|
Home |
|
|
Francis
Boag
Francis Boag was born in Dundee
in 1948 and studied at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in the late
sixties. His tutors in Dundee included Alberto Morrocco and David McClure,
whose influence can be readily seen in his love of vibrant colour and the
sensuous application of paint.
Francis continued to paint throughout a successful teaching career, which
saw him teach in Dundee and Perth before being appointed Head of Art at
Aberdeen Grammar School in 1989. It was this move to the North East which
signalled a major change of direction in his work and in 1995 his
expressionist interpretations of the local landscape first began appearing
in Galleries in the North East
The demand for his vibrant colourful paintings grew rapidly and his work was
soon in demand from Art Galleries throughout the UK and Ireland.
In 1999 a major commission from John Lewis plc for three large paintings for
permanent display in their new flagship store in the Buchanan Galleries in
Glasgow prompted Francis to take a year long sabbatical from teaching.
During this period he studied for an MA at Grays School of Art; a
research-based course, which required among other things that he reflect
deeply on his own work and try to see it in the wider context of current
contemporary art practice.
Fortunately for the artist, the developments in his work triggered by this
challenging period met with great enthusiasm in the commercial Gallery
market and demand for his work increased. This enabled him to leave
education and become a full-time professional Artist in June 2001.
Francis now exhibits widely at home and increasingly abroad.
During 2003-04 he had exhibitions throughout the UK and also New York,
Dublin, Belfast, Paris, Munich, Seattle and Michigan. 2005 will also see his
work on view in Russia, Australia, Cannes and the Italian Riviera
His feature in the ‘International Artist’ magazine has helped to raise his
profile in the USA, and his work was shown and discussed at a talk given in
November 2002, by the American editor of the magazine to the Allied Artists
of America. He also contributed a chapter on outdoor sketching for their
book, ‘Work small, learn big’ which has sold well all over the world.
His best-selling prints have found their way into a host of public buildings
such as airports and hospitals and his original work is increasingly sought
after by large corporate collectors including John Lewis plc and the Royal
Bank of Scotland.
Since 2003 his images have featured regularly in the catalogues of the
international children's charity, Unicef. He is the only Scottish artist to
be included in their Fine Art collection.
|
|
|