Fyodor Vasilyevich Syichkov was born on March 1, 1870, in the village of Kochelaevo, Penza province, into a poor peasant family. Losing his father early, he faced many hardships and grievances in childhood.

He studied at a three-class zemstvo school in Kochelaevo and showed artistic talent from a young age, working under the guidance of teacher P. E. Dyumaev. He worked in an icon-painting workshop, painted frescoes in churches, and created portraits from photographs. From 1885 to 1887, he worked in Serdobsk for the contractor icon painter D. A. Reshetnikov.

From 1887 to 1892, Syichkov lived in Kochelaevo, painting independently, creating icons and portraits of local villagers. In 1892, commissioned by General Ivan Andreyevich Arapov, he painted the work "The Laying of the Arapovo Station." This work impressed the director of the Drawing School for Free Attendees, Yevgeny Alexandrovich Sabaneev, who recognized Syichkov's talent and invited him to St. Petersburg.

In 1892, Syichkov moved to St. Petersburg and enrolled in the Drawing School of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, receiving support from General Arapov. In 1895, he graduated from the school and became a free listener at the Higher Art School of the Academy of Arts.

After graduating from the school in 1900, Syichkov remained in St. Petersburg, actively working. In 1903, he married Lydia Vasilyevna Ankudinova.

Syichkov considered I. E. Repin his main teacher. His style, shaped by the influence of the Wanderers' art, also experienced the impact of French plein air painting. The main genre of his work was landscape and genre scenes, but he also successfully worked in portraiture.

In 1900, Syichkov received the title of artist for his painting "News from the War." In 1905, his work "Flax Scutchers" was awarded the A. I. Kuindzhi Prize at the Spring Exhibition of the Academy of Arts. He became a member of the Committee of the Society for Mutual Assistance of Russian Artists.

From April to October 1908, Syichkov traveled with his wife through Western Europe, visiting Italy, France, and Germany, and brought back numerous landscapes from Rome, Venice, and Menton.

In 1909 and 1917, his works were repeatedly recognized at Russian and international exhibitions.

In 1918 and 1920, he participated in the decoration of revolutionary celebrations in Narovchat, at the Arapovo station, and in Kochelaevo. After that, he returned to his favorite themes, portraits of peasant children and girls, and landscapes.

In 1937, Syichkov was awarded the title of "Honored Artist of the Mordovian ASSR."

He spent his last years in Saransk, where he was held in high regard, and passed away there on August 3, 1958.

The main theme of his work was the life of peasants and rural celebrations. Among his well-known works are: "Portrait of Anna Ivanovna Syichkova, the Artist's Mother" (1898), "News from the War" (1900), "Female Portrait" (1903), "Portrait in Black" (1904), "Flax Scutchers" (1905), "Girlfriends" (1909), "From the Mountains" (1910), "Return from Haymaking" (1911), "Maslenitsa Sledding" (1914), "Return from the Fair" (1910), "Village Wedding," "Water Blessing," "Christoslavs," "Difficult Crossing" (1913), "Holiday Day" (1927), "Holiday Day. Friends. Winter" (1929), "Day Off in the Collective Farm" (1936), "Collective Farm Market" (1936), "Mordovian Teacher" (1937), "Portrait of Artist Ivan Silych Goryushkin-Sorokopudov" (1937), "Mordovian Tractor Drivers" (1938), "Harvest Festival" (1938), "Presentation of the Act for Eternal Free Use of Land" (1938), "Return from School" (1945), "Meeting the Hero" (1952).