Well known for his paintings and books on Lincolnshire author and artist Roy Fisk lived in Lincoln most of his life.  Born in 1916, he attended Glenfield House School, and continued his education at Sincil Bank Secondary School.  On leaving school his creative talent led him into a variety of jobs in photography, dancing and stagework and in 1936 he joined the Clayton Dewandre Company.

After thirteen years he left the engineering world to become a freelance journalist and sculptor.  During the following twelve-year period he enjoyed a successful career sketching, oil painting and restoring old pictures.  He created original models for pottery makers and plastics manufacturers, and the wall plaques which he designed and created are now sought-after collectors’ pieces.  

During this time he took an active interest in amateur operatics, and was founder secretary of the County Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.  He appeared at the Theatre Royal in various shows, and wrote two one-act plays which were staged locally.  He also founded and edited The Greenline Magazine for the Lincolnshire Artistes Federation.  In 1951, with a keen interest in cycling, he cycled round England.  A year later he set off to Europe covering twelve countries in three months.  It was during this trip, in Luxemburg, that he met Peggy, his future wife.  They married in 1953.

In 1960 he joined Ruston Hornsbys as a technical artist, making drawings for instruction and spare part manuals.  He also illustrated and created cartoons for the Ruston News.

Roy wrote his first book With Lincoln in View and painted Bailgate in Roman times which hung in the City and County Museum and is now in the care of

A short précis of a long and interesting life......

Roy Fisk of Lincoln

I ask no flowers for my grave,

No stone above my head;

No pious words, or sad, sad tears

For me when I am dead.

Lord, grant I leave the sort of things

Folks look at, then cut out

And put away to look again

With no one else about.

So shall my rest the sweeter be

When Lincolnshire of yore

Flowers once again in other hearts....

Those cuttings from a drawer.

Yellow-belly Phoenix

From Lincolnshire Medley

by Roy Fisk

the Usher Art Gallery.

Roy retired in 1981 and encouraged by the success of his first book, he went on to write and illustrate a series.  Reflecting Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Medley, Lincolnshire Gleanings,  Lincoln Scrap-Book Peeps into the Past and Historic Lincoln an illustrated Talk-About Walk-About Guide.  They all vividly portray the rich heritage and history of the county with old Lincolnshire recipes, medicinal remedies and customs.  

He continued to work on picture restoration and twice a year, in spring and autumn, he tutored on a week’s painting course at Cober Hill Conference Centre, near Scarborough.

Roy had many hobbies including swimming, walking and researching his family history.  He served on the committee of the Lincoln Society, belonged to the Jubilee Probus Club and gave talks to local organisations.

Both Roy and his wife Peggy belonged to the Holiday Fellowship walking group, and on holidays they have walked in the Austrian Alps, Greek Islands and trekked in the Himalayas.

They have a daughter Claire and son Julian.

Roy died peacefully at his home in Lincoln in December 2008 aged 92yrs.