After starting her working life as a draughtswoman in the civil service, IBM and other large organisations, Fran Donovan studied at Southampton College in Fashion and Design for four years and later for the Fine Art Diploma covering painting, printmaking and sculpture. Subsequently at Winchester School of Art obtained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art including undertaking an Erasmus exchange at the Universitat in Barcelona and later went on to complete a Masters degree in International Fine Art in the same city.

In addition to the full time painting, Fran has led art therapy sessions at Southampton and Ashurst hospitals, and taught in Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset and as an artist mentor working with servicemen in the “Other Worlds” project with Salisbury John Creasey Museum.

AWARDS

1994 Bibliotec Award, Winchester School of Art
1994 European Studies Award, Coopers and Lybrand

COLLECTIONS

Work in private collections in Britain, Spain, America and Australia and
Public Collections — Hampshire County Council & Salisbury Hospital ArtCare

COMMISSIONS

1994 Mural — Southampton General Hospital
2008 Paintings — Mosborough Hall Hotel, Nr Sheffield & Private Collection

MEDIA

Video CV — Beatrice Royal Gallery in conjunction with BBC South Resources
Arts Programme — Sky TV in conjunction with The White Gallery, Brighton
Brighton & Hove Life
University of Winchester Art Loan Collection
Fifty Wessex Artists — [Evolver] Books
Sherborne Open “Margins”
Rod Hague Book “Contrasts” - Review of Recent Works

CURATING

Whilst a member of the arts collective, Winchester Contemporary Arts, Fran curated a number of exhibitions including one of works by the Winchester School of Art tutors “Unfamiliar Familiarity”.