Biography

Frances (Fran) Cloke (1920-2019) studied painting under André Bieler at Queen’s University. After graduation she served in the Women’s Army Corps in Hamilton. Settling with her husband, Jack, in Ancaster, Fran raised her family and had an active volunteer life there. When her children were grown up, Fran attended the Dundas Valley School of Art and rediscovered her passion for painting. During times of inclement weather when Fran was unable to carry on with her plein air painting, she would direct her camera to create these domestic still life photographs. Originally purposed as birthday cards, these pictures still exert their considerable charm today.