FRANK PUTS ART IN SHOP WINDOW By Caroline Wilson, The Evening Times 15th June 2010

By Caroline Wilson

A Glasgow-based artist hopes his unusual city centre exhibition will encourage people to invest in fine art.

Frank To, whose fans include Star Trek star Sir Patrick Stewart, is showing his latest works across the windows of a vacant shop as part of a major Glasgow City Council regeneration project.

The installation, on a three-storey building in St Vincent Street, is part of the £300,000 Style Mile initiative, which aims to help the city beat off competition from out-of-town shopping centres, attract tourists and fight the recession.

To's unique painting technique is earning him international recognition among art critics and high-profile collectors as a leading contemporary figurative painter.

The Falkirk-born painter hopes the shop project, which was backed by Braewell Galleries, will open up fine art to a wider audience and encourage more of the public to see art as a good investment.

He said: "Artists and galleries in Scotland are suffering due to people not buying art. It's not that people can't afford to. It's just that a majority are afraid to do so.

"As well as inspiring the general public with this kind of project, I'm hoping it will also encourage them to go to art galleries to view the actual work.

"With many investors reluctant to put their hard-earned savings into stocks and shares at present, fine art offers an attractive alternative asset. Depending on the artist, the value of art rarely falls over the medium to long term."

Born in 1982, To has exhibited alongside some of the greats of the international contemporary art scene, such as Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

His work has featured in several national art fairs and shows in Glasgow, London, Bath and Dundee and in various episodes of the STV detective drama Rebus.

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

FRANK'S NEW SHOW By Roy Beers, EASTWOOD TODAY November 26th 2009

HIGHLY- rated Newton Mearns artist Frank To is set to exhibit a selection of his latest work at the Billcliffe Gallery in Glasgow.

Frank's unique painting technique is garnering him international recognition as a leading contemporary figurative painter amongst art critics and high profile collectors alike, including actor Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek fame) and New York- based Michel Witmer, who hangs To's paintings alongside those of Picasso, Dine and Warhol.

In a shared show with some of Scotland's most promising emerging artists, To will exhibit three pieces at the Billcliffe Gallery.

To said: "I'm delighted to be one of the very few invited to do this exhibition. I hope this show will be the one of many that contributes the importance and reputation of Scottish painting especially in this Recession."

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

THE EXTRA NEWS By David Oliver, THE EXTRA November 26th 2009

Mearns artist Frank To is part of the Billcliffe Gallery's annual pre- Christmas exhibition. From tomorrow, To's work will be on show in showroom,s in Blythswood Street.

In a shared show with some of Scotland's most promising emerging artists running from until December 22, To will exhibit three pieces- Ascend, Gentlemen's Conduct and Susanoo.

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

ART INSPIRED BY MAJOR WORLD NEWS By Simon Morkis, THE DUNDEE COURIER 8th October 2009

THE DEATH of Michael Jackson, swine flu and the global recession have provided the inspiration for the latest exhibition by Dundee- trained artist Frank To at the city's Queen's Gallery.

Frank completed his masters at Duncan of Jordanstone in 2005 after graduating from Huddersfield.

Current affairs have inspired the Falkirk- born artist's latest paintings.

He said, "The common underlying theme behind these recent paintings is an exploration of the impact that global events, such as the recession and the swine flu epidemic, have on all our lives, as well as placing such events and instances in an historical context."

Gallery director Joyce McGlone said, "Frank's striking figurative images have featured in several of our mixed shows, leading to our featuring a larger body of his work in a successful exhibition last year."

Frank will exhibit as part of The Queen's Gallery's Insights exhibition until October 17.

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

ARTIST FINALLY HONOURED IN OWN COUNTRY by Mark Smith, SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY October 4th 2009

HE IS the rising star of Scottish art with paintings that now sell for up to £10,000 each.

But Frank To has revealed for the first time how racism and bullying took him to the brink of suicide and rejection by the country's most prestigious art college forced him to leave his native country.

Grangemouth-born To was turned down for a place at Glasgow School of Art when he was a teenager.

This weekend, the 26-year-old artist was back in Glasgow to give his first public demonstration of the techniques that are making his reputation.

He said: "I love Scotland and am proud to be called a Scottish artist. But sometimes you have to leave Scotland before you can get a chance.

"I know that I had to leave Scotland or I would have really struggled.

"I've never talked about this before, but I was rejected by the Glasgow School of Art when I was younger.

"That was very upsetting at the time, and I doubted whether I was up to the job. I'm just a wee lad from Grangemouth, and sometimes you think you are out of your depth in the art world. When Glasgow knocked me back I was pretty gutted."

