Chris Francis

Chris Francis was born and bred in Birmingham and moved to South East London in 1976 - hence his fascination with the local industrial and built-environment as well as its maritime connections.

Art Education in the ‘60s radically changed encouraging more experimentation and exploration which still manifests itself today in his work hence the diversity of various subjects in varied media shown here. Thus there are paintings and drawings of buildings (including two from student days), marine subjects and vehicles, where, paying homage to Degas axiom “Art is not what you see but what you make others see”. Hence It may be the texture and colour of erosion, pollution and weathering of masonry and brickwork of railways, townscapes and cityscapes. Otherwise, showing the effects of tide, rain, wind and sun on derelict quays, moorings, harbours and vessels especially those in a state of neglect, allowed to crumble but enhanced with vibrant marine growth and rust.

In addition, there are examples of experimental printmaking and assemblages utilising the potential of patterns, shapes and textures of wood or baulks of timber and the possibilities of discarded litter and plastic, even children’s’ toys or household utensils.


Although he...

Art Education: -

I962-1964 Pre-Diploma Course, College of Further Education, Sutton Coldfield
1964-1967 Diploma in Art and Design (converted to BA [Graphic Design])
College of Art, Stoke-on-Trent (now Staffordshire University)

Part-Time Study

1967-1991 Adult education classes at Sir John Cass College and adult education institutes in his hometown of Birmingham and the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Lewisham and Bexley.

1991-2000 Residential courses including Slade Summer School (with ….Pankhurst)

Mall Gallery (Pastel Society, Royal Society of British Artists, Hesketh Hubbard and Royal Society of Marine Artists)

Morley, Westminster, Menier, Bankside and Cork Street Galleries (United Society of Artists)

Gallery 47, Bloomsbury
Cork Street Gallery, West End
Wine, Kensington
Stark Gallery, Lee Green
Strand Gallery, Charing Cross
Cotton Centre, London
John Jones Gallery, Finsbury
Paul McPherson Gallery, Greenwich
Discovery Centre Exhibition, Greenwich
St Alfege’s Millennium Exhibition, Greenwich
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea
Participated in deptfordx arts festival
London Arts Café, Shoreditch
Blackheath Art Society, Blackheath
City HQ, London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Childers Street Open Studios 2001-5
Arthub Gallery, Deptford
Made in Greenwich, SE10
Greenwich Yacht Club, SE10
The Gallery, St John’s Square, EC1 (Printmaking)

Out of Town/Overseas Shows

Crypt Gallery, St Ives
Place des Suisse Artes, Lausanne
Pie Factory, Margate, Kent
Mine Gallery, Carshalton
The Art House, Emsworth
Artists Harbour Gallery, Portsmouth
West Street Gallery (Faversham)
Fisherton Mill (Salisbury)
Well Hall Pleasance (Eltham)
Hall Place (Bexley)
Den...