Frances Semple

"Sculpture is quite simply what I like to do.   My pieces are a reflection of how I look at the world around me and what intrigues me at the time.  One of my long standing curiosities is the way internal and external forces pass through our lives leaving their mark like weather on a landscape.  I use the human figure as a vehicle to explore the form and textures from these observations."

Frances was born in 1956 in Scotland and grew up in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.  After high school she studied sculpture and mould making at Ontario College of Art in Toronto, including studies in Florence and Edinburgh.

Frances went on to work as a scenic painter after college while maintaining a studio to continue her sculpture.  As a scenic artist, she worked with the Canadian Opera Company and film industry. 

In 1989 she moved to Vancouver to focus on her career as a freelance artist.  She is currently living in Victoria. As a sculptor Frances works with the human form finding a never ending source of inspiration.   She has experimented with different materials over the years, from working with paper and wire to her current medium - concrete and welded metal.

Education

2015, BFA in Visual Arts, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2009, Engineer Graphics Technician Diploma, Camosun College, Victoria, BC, Canada
1979 - 1982, flute, piano, music theory, Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Ont, Canada
1977, sculpture, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland
1976, sculpture and drawing, Student Exchange, Florence, Italy
1975 - 1977, sculpture and drawing, Ontario College of Art,Toronto, Ont, Canada

 Exhibitions

Solo Shows

2004, Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, Sechelt, BC, CAN
2003, Xchanges,Victoria, BC, CAN
1992, Glass Slipper Jazz Bar, Vancouver, BC, CAN
1990 & 1991, Paper Ya, Vancouver, BC, CAN

Two Persons Shows

2013, Winchester Galleries, Oak Bay, BC, CAN
2010, Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
2008, Winchester Galleries, Oak Bay, BC, CAN

Group Shows

2016 ,June 1 - 30 Comox Valley Art Gallery, Comox, BC, CAN                                                                                                      

May 6 - 22 Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Van, BC, CAN
 April 30 - May 21 Comox Valley Art Gallery, Comox, BC, CAN

2015, "Inaugural Exhibition in Glen Ellen", Sculpturesite Gallery, Glen Ellen Cal.USA                                                  
"25th Anniversary", Sculpturesite Gallery, Sonoma, CA, USA

2013, Sculpturesite Gallery, Sonoma, CA, USA
 Gallery 1965, Van, BC, CAN

2010,  Elliott Louis Gallery, Vancouver, BC, CAN
 Winchester Galleries, Victoria, BC, CAN

2009,  Martin Batchelor Gallery, Victoria, BC, CAN

2007,  SOFA, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
 Form and Forum, Coquitlam, BC, CAN

2006,  E3 Gallery, New York, New York, USA

 On Canvas Gallery, Victoria, BC, CAN

2005,  Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, Cal., USA

2004,  New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, Cal., USA
Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, Sechelt, BC, CAN

2003, Fran Willis Gallery,Victoria, BC, CAN

2002, Vancouver International Airport, BC, CAN
 Victoria Community Arts Council, BC, CAN
 Xchanges Gallery, Victoria, BC, CAN

2001, Xchanges Gallery, Victoria, BC, CAN
 Festival of the Arts, Fort St. John, BC, CAN
 Victoria Community Arts Council,BC, CAN

1991, Ontario Craft's Council, Toronto, Ont., CAN

1990, Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC, CAN
 Provenance Gallery,Calgary, Alberta, CAN
 Canadian Craft Museum, Van, BC, CAN

Download PDF