The Scots-Chinese artist left Scotland and took a place studying art in Huddersfield, in Yorkshire. His painting style involves teasing human forms out of blobs of paint on the canvas, using unusual tools such as toothbrushes.

To said his early life was also scarred by constant bullying at a new school in Glasgow, where he moved with his mother, Winnie, after his parents divorced.

"Life at school was terrible," he said. "I had an artistic outlook, and that didn't go down well at school. I was already badly shaken by my parents' divorce, then the move to Glasgow was also a big change.

"I was badly bullied. Sometimes it was racist because of my Chinese background. Most of the time it was just because I was different. It got so bad that I considered suicide. But painting helped me cope."

It was during his degree show at Huddersfield that To's work first came to prominence. The university's chancellor at the time was the actor Patrick Stewart, famous as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek films but also hailed as one of the country's finest stage actors. Stewart is now his biggest fan, championing his work around the globe.

To said: "Having somebody like Patrick behind me is a great thing. He not only backs me as an artist, he's also been mentoring me on how to present myself, how to be more confident."

Stewart said: "I think he's very gifted, and I'm delighted he's beginning to get an international audience. He's adventurous and bold, and not afraid of a big canvas."

Peter McGlone, owner of The Queen's Gallery in Dundee, described To as "one of the next big things."

He said: "Frank already has an international following, and his paintings are selling quickly in London and New York. Prices are soaring, and will continue to do so."

This year, To has become one of the youngest painters ever to have his work exhibited at the Albemarle Gallery in London, one of the art world's most prestigious venues. He is also being represented by the New York art dealer, Michel Witmer.

To has now returned to Scotland to live and is at last receiving praise for his work in his home country.

He said: "I don't feel bitter that I was rejected by Glasgow. I like to think I'm too mature to stick two fingers up to them and say, here I am, I've made it."

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

OPEN DOORS AT TOP ARTIST'S CITY BASE

FAST- RISING art star, Glasgow- based Frank To, will reveal the secret of his success this weekend as part of WASPS Artists' Open Studios Weekend.

The 26- year- old is among dozens of exciting young painters and sculptors whose work will feature in the event at the Dennistoun venue over Saturday and Sunday.

Last year the studio's open weekend, in the East End's Hanson Street, saw around 4500 visits and generated £35,000 in sales and commissions across Scotland.

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK by Mark Smith, THE GLASWEGIAN October 1st 2009

A YOUNG Glasgow artist is set to reveal the tricks of his trade at an arts event this weekend.

Frank To's unique painting technique has won him praise among art critics and high- profile collectors alike.

His work has been hailed by Star Trek star Patrick Stewart, who has bought of his paintings.

Other examples have featured in STV's detective drama, Rebus.

But Frank struggle for recognition in his early professional years.

Now he is offering art lovers a rare opportunity to see for themselves how he creates his work by inviting them to this year's WASPS Open Studio Event in the city's Hanson Street.

Frank said: "My painting technique is inspired by a story attributed to the Renaissance sculptor, Michelangelo. It was said he could visualise the human form within a block of marble.

"In the same way, I tease out figures from initially abstract images. I'll be demonstrating in detail how my paintings are created for the first time at the forthcoming open studio event."

Opening times for the event are Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

STAR TREKS TO EXHIBITION by Victoria Davidson, THE BIG ISSUE 23/04/09

Picard actor Stewart boldly goes to Leith gallery

Intergalactic seals of approval don't come much higher- ranking than Starship Enterprise Captain Jean Luc Picard. But young Scots artist Frank To's pal, actor Patrick Stewart, dropped in to his current exhibition at Edinburgh's Leith Gallery while in Scotland starring in Beckett's Waiting For Godot.

Stewart has been a fan of To's work since he saw his degree show, and has five of his paintings in his private collection, including a portrait of himself. Stewart said: "I like Frank's work for its thoughtfulness, intensity, use of colour and mature technique." The exhibition runs till April 25

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Artist.

BEAULY GALLERY LURES TOP GLASGOW ARTIST by Samantha Chetwynd,The Press & Journal Inverness 06/09/08

ARTIST INSPIRED BY MICHELANGELO

By Samantha Chetwynd

A GRADUATE from Dundee Art School who draws inspiration from Michelangelo will exhibit his work at an Inverness- shire gallery next week.

Frank To, 26, will have four paintings on display at the Art and the Word show at the Kilmorack Gallery, Beauly.

His work will be exhibited alongside several established Scottish artists who have created work inspired by literature.

Mr To, who is based in Glasgow, is already creating a reputation as a contemporary figurative painter, having established a loyal following that includes a number of high- profile buyers such as Star Trek legend Patrick Stewart.

His work has also been featured in television detective drama Rebus.

