- Frances Lennon
Infobox artist
bgcolour = silver
name = Frances Lennon MBE
birthdate = birth date and age|1912|09|12
location =Stretford ,Manchester ,England
nationality = British
field = paintingFrances Lennon MBE (
12 September 1912 ) is an award winning British artist.She was born Frances Mooney inStretford , baptised into the Catholic Church at St Ann's Church inStretford , and educated at St Ann's RC School between 1915 and 1923. [Memories by Frances Lennon - St Ann's Stretford Parish Magazine] She went on to study at the Adelphi House Convent School inSalford where the sisters of theFaithful Companions of Jesus discovered her talent for art. She also began drawing cartoons forPunch Magazine . [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_05_thu_04.shtml BBC - Radio 4 - Woman's Hour -Frances Lennon ] ]In 1930, Frances began work as a draughtsman's assistant at the
Metropolitan Vickers factory inTrafford Park . She married fireman William Lennon on the19 February 1938 at St Ann’s Church, and the couple moved to the Bradford Fire Station, in east Manchester. They returned to Stretford in 1943, after William was injured during theManchester Blitz , and remained in the town until the 1970s, when they retired toFlixton, Greater Manchester . [Memories by Frances Lennon – St Ann's Stretford Parish Magazine]It was after Williams' death that Frances began painting full-time. She released several books, including best-selling collections entitled "A Trafford Childhood" and "A Manchester Childhood". [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/manchester/3891499.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Honorary degree for Games artist ] ] Many similarities have been made between Frances' work and that of fellow Stretfordian
LS Lowry . [.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3891499.stm]Frances continued to live at home in Flixton until 2008, when declining health has forced her removal to a nursing home. Loss of eyesight has also prevented her from continuing to paint. In 2003, some of her originals went on sale for up to £40,000. [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/53/53538_40000_tag_on_wardrobe_find.html £40,000 tag on wardrobe find - News - Manchester Evening News ] ]
Commonwealth Games
In 2002 Frances was commissioned as the official artist for the Commonwealth Games and she produced a special book of paintings relating to games and sports. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2005_05_thu_04.shtml BBC - Radio 4 - Woman's Hour -Frances Lennon ] ]
Honours
In 2003, Frances was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles for her contribution to arts and charity, which included extensive work for the St Francis House Hospice in
Didsbury . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/manchester/3891499.stm BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Honorary degree for Games artist ] ] She was presented with two honorary degrees in 2004, the first fromSalford University on14 July and the second fromManchester Metropolitan University on16 July . [ [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/122/122728_two_degrees_for_veteran_artist_92.html Two degrees for veteran artist, 92 - News - Manchester Evening News ] ]References
External links
http://www.francishouse.org.uk/http://www.franceslennon.com/
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