1951
April
Diamond Jubilee Exhibition by Contemporary SA Artists
Group
Hallis Gallery, Port Elizabeth
1951
April
48th Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1951
September
49th Annual Exhibition of South African Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1952
Van Riebeeck Tercentenary Exhibition
Group
Cape Town
1952
April
Annual Exhibition of Contemporary SA Art
Group
South African Association of Arts Gallery
1953
March
Frank Spears 3rd Solo Exhibition
Solo
Association of Arts small gallery
1953
May
A Quartet of Painters
Group
Association of Arts large gallery
1953
A Century of South Africa Art 1853 - 1953
Group
Central African Rhodes Centenary Exhibition, Bulawayo
1954
September
Frank Spears 4th solo exhibition
Solo
Association of Arts large gallery
1955
March
National Vintage Festival Exhibition, Paarl
Group
Paarl Public Library
1955
October
Frank Spears 5th solo exhibition
Solo
Lidchi Gallery, Johannesburg
1956
Designed the “Spearhead” sailing dinghy
1957
October
54th Annual Exhibition of the SA Society of Artists
Group
Maskew Miller Art Gallery, Cape Town
1958
March
Frank Spears 6th solo exhibition
Solo
Association of Arts large gallery
1958
August
Frank Spears 7th solo exhibition
Solo
Lawrence Adler Gallery, Johannesburg
1959
Commissioned to design the “Andy” 12 foot racing dinghy
for St Andrews College, Grahamstown
1959
July
Artists of Fame and Promise, South Africa 1959
Group
Lawrence Adler Gallery, Johannesburg
1959
September
Frank Spears 8th solo Exhibition
Solo
Lawrence Adler Gallery, Johannesburg
1959
December
Kalk Bay
Group
Mrs Parker's home, Harbour Cottage, Kalk Bay
1960
20 selected South African Paintings Ghent Belgium
Group
Ghent Belgium
1960
Appointed managing director of Brimble & Briggs shopfitters
1960
January
Vintage '59
Group
Old Supreme Court, Cape Town
1960
October
Frank Spears 9th solo Exhibition
Solo
Lawrence Adler Gallery, Johannesburg
1961
January
Exhibition of South African Paintings sent to Ghent Belgium
Group
Association of Arts large gallery
1961
June
Frank Spears 10th solo exhibition
Solo
Association of Arts Gallery, Burg Street, Cape Town
1961
June
The Quadrennial Exhibition
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1961
October
Frank Spears 11th solo exhibition
Solo
Lawrence Adler Gallery, Johannesburg
1962
July
South African Association of Artists
Group
SA Association of Arts Galleries
1962
August
An Exhibition of Works by Artists of the Cape Peninsula
Group
King George V1 Art Gallery Port Elizabeth
1962
October
Drawings watercolours graphic art
Group
Eastern Province Society of Arts and Crafts
1962
November
Frank Spears 12th solo Exhibition
Solo
Adler Fielding Gallery, Johannesburg
1962
August
South African Association of Artists
Group
SA Association of Arts Galleries
1963
October
SA Institute of Race Relations 5th Exhibition of Christmas
and Greeting Card Design
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1963
October
Frank Spears 13th solo Exhibition
Solo
Adler Fielding Gallery, Johannesburg
1963
June
Exhibition of Works of Art from the private collection of
Dr and Mrs E Rakoff
Group
King George V1 Art Gallery Port Elizabeth
1963
July
Biennale Exhibition
Group
South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1963
August
South African Association of Artists
Group
Third Cape Salon in the Association of Arts Gallery
1964
April
South African Painters Past and Present
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1964
April
South African Sao Paulo Biennial Entry
Group
1964
April
Special Sao Paulo returning SA exhibition
Group
John Hancock Building, New Orleans
1964
June
Sixth Artists of Fame and Promise Exhibition
Group
1964
September
Summer Group of Six Painters
Group
John Whibley Gallery, Wellbeck, London
1964
September
Third Quadrennial Exhibition of South African Art
Group
Pretoria
1964
October
Eastern Province Society of Arts and Crafts Annual Exhibition
Group
Arts Hall, St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
1964
November
Transvaal Academy 11th Exhibition
Group
Johannesburg Municipal Art Gallery
1964
November
Frank Spears 14th solo Exhibition
Solo
Adler Fielding Gallery
1964
December
End of Season Exhibition
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1965
Commissioned to design Stained Glass Window for
Dutch Reformed Church Kerk Sentrum, Cape Town
1965
May
Frank Spears 16th solo exhibition
Solo
