Early Life and Artistic Foundations Frederick Donald Blake, born in the shipbuilding town of Greenock, Scotland, on June 7th, 1908, embarked on a life deeply intertwined with observation and artistic expression. Though his roots lay in the industrial landscape of Renfrewshire, his destiny led him south to London, where he would spend the remainder of his days honing his craft. Even as a young boy, Blake’s inclination towards art was n…