Francis Robert Kelly

Francis Robert Kelly (born in St Paul, Minnesota, USA on 1 May 1927, died on 25 October 2012) was an American artist, printmaker, art restorer and author.

Early life and education Bob Kelly was born in Minnesota

Second World War and after Kelly enlisted in the US Navy in 1944, becoming a signalman and serving in the Pacific until 1948. In 1946 he took part in Operation Crossroads, which involved the testing of atomic bombs at Bikini Atoll. the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, Glasgow University, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, New York Public Library, Los Angeles County Museum, and the National Gallery of South Australia. Private collectors include Swedish royalty.

Kelly lived in Britain with his family from 1955 onwards, the St George's Gallery, Cork Street, London (founded and run by Robert Erskine in 1955) being the first to exhibit his etchings. He was fascinated by rural England, particularly the area around Budleigh, Devon, where he often travelled to paint and etch. (also Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1972).

The Studio and the Artist, Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1974 (also London: St Martin's Press, 1974; New York: St Martin's Press, 1975).

Restaurierung von Gemälden und Drucken: ein Handbuch für Restauratoren, Händler, Sammler und Liebhaber, Munich: Callwey, 1984.

Books containing his work Wyndham Lewis, Exhibition catalogue, London: Zwemmer Gallery, 1957.

Catalogue, Aquatints of Portugal with associated drawings, London: St George’s Gallery Prints, 1960.

Francis Kelly, London: Zwemmer Gallery, 1966.

Francis Kelly and David Koster, Recent Aquatints and Etchings, Mansard Art Gallery, London: Heal & Son, 1968.

Francis Kelly, London: Editions Graphiques Gallery, 1973.

English Landscape Etchings, London: William Weston Gallery, 1974.

Recent Landscape Etchings, London: William Weston Gallery, 1976.

Sporting interests Kelly's pastimes were swimming, bicycling and running. He competed in 34 triathlons, representing Britain as a veteran in the World Triathlon Championships held in Orlando, Florida in the 1980s. According to his Daily Telegraph obituary, “Kelly lived off London’s Bayswater Road, and came to regard Hyde Park as his garden and the Serpentine as his swimming pool. Having joined the Serpentine Swimming Club (SSC) in 1968, he swam there almost daily for the next 40 years — wearing, whatever the weather, his distinctive Hawaiian shorts.”

Death In later life, Bob Kelly was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and vascular dementia. He died of pneumonia on 25 October 2012, aged 85.