Tony Francis

Former TV producer and presenter, Tony Francis made the switch from camera to paintbrush with remarkable effect. His work was chosen for the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition at the first time of trying.

 

Since then, Tony has captured scenes from India to Portugal, from Morocco to Vietnam. He also reflects the changing shapes and colours of the British countryside he filmed for 25 years for his award-winning series, ‘Heart of the Country’. The subject matter is wide and varied. It includes landscapes, wildlife, still life and people, some inspired by David Hockney, others by Matisse and the Fauvists with their disregard for convention.

 

Tony’s most recent passion is the tribal art of native America, Australia and sub-Saharan Africa, all of which he has visited. His acrylics have sold consistently well since his first private exhibition in 2013.

 

The inspiration to paint followed 25 years of running his own independent TV company and producing more than 600 countryside programmes for ITV, BBC and BskyB. He says:

 

“Television taught me to look at life from many angles, not just eye level with the sun behind you.”

 

He works mostly from home in Hawridge Common, but also enjoys the challenge of painting en plein air.

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“I wouldn’t go as far as Turner by strapping myself to the rigging of a ship, but it’s great to feel the outdoors while you’re interpreting it. Acrylics dry quickly so you have to be decisive. That’s a good discipline.”