Frans Wesselman

Frans is a Dutch born artist now living in the UK, he grew up on the outskirts of The Hague, Holland.

Having spent his early youth catching sticklebacks, rushing around on bikes with his friends and brothers and scouring the beach for treasure, he developed a liking for visual art. He initially trained to become an art teacher. Later, after doing his military service, this was followed by a few years at art college specialising in photography and printmaking.

In 1979, Frans moved to London and was elected a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. His paintings and etchings covered a wide ranging subject matter, though always based on close observation of the natural world. Some of Frans' pieces inject these everyday observations, which constitute his core subject matter, with strong narrative and hints of more established art-historical themes. When you view his works, notice whether you can identify biblical, mythical, folkloric and/or fairy-tale subject matter. Often, this is blended with references to modern history.

From the early nineties on, Frans' work became more concerned with people and became more narrative in content.  In 1998, he was Artist in Residence in the Potteries museum and Art Gallery and in 1999, Printmaker of the Month in the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. In 2001, Frans received a commission for a limited edition print from Galerie Inkt, Den Haag, The Netherlands and was awarded the Drawing Prize of the Society of Graphic Artists.

Frans  started experimenting with stained glass in 2000, which soon led to regular exhibitions and commissions. Following this, Frans was awarded membership of the Worcestershire Guild of Designer Craftsmen and in 2004, he took on a part-time teaching appointment at Hereford College of Art.

Throughout Frans' career, he has taught short courses in painting, printmaking and stained glass at many levels from primary school to adult education.

Frans is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and his work was selected for the British Glass Biennale 2008 and the Society of Master Glass Painters “40x40” exhibition.

Primavera has around fifteen of Frans' glass sculptures as well as a smaller, yet special, holding of his etchings and paintings.

To browse work by Frans Wesselman, visit the Online Shop.