Fred Dolan lives in the perfect environment for creating his art. In Strafford, New Hampshire, surrounded by rolling hills, tall trees and many species of wildlife, Dolan creates decoys in the traditional manner, realistic songbirds, birds of prey and innovative works of interpretive wood and stone sculpture.

A native of New Hampshire, Fred Dolan grew up on the Salmon Falls River in Somersworth, not far from the seacoast. This influence has remained with Fred, helping to shape a lifelong interest in nature and ultimately in creating wildlife art. Fred was educated in local schools and graduated from the University of New Hampshire.

Fred began carving a number of years ago as a hobby. Since the early 1980's he has been working full time at his art. Each sculpture is hand carved and detailed from cedar, tupelo or stone. Interpretive pieces are carved from native burls, wood or stone. Wood sculptures are hand painted and mounted in an appropriate environment. Every facet of the finished piece is created by the artist.

Fred is a state juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, having served on the Board of The Craftstate Corporation for three years. He is a member of the New Hampshire Woodworkers Guild and works extensively with The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, which has recognized Fred for over ten years by awarding him a Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant as a Master Carver. He frequently competes with and exhibits his work nationally. Fred served as a committee member on the commission for New Hampshire's participation in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, proudly representing New Hampshire's traditional arts in Washington, DC in June of 1999. He was also an active participant on the Celebrate New Hampshire Culture Committee at the state level and again represented the art form of decoy carving at New Hampshire's re-enactment of the Folklife Festival in Hopkinton, NH in June of 2000. Also on the state level, Fred has served as a member of the Task Force for Cultural and Environmental Conservation.

In April of 1996 Fred won a Best of Show at the prestigious Ward Foundation World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland. In June of 2003 he represented New England in demonstrating the art of decoy carving at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, Washington. Fred has made presentations on the history of decoy carving in New England to many regional organizations, groups and public events. He regularly teaches classes in decoy and songbird carving both in his studio and through local organizations.

Fred Dolan immerses himself in his art work, having studied under master carvers both in New England and in the Chesapeake region. He continues to research his art form in depth. He has studied ornithology, worked with New Hampshire Fish and Game officials to band geese as a way of studying the birds at close range, taken classes through the Audubon Society, studied painting at the University of New Hampshire and sculpture through the Manchester Institute of Art, adding to his skills as an artist and educator. He has worked collaboratively with other artists on innovative sculptural and functional pieces that have been exhibited nationally.

In all ways, Fred continues to stretch the limits of his art form. His work has been recognized in print, through the media and by his many awards and commendations.