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Simon Francis (born 1952) is a professional
abstract art|abstract painter residing in
Wolverhampton, England.  He usually uses oil
painting|oil paints on canvas to, in his own
words, "enhance perception and question perceived
visual reality  by using paint on two dimensional
surfaces mainly with the expressive vehicles of
abstract form and formlessness."  He describes his
main influences as Pablo Picasso|Picasso's later
works, Howard Hodgkin and Mark Rothko. 

Most of his works are part of a series, which is a
development of a theme or motif. Some of the
series include "Vacuity", "Crow" and "Sunflower"
(the latter is a reinterpretation of Vincent van
Gogh's Sunflowers, but that series ended abruptly
when Simon was hospitalised, partly due to
Arterial hypertension|hypertension).

Before becoming a self employed artist in July
2001, Francis worked as a physics lecturer in a
number of schools and colleges around England. 

Simon Francis is currently based at Eagleworks
studio, a studio in an old industrial building in
Wolverhampton which has hosted two of his
exhibitions, Open - shut (September 2002) and
Beyond The Motif (March 2003). Among his most
recent exhibitions were those at the Fresh Art
Fairhttp://www.freshartfair.co.uk/ in London in
July 2003 and at the Affordable Art Fair, again in
London, in October 2003.  The newly opened View
Gallery in Thames
Dittonhttp://www.viewgallery.co.uk/ is currently
holding an exhibition of some of his latest work
(until February 2004).

Corporate collections include Wragge & Co
(Birmingham), I Soft (Solihull), Carvers (Walsall)
and Extrinsic (Solihull), as well as a growing
number of private collectors. 

== External links ==
*http://www.smfrancis.demon.co.uk Website,
featuring most artwork
*http://www.eagleworks.org.uk Eagleworks Studios
*http://www.coalsmokekills.org.uk "Coal smoke
kills", Simon Francis' campaign to "raise
awareness about the human health damage due to
smoke from the domestic combustion of coal and
wood."