Arthur Frederick Dicks (1935–1994) was a designer working in the field of theatre and dance, as well as an accomplished actor and artist.
In his teens he became involved in repertory theatre and acted with Laurence Olivier and Judi Dench; some of these actors he stayed in contact with for the rest of his life.
An assignment in Louisiana in 1951 led to his taking a yearlong break in New Orleans, living in the Pontalba Apartments and a friend's plantation house at White Castle, where he began a series of travel painted diaries.
This new direction saw him working as a set and costume designer in England, USA and Africa, spending some time in Nairobi.
He was asked to come to Australia in the 1970s to become the head of design at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art), a position he held for years.
[2] He later became involved with the Q Theatre, Penrith and was one of its artistic directors with Doreen Warburton and Richard Brooks and designer[3] up until they resigned in 1989.
[7] He designed the play "Nothing Personal", directed by Paul Hastings Booth for the "In The Pink Theatre Company" in February 1993.