SA Association of Arts (Northern Transvaal)
1965
July
Artists of Fame and Promise 1965
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1965
August
South African Painters Past and Present
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1965
August
5th Cape Salon
Group
SA Association of Arts Galleries
1965
October
Frank Spears 15th solo Exhibition
Solo
Adler Fielding Gallery, Johannesburg
1965
October
OFS Arts Society Annual Exhibition of paintings
Group
City Hall, Bloemfontein
1965
December
The Year's Findings 1965
Group
Adler Fielding Gallery
1966
May
The OFS Republic Festival Exhibition
Group
National Museum, Bloemfontein
1966
May
Republic Festival May 1966
Group
Pretoria
1966
May
South African Association of Artists Loan Exhibition
Group
South African Association of Arts Gallery
1966
June
South African Association of Arts Cape Branch
Group
Association of Arts Gallery, 63 Burg Street, Cape Town
1966
July
Hester Rupert Art Museum
Group
Hester Rupert Art Museum, Graaff Reinet
1966
July
Show by Artists contributing to Venice Biennale
Group
Silberberg Galleries
1966
Venice Biennale
Group
Venice
1966
October
Frank Spears 17th solo Exhibition
Solo
Adler Fielding Gallery, Johannesburg
1966
October
OFS Arts Society
Group
City Hall, Bloemfontein
1967
Art Exhibition SA Red Cross
Group
Nederburg Estates, Paarl
1967
March
William Humphreys Art Gallery,
Group
William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley
1967
Selected Paintings from the Collection of Mr Ben Jaffe
Group
1967
April
1st Cape Art '67
Group
South African National Gallery
1967
May
The Bird in Art
Group
Field Museum Rondevlei
1967
October
OFS Arts Society
Group
City Hall, Bloemfontein
1968
March
Frank Spears Exhibition of paintings and sculpture Nell Kaye
Group
Stellenbosch Museum
1968
July
Golden Jubilee Exhibition
Group
City Hall, Port Elizabeth
1968
October
Free State Artists Association
Group
City Hall, Bloemfontein
1968
October
Frank Spears 18th solo exhibition
Solo
Gallery 101, Johannesburg
1969
Retired as Managing Director of Brimble & Briggs
1969
Studied at University of Perugia, Italy
1969
June
Sanlam Art Collection Exhibition
Group
1970
February
Kaapse Kuns - Cape Art
Group
National Museum, Bloemfontein
1970
Commission to paint The Risen Christ Altar Piece
The Church of the Resurrection, Bonteheuwel, Cape town
1970
Left SA to return to England
1970
October
The Orange Free State Arts Society
Group
City Hall, Bloemfontein
1970
November
Frank Spears 19th solo exhibition
Solo
Gallery 101 Johannesburg
1970
December
The Nude in 101
Group
Gallery 101, Johannesburg
1972
July
Exhibition of Paintings, Pottery, Small Sculpture and a
Portfolio of Prints
Group
Southampton Art Gallery
1972
October
The Orange Free State Arts Society Group City Hall, Bloem
fontein
1972
November
Frank Spears 20th solo exhibition
Solo
Gallery 101 Johannesburg
1973
April
Frank Spears 21st solo exhibition
Solo
Drian Galleries, London
1973
October
The Orange Free State Arts Society
Group
Eastern Province Building Society, Bloemfontein
1973
November
Frank Spears 22nd solo exhibition
Solo
Gallery 101 Johannesburg
1974
January
South African Association of Arts (Western Cape Region)
'The Nude in Art'
Group
Argus Gallery, Burg Street, Cape Town
1974
November
Frank Spears 23rd solo exhibition
Solo
Drian Galleries, London
1975
April
Frank Spears 24th solo exhibition
Solo
Collectors Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg
1975
May
Frank Spears 25th solo exhibition
Solo
Ann Zinn Gallery Cape Town
1976
September
Frank Spears 26th solo exhibiotion
Solo
Collectors Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg
1977
10th Anniversary exhibition of The Strydom Gallery
Group
where he gave the address on behalf of all fellow artists
Strydom Gallery, George
1978
July
Frank Spears 27th solo exhibition
Solo
Drian Galleries, London
1979
June
Frank Spears 28th solo exhibition
Solo
Hoffer Gallery, Pretoria
1980
April
Frank Spears 29th solo exhibition
Solo
Drian Galleries, London
1980
September
Frank Spears 30th solo exhibition
Solo
Gallery 21, Johannesburg
1980
October
Frank Spears 31st solo exhibition
Solo
Hoffer Gallery, Pretoria
1981
November
Frank Spears 32nd solo exhibition
Solo
Hoffer Gallery, Pretoria
1982
November
Frank Spears 33rd solo exhibition
Solo
Drian Galleries, London
1991
March 1st
Dorothea Spears died at Bishops Waltham, Hampshire.
1991
March 25th
Frank Spears died at Bishops Waltham, Hampshire.