NO DREAMS RUN LATE.

In 1970 Frank de Leeuw (1946) completed his studies in marketing  at the Hogeschool voor Economische Studies (HES) in Amsterdam. He did additional courses in marketing  and journalism during his professional life.

He had a career in marketing and communications at Young & Rubicam (advertising consultancy), Levi Strauss (Levi’s jeans), Koelrad (NordMende and Toshiba audio-visual equipment, and professional cooling, freezing and airconditioning installations), Douwe Egberts (professional coffee systems) and AkzoNobel  (in coatings and corporate positions). In the last two companies Frank was involved in the global operations of the businesses.  He retired in 2005.

Due to his international positions, which involved a lot of travelling, his hobbies, music (playing guitar and singing), writing (articles and columns), drawing, painting and photography got limited attention. After his early retirement writing, drawing and painting got full attention.
In 2008 Frank co-founded Mainport Art Productions (www.mainportart.nl), an organization for the worldwide support of artists. After a very successful start Frank left the Mainport organization in 2012. Mainport Art Productions still exists and has about 200 followers in more than 20 countries. Around 2009 photography became a more important activity. Both in his drawings, paintings and photographs portrait and (female) models are his favorite subjects. However also nature and animals are often subject of his creative activities.

In all these creative areas Frank is self-taught.  He is also the main photographer for Taj Devi’s fashion designs. Until 2013 he wrote interviews and columns for Hesprit, a publication of the Hogeschool voor Economische Studies. In 2013 Hesprit ceased to exist. Frank was also the main editor of ‘Terugblik naar de toekomst’ a book on the history and future of the HES, which was published in 2010.

Frank was chairman of the society of amateur fine artists ‘Atelier de Kromme Mijdrecht’ in Mijdrecht (NL) for some 8 years, and he is still organising the weekly model drawing classes at this club.

Frank is using his marketing and communications skills as a consultant for some fine artists in the Netherlands, including Taj Devi. He also shares responsibility for the organisation of the exhibitions in the Taj Devi Gallery.

At present he has three websites, being www.frankdeleeuw.nl, http://frankdeleeuw.exposeert.com and http://fotograaf-frankdeleeuw.exposeert.com. 

Frank is a good example to anyone persuing their dreams that despite the hustle that comes with responsibilities and carreer, one can always achieve what he sets his eyes upon. By believing and always staying focused in your dream goals and achievements, nothing runs late because where there is the will there is the way.

Photographs by: Frank de Leeuw.

Story By: Frank de Leeuw- Netherlands

Published by Benard Roosevelt - Dar es salaam ,Tanzania.