Painter Simon Francis, on his work: "I’ve been a member of the Eagle Works studios group for five years. For me it’s been totally wonderful to interact with other artists and to get criticism about my work and for me to criticise their work.  | | Detail from a Simon Francis painting |
"I think the best thing that has happened to me, being a member, is I’ve had introductions to dealers in art. Which has led to me selling my work. "Also, as a group, we’ve had exhibitions outside of Wolverhampton. We’ve attended art fairs in London, and, as a result, I’ve had a few exhibitions both in London and I’ve recently had one in Montreal in Canada. "My work is mainly abstract in style, but I always try to put an implied message within my work. I like to think my work illuminates, rather than actually makes a precise statement.  | | Detail from a Simon Francis painting |
"The piece that we’re looking at now, doesn’t yet have a title, but is based on abstract landscape. I’ve taken two landscape ideas and superimposed one on top of another and the idea is to try and make the viewer think about two visual planes and hopefully they will get something out of it. "People have often said that my work reminds them of Mark Rothko, which always slightly puzzled me. I think it’s the way I use coloured textures in my work and also there’s a strong lack of obvious content. There is always an implication of ground and sky in my work, but beyond that there is no obvious representation. "I’ve always painted in my spare time, but in my retirement I’m painting full time. Although I’ve sold quite a number of pieces, I do not earn very much.  | | Detail from a Simon Francis painting |
The exhibitions came about because of our activity here. Because we’ve been exhibiting in art fairs, people from art galleries have noticed us, and have been scouting us. "My basic plan is to get adopted by a central London art gallery, who will give me an exhibition every two years and do all of the selling of my work, so that I wouldn’t do that aspect of the business, so that I could just be left alone with the business of painting. "I’m making steps towards that." | 
