In June 1928 he became a junior scene painter in the largest scenic studio in the North, namely ‘The Ark’, Liverpool. Within two years he was appointed designer, doing the major part of the design work for the studio. The work for the theatre was declining. The ‘talkies’ had taken over and the theatres were languishing, but a great deal of work was coming in from major departmental stores for Christmas and other seasonal promotions. Summer seaside shows, happily, still furnished a lot of simple but effective design work and scenic painting, and pantomime still held its own. This was, of course, rudely interrupted by World War II.

After the war he went to London and worked freelance in the theatre. Then became Publicity manager at Phillips the radio and electronics company. Two years later he saw there was a more lucrative future in the growth of industry and turned to Exhibition stand and store interior design. His bluechip clients includes Rolls Royce, GEC, Ford, Marconi and The Milk Marketing Board. It was a very busy and exacting life for over 25 years. He painted for pleasure occasionally, but the work was too much so Frank turned to full time painting after moving permanently to Port Gaverne in 1966.

Doing some mural work to keep his hand in, projects included work for the Delebole slate quarry exhibition centre and a complete natural history museum with murals and real life sized fauna and flora depicting scenes from the 7 continents for a Greek shipping magnate. He couldn't’t resist the lure of the big scene.

Frank painted just about everywhere in Port Isaac and Port Gaverne and the paintings he produced where snapped up avidly by locals and visitors alike.

During the war Frank started up a marionette (puppet) theatre mainly to entertain the "troops" his marionette show gave children and adults a welcome relieve from the rigours of the war.

Frank McNichol and Honey Cellars
He moved to Port Gaverne in 1966 and 5 years before he had bought a small cottage in Port Isaac as a holiday home.

Franks interest in painting and drawing lead him to many parts of the world. Including Majorca, Finland and America, from New England to Colorado. California to Montana, Frank captured peoples affections and struck up many a friendship as he sketched or painted their local scenery. The Grand Canyon to a spanish lilly pond every aspect was captured on canvas or in his sketch book.

He died in May 2003 aged 92. His work still adorns the walls of Honey Cellars and his 3 dimensional models of Port Gaverne can be found in the local inn.
After buying the property in 1966 he transformed the primitive single storey fish cellar it was, into the house it is today, with a large open plan living area, and the minstrel gallery upstairs. He designed & remodeled the house himself, with help of 2 local craftsman. His name lives on - his memorial bridge on Port Gaverne Main is a reminder to all that met him and collected his works.

Port Isaac

Port Gaverne

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