EXHIBITION: PORTRAITS BY FRANCES COOLEY - HER JANUARY CHALLENGE

In January, Frances completed a special portrait project to raise funds for Cancer Research. Throughout the month, she created one portrait from life every single day, aiming for a total of 31 unique paintings. For every portrait that a sitter loves and chooses to take home, 50% of the proceeds were donated directly to Cancer Research.

Frances Cooley is a painter specialising in oils, painting still life and portraits with 30 years' experience. After finishing her degree, she spent many years as a graphic designer and illustrator in the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and America, while keeping up her drawing and painting. For the last fifteen years, she has been working as a full-time artist.

Frances says “I get a thrill from painting portraits, reacting to the person in front of me. This is normally quick to start with and I believe that you can get a good grasp of someone within the first few minutes of meeting them, I find it fascinating portraying this feeling. As the painting progresses I carefully follow the contours, the changing tones and use colours to create, light, volume and placement of the sitter within the composition.” francescooleyartist.com 

Location: The Art Space, Cass Art Bristol

Dates: Monday 16th - Sunday 29th March 2026

Admission: FREE

Please note, this exhibition takes place on the lower ground floor and there is no step-free access.