Francis was born in Dundee in 1948, and studied at Duncan and Jordanstone Colege of Art in the late sixties, where his tutors included Alberto Morrocco and David McLure – influences which can still be seen in his love of vibrant colour. Francis went on to teach in Dundee, and also in Perth, before being appointed Head of Art at Aberdeen Grammar School in 1989. However, as demand for his work grew, he was able to leave education to concentrate full time on painting in 2001 Now widely exhibited, demand for his colourful, abstract landscape work has grown steadily and he is a prominent figure in the new generation of Scottish Colourists.