To describe Fran Knowles as a wildlife artist is not entirely correct as in reality she is very much a bird artist and a very special one at that. Herself a creature of the air, currently into gliding and previously hang gliding, Fran has a strong affinity with her subject and manages to translate the essence of her subjects onto paper.

Her work is also very special in that she only works in pencil. On first seeing the works seem very grey, as indeed they are, but the use of every grade of pencil creates an astonishing grey palette that replaces the standard colour spectrum.

This site tries to give an insight into Fran's work. There is the usual biography and a piece about technique. In addition there a number of finished works, many of which have been sold. Complementing these are the sketches that she draws on location, the observations of birds that provide the markers towards the finished work.

From August 28th through to September 25th she is taking part in the Art On The Wing exhibition  at the Maclaurin Gallery at Rozelle House in Ayr.

Later in the year she will be exhibiting at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre at Slimbridge from the 13th of November to the 9th of January 2012. 

Click here to enter