MIKE FRANCIS ART

Time Ladies, Gents and Dogs Please

"Being a native Londoner and growing up in Covent Garden and Soho, I've always been fascinated with Mike's paintings of the area.  This particular painting captures the essence of a London Pub, with..."

"Being a native Londoner and growing up in Covent Garden and Soho, I've always been fascinated with Mike's paintings of the area.  This particular painting captures the essence of a London Pub, with its atmosphere and range of assorted characters (particularly the dogs!).  It reminds me of the drinking dens in that area and to see it with the mercurial London landmark of Big Ben composed in the background makes me reminisce about my home town.  Although an imagined piece, it is very powerfully familiar.  The painting has totally changed the room where it hangs proudly.  I shall be buying more of Mike's seminal London artworks, particularly those related to where I grew up."

- Johnnie Jackson

Spot the Dog

"I was drawn to Mike's beautiful painting by its hope and vitality.  Everytime I look at the painting it makes me happy, with its bright warm colours capturing a summers day at the beach.  The windb..."

"I was drawn to Mike's beautiful painting by its hope and vitality.  Everytime I look at the painting it makes me happy, with its bright warm colours capturing a summers day at the beach.  The windbreakers are also a poignant reminder of childhood  days at the beach with my mum. The composition is made more intriguing with the dogs - I'd loved to have asked Mike what his fascination were with them as they seem to appear in a number of similar paintings.  I intend to make a Mike Francis collection over the coming years - he was such a talented artist.  The painting has totally changed the mood in my recently refurbed bathroom."

- Lorraine Nuille

Rupert Street Boy

"I was introduced to Mike's work by a close friend in the transport industry, and after viewing a number of Mike's paintings, was drawn to this rendition of the market scene from 1960's Soho.  The a..."

"I was introduced to Mike's work by a close friend in the transport industry, and after viewing a number of Mike's paintings, was drawn to this rendition of the market scene from 1960's Soho.  The atmosphere he has created reflects the hustle and bustle from that part of London, and to learn that Mike worked there and took the personal photographs of all of the characters really sings of its authenticity as a work of art.  The palette of colours he has used and the detail in the characters reminds me of spending my time at various markets in London as a boy.  The painting has added so much to a rather dull space in my hallway. I shall be making another purchase of Mike's work very soon - as they have provided a real talking point when visitors see his artwork."

- Dominic

"Until I  saw a selection of the art of Mike Francis advertising prints of some of his work on my Facebook Feed I was  not familiar with Mike or his work. However, I liked a lot of what I saw and th..."

"Until I  saw a selection of the art of Mike Francis advertising prints of some of his work on my Facebook Feed I was  not familiar with Mike or his work. However, I liked a lot of what I saw and the picture "Don't Squeeze Me Plums Love" really struck a chord with me. Although the clothes the people are wearing suggest a warmer time of year so perhaps later in  the evening and the card suggest it might possibly  be a year or two earlier, the picture  seemed to perfectly capture the general atmosphere I remember experiencing  on dark late afternoons/early evenings  on occasional trips up to the West End from my home in Slough  to go to Francis Day & Hunter's music shop and Foyle's Bookshop in my early teens (circa 1969-1971). Furthermore, I am not only very happy with the picture but also the excellent customer service provided by Joe Francis when I bought the print"

- John Hopton

Spot the Dog

"Mike was my mentor when I began as an illustrator’s assistant as a 17 year old at Hatton Garden Studios in the late 1960s.  Mike was a genius to learn from – he was such a skilled artist and worked..."

"Mike was my mentor when I began as an illustrator’s assistant as a 17 year old at Hatton Garden Studios in the late 1960s.  Mike was a genius to learn from – he was such a skilled artist and worked across all mediums. He would kindly take the time to teach and encourage me, even if it was in his own time.  The studio’s atmosphere was ‘cutting edge’ with some very talented artists with an acerbic sense of humour,  but Mike was the co-leader alongside Ivan Rose.  It was an ‘old school’ education, where I had to earn the right to work alongside such great illustrators, and I knew then that Mike would go on to forge his own artistic career.  This image is such a representation of Mike’s personality – cheeky, bright, happy and optimistic and every time I look at it gives me a feeling of what is great about LIFE.  That was Mike to a tee – always saw the best in everything and everyone.  He lives on – God bless you Mike."

- Ade Cruft