Leonard C. Brooks

Artist Bio: Frank Leonard Brooks, OSA, ARCA (1911-2011)

Brooks was born in England, and immigrated to Canada as a child, settling in Toronto. He showed a talent for art and studied at the Ontario College of Art. Later, Leonard went to Europe and painted in France, Spain, and England. On his return to Canada in the early 1930’s he taught painting and drawing and was very active in exhibitions in both the United States and Canada. Brooks served in the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II. He was appointed as an Official War Artist. On his return to Canada after the war, Brooks resumed painting actively and published a number of books on painting techniques. He moved to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where he became the dean of the Canadian art community in that city. Brooks has works in the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Worcester Art Museum, etc.