1871, Plymouth, England – 1963, Brisbane

Frederick James Martyn Roberts studied at the South Kensington Art School in London. He arrived in Australia in 1885 and in 1893 commenced study with Julian Ashton in Sydney. In 1894, Roberts began teaching at the South Brisbane Technical College, and was appointed art department supervisor at the Central Technical College in 1916, following the resignation of R Godfrey Rivers in 1915. Roberts held this position until his retirement in 1936, and for a few years, from 1937, ran a private teaching academy. Among his pupils at the Central Technical College were Lloyd Rees and Daphne Mayo. Roberts was very active promoting art in the community, and for a time was a member of the Queensland National Art Gallery Trustees Acquisitions Committee.