Whilst training to become an illustrator, Mike Francis studied at St Martins and Central School of Art, London. During that time he pursued his own artistic career, winning several prizes in prominent competitions. In 1960 he joined the Furneaux Gallery, London, where he had his first one-man show.
1972 brought Francis success when he won the National Gallery’s 150th anniversary poster award - the only contemporary artist’s work to appear on a National Gallery poster.
From 1974 his work was shown at various exhibitions and art fairs in Paris, Basel, Cologne, Stockholm, Munich, Washington DC, New York and London, with several works purchased for private and public collections including: Jamaican Embassy; Urs Schwarzenbach; Pears collection; Ace Publicity Shell, Prince Murat, Paris; Bob Monkhouse; Robbie Williams, UK; Chris Wright, UK.
Described as a realist, Francis’ work, although technically real, also conveys his dry sense of humour, adding a new dimension to familiar images, dreams and fantasies.
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