Donald Stuart Leslie Friend

1915 – 1989

Donald Friend was an Australian painter, draughtsman, and writer known for his vivid drawings, watercolours, and journals. Born in Sydney, he studied at the Royal Art School and the Westminster School of Art in London, later serving as a lieutenant and war artist during World War II. Throughout his life, he lived and worked across the world, including England, Italy, Greece, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, where he settled in Bali from 1967 to 1979.

Friend’s art often depicted the human figure, tropical landscapes, and scenes of daily life infused with mythological and decorative elements. His works are admired for their technical mastery, fluid linework, and poetic sensibility. Despite his artistic achievements, Friend’s posthumously published diaries revealed details of his sexual misconduct involving minors, which has cast a shadow over his legacy.