Iris Francis was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, in 1913, into a family deeply interested in the arts. Her grandfather and father were both talented in sketching and carving, and her aunt, Pansy Francis, was a renowned woodcarver. Growing up in such a creative environment, from a young age Iris was naturally drawn to the arts.

She pursued formal training at Perth Technical College, studying under JWR Linton and AB Webb, where she earned a diploma in commercial art. After completing her studies, Iris began working as a commercial artist at Gibbney & Sons before being offered a permanent teaching position at Perth Technical College in 1935. She would go on to teach there for twelve years.

In addition to her artistic talents, Iris was an accomplished cellist. She performed at numerous fundraising recitals during the war, using her music to support important causes. Her versatility extended beyond the visual and performing arts, as she was also a skilled golfer, having won the Vice-President’s Cup at the Royal Fremantle Golf Club in 1937 with a net score of 70, reducing her handicap by five strokes.

Her involvement in the arts extended beyond her teaching and personal practice. Iris was an active member of both the Perth Society of Artists and the Women Painters and Applied Arts Society, contributing to the growth of the arts community in Western Australia.

This enamel work“The Cellist”, reflects her deep interest in modernism, which flourished during WWII. The work is not only a tribute to her accomplishments as a cellist but also an embodiment of the modernist movement she embraced. Created likely in the 1950s, “The Cellist” was made possible by the availability of additional materials during the post-war period.

A larger oil painting of the same title and design is included in the collection of the Art Gallery of Western Australia ensuring her legacy and contribution to the arts is preserved.