1934 –
Fred Fellows had early exposure to ranching and Otoe and Osage Indian reservations. As an artist, he is self-taught, but his skillful execution of western sculpture earned him membership and in 1997 presidency of the Cowboy Artists of America. Fred Fellows grew up in California where he worked as a cowboy and apprenticed for four years to a saddle maker. He also roped calves and steers on the rodeo circuit. Encouraged by his step father to apply his artistic talent for commercial illustration, he honed his art skills at Art Center School in Los Angeles and began a successful career in the aircraft industry, first working as a commercial artist and eventually becoming art director for Northrop Aircraft.
In 1964, he moved his family to Big Fork, Montana to devote himself to painting. His studio contains a serious collection of early Western guns, Plains Indian artifacts, cowboy gear, and a research library as a part of his study of Western history. Fred also has a firsthand knowledge of modern ranch life, spending his spare time roping on the big Montana cow outfits.