And in recent years his work has been exhibited alongside that of Tracy Emin and Damien Hirst.

He said: "This exhibition will provide me the opportunity to show the public how I am inspired by literal text.

"In a way, I'm showing a more personal side with the new work."

The exhibition opens on September 12.

BRUSH WITH SUCCESS by Scottish Field October 2007

BRUSH WITH SUCCESS

Glasgow born artist Frank To is going from strength to strength since graduating from Dundee Art School. At 25, To is already winning an enviable reputation for himself as a contemporary figurative painter, having established a loyal following, including a number of high profile buyers. One such buyer is Star Trek legend, Patrick Stewart who now owns five of To's paintings. Additionally, STV has snapped up some of his work to be featured on detective drama, Rebus this autumn.

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Art.

ARTIST'S CAREER IS ON TREK BY By Ross McKinnon, West End Life 1st Nov 2006

Painter to stars opens new show

By Ross McKinnon

AN ARTIST whose admirers include Star Trek legend Patrick Stewart is staging an exhibition in the West End.

Frank To, 24, has already sold of his creations to the actor best known for his role as Captain Picard in the T.V sci- fi series.

Now some of Frank's work can be viewed at Mansfield Park Gallery on Hyndland Street in the exhibition entitled Figuratively Speaking.

Frank said: "I met Patrick after my degree show and was slightly hung-over at the time as I had been celebrating.

"When he came in I sobered up pretty quickly. He's a fan of art and liked what he saw of my paintings.

My relationship with Patrick took off from there and last year he bought my work for his own collection."

Now the young painter is enjoying an exhibition in the West End alongside the work of renowned Glasgow artist Peter Howson.

Frank admitted his success over such a short period of time has pleasantly surprised him.

He said: "I'm working non- stop at the moment and have had several exhibitions in London which have sold out.

"It's a great honour to have my paintings shown next to Peter Howson, who is someone I admire.

"My art is also very dark and based on an unusual approach. My painting begins as an abstract with no formal structure before I use specific technique to tweak the figure out of the painting.

"My method is more like sculpture. It can be hit or miss and is very instinctive."

Frank may be making waves in the art scene but the artist, who was rejected by Glasgow School of Art, knows how to keep his feet on the ground- by working in his family's Chinese takeaway restaurant, Mearns Wok, in Ayr Road, Newton Mearns.

He said: "I help out occasionally when they are understaffed. It teaches me to be humble because it's easy to get carried away.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to hang up any of the paintings in the restaurant- it might put customers off their food."

The self- employed artist paints in the WASP studio in Dennistoun and graduated from Huddersfield University with a fine art in painting and drawing degree before completing his MA in fine art at Dundee's Duncan Jordanstone College last year.

ART SCHOOL REJECT BOLDLY GOES SKY- HIGH IN CAREER by Ross McKinnon, The Evening Times Oct 27th 2006

By Ross McKinnon

STAR TREK legend Patrick Stewart has declared the work of a Glasgow School of Art reject to be "out of this world".

Frank To, 24, has sold three canvases to the actor best known as Captain Picard in the TV series.

The self- employed artist works in Wasp studio in Dennistoun and graduated from Huddersfield University with a BA honours in painting and drawing before completing his MA in fine art at Dundee's Duncan of Jordanstone College last year,

Frank said: "I met Patrick after my degree show in Huddersfield and was slightly hungover at the time as I had been celebrating.

"When he came in I sobered up pretty quickly. He's a fan of art and liked what he saw of my paintings.

"Our relationship took off from there and last year he bought my work for his own collection."

Now the young painter is enjoying an exhibition in the West End alongside famous Glasgow artist Peter Howson.

Frank admitted his success has pleasantly surprised him.

He said: "I'm working non- stop at the moment and have had several exhibitions in London which have sold out. It's a great honour to have my paintings shown next to Peter Howson, who I admire.

My art is also very dark and has an unusual approach. It begins as abstract, with no formal structure, before I use a more specific technique to tweak the figure out of the painting."

Frank may be making waves in the art scene but he knows how to keep his feet on the ground- by working in his family's Chinese restaurant, Mearns Wok.

He said: "I help out occasionally when they are understaffed. I can't say no -I'd feel guilty. Besides, it teaches me to be humble.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to hang up any of the paintings in the restaurant- it might put people off their food."

Frank's work can be seen at Mansfield Park Gallery, Hyndland Street, until November 18 in the show, Figuratively Speaking.

Jim Birrel, who is responsible for undergraduate admissions at Glasgow School of Art, said: "Obviously, we don't have a monopoly on graduates. We are happy to see any artist doing so well. I wish him all the best."

For more information, please visit the official website of Frank To Fine Art