Francesca Owen is a specialist in pigments and dyes. Making work outside and back in her studio at Trewidden Gardens. She is deeply influenced by this wild and rugged landscape.

 

Francesca tutors at St Ives School of Painting, leading her course: Landscape Painting and Natural Pigments from the famous Porthmeor studios. 

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An award-winning artist, she studied fine art painting at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art, under the tutorship of Phyllida Barlow, and winning two scholarships.

 

In 2009 Francesca completed a residency in Laos, Asia. This sparked the beginning of a fascination with the use of pigments and dyes. This research coincided with an MA in Art & Environment at Falmouth University, Cornwall, and winning another two awards.

 

Researching for her art has involved leading projects with establishments across London, Devon and Cornwall including, Newlyn Art Gallery, Duchy College, Trebah Garden, Kew Gardens, White Moose gallery and Broomhill Sculpture Park. Francesca has continued to research pigments as far and wide as Australia, Spain, India, Laos and Morocco to look at pigments in these countries and their cultures.

 

Following the inspiration of a succession of established artists in the West Penwith area of Cornwall, Francesca continues to collect and gather pigments and dyes from local mine sites, sharing this knowledge with groups and individuals.

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Regular exhibits of Francesca's work can be found around the South West. Recently she has shown at the prestigious Newcraftsman Gallery in St Ives,  Greenhill Arts in Dartmoor, having had her work chosen by the arts editor with a three-page article in Devon Life magazine.