F. D. Giddings

Giddings completed his undergraduate education with the BS degree in Zoology. While studying for his degree, FD's drawing ability led to his first illustration commission. "A laboratory manual for Introductory Zoology" by David B. Pettus. Before graduating Giddings illustrated three laboratory manuals for the Zoology department.

Graduating with a degree in Zoology, FD worked a year in Arizona as a field crop entomologist, then another year in Montana as a field man for the Great Western Sugar company. In 1964 he obtained a job as a laboratory technician in electron microscopy in Veterinary Medicine department at Colorado State University. The laboratory where FD worked was adjacent to the School of Veterinary Medicine’s clinic and the clinicians soon discovered FD's drawing skills which ultimately led to his obtaining a Master of Science degree in Anatomy with a specialization in medical illustration. The MS degree and years of experience illustrating for veterinary clinicians qualified FD for acceptance into the Association of Medical Illustrators in 1974. Shortly after that, the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Allied Health established a center for biomedical graphics and photography and appointed FD as its director.

As Director of illustration, FD's reputation brought many clients from outside the university including the University of Colorado Medical center in Denver, Colorado. He illustrated several books for surgeons at Denver General Hospital, Rose Medical Center and the Rocky Mountain VA hospital. Colorado State University policy dictated that FD should separate himself from outside work or step down as director of illustration for the school of veterinary medicine to avoid a "conflict of interest" so FD changed his status and became a Research Associate in the department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and assisted in research involving freeze fracture electron microscopy and nerve cell growth related neurobiology. In that capacity he was free to illustrate the research publications generated by that research.

FD continued to work at the university until 1995 when he left to devote all his time to his illustration business. In 1990 he wrote and illustrated the Surgical Knots and Suturing Techniques book based on illustrations and information gained while illustrating for surgeons at Denver General Hospital and the University of Colorado Medical Center. The book has established itself as one of the top sellers in its field at Amazon.com. In 2017 FD and wife Christy moved to Anacortes, Washington where they enjoy the wonders of the magnificent Northwest. He continues there as a free-lance illustrator and publisher.