About The Artist

Born in Molteno, South Africa on 30 October 1959. Spent childhood years on a farm near Molteno in the Eastern Cape province. The roots of his interest in art were developed by the strong influence of well known South African writer and painter Johannes Meintjes, who was his first art tutor. Matriculate in 1977 in Molteno. Obtain B.Pharm. degree at the Potchefstroom University of from 1978 - 1981. Formal art training started in 1990 at the WITS Technikon Fine Art department in Johannesburg, during which period he obtained the following awards: 1990 - Best first year student, 1991 - Award for print making (2nd Yr.), 1992 - Award for drawing (3rd Yr.). During this period Francois was strongly influenced by teacher and print maker Philipa Hobbs. Francois' present work is strongly influenced by internationally renowned pop artist Andy Warhol, although his approach is more painterly and the silkscreen effect less obvious.