Frances has been a practicing sculptor since graduating from Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 1971.

Several awards and residencies have enabled her to travel to Europe, Scandinavia, China and Baffin Island, Canada, and it was a residency at Highland Park Distillery in Orkney that led to her decision to move to the island in 1987.

She says about her work “Over the past twenty years lettercutting has played a large role in my work.  I have a particular interest in traditional Scottish raised lettering and find the local Caithness flagstone an ideal medium for both incised lettering and relief carving.”

The traditional stone cut letter is a 'V' shaped incision into stone. In raised lettering, which is particular to Scotland, the letter is left with the background cut away.

She is a member of the Scottish Lettercutters Association who will be holding their second exhibition ‘Chassed, Chopped, Stabbed & Blasted 2007’ at the Stacy Marks Gallery, Auchtenny, Path of Condie, Forgandenny, Perthshire tel: 01577 830744 from 7 to 23 September 2007. 

She is often involved in collaborative work with other artists, poets and writers.  Worcypher was inspired by the poetry of Nigel Wheale, who she collaborated with along with Malcolm Olva and Yvonne Gray in a year long project which culminated in the exhibition Flows & Traces which took place in Orkney in 2004 and 2005.  The Moon & Mars was also inspired by his poetry for the same project.

She was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1990 and exhibits regularly in their annual exhibition, where she has won several awards.

She has work in public places across the UK including Candleriggs, Glasgow, James’ Court, Edinburgh, Lazonby Bridge, Cumbria, Kirkwall, Orkney, Wick and Falkland Palace, Fife.

Contact Frances