FrancisKnight

Name: FrancisKnight
Address: The Business Terrace, King Street, Maidstone, ME156AW, GB
Telephone: 07956 437242/07855 180004
Price range: $$

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FrancisKnight

Arts consultants, public art commissioners & project managers delivering temporary & permanent work in the public realm. Two busy Pisceans who love their job.

FrancisKnight is an independent public art consultancy commissioning artists in the public realm. Public art compliments, integrates and adds value within a regeneration or development scheme. From the development of ideas to the selection of artists we help you realise inspirational public art projects that inspire vibrant communities and places. FrancisKnight supports clients throughout the commissioning process, project managing high quality artwork and community engagement programmes.

31/03/2026

Took a lovely break from the office to indulge in some art today. First stop was Timber Square, Lavington Street, London, SE1 to see ’s latest piece, Seedlinks. Can't reveal too much just yet but you can see an exhibition of her work at 5 Howick Place. Meeting Clare was fantastic, and hearing about her creative process was truly inspiring. Then, we took a leisurely walk through Green Park to the for the Rose Wylie exhibition. Rose's use of text, drawing and painting to comment on everyday life and popular culture is both witty and vibrant. We've always been fans of her work. At 92, she's a legend, and her success is well-deserved.

17/10/2025

Great day out in Folkestone today, taking in the guided by the most excellent & knowledgeable Thank you Jonathan!

Credit to Curator Sorcha Carey on a high quality, thoughtful and accessible Triennial. There is something for everyone.

It finishes this Sunday 19th October, so if you get a chance, go visit! Our favourite included Dorothy Cross, Katie Paterson, Sara Trillo & Hanna Tuulikki

Photo 1: Dorothy Cross: Red Erratic
Photo 2: Emilija Škarnulytė: Burial Photo 3: Emeka Ogboh: Ode to the Channel Photo 4: Katie Paterson: Afterlife Photo 5: Jennifer Tree: Oceans Tree of Life Photo 6: Cooking Sections: Ministry of Sewers Photo 7: Sara Trillo: Urn Field

31/07/2025

Second workshop led by artist for a group of young people as part of the Alkerden Hub commission. Commissioned by Eastern Quarry Limited, Jo is creating a new public artwork for the foyer area of the Hub. The surrounding chalk landscape was the main source of inspiration and the workshop explored art and geology with large scale drawings, mark making & painting. Great work! Thanks to

05/07/2025

Great first night production of Twelfth Night by Theatre at Boughton Monchelsea Place last night. Congratulations , cast & crew. A beautiful evening of Outdoor Shakespeare, music & laughter. If you get a chance catch the Summer Tour in beautiful venues across the Sourh East. 🎶🎭🎪

08/05/2025

🎉Artist Opportunity 🎉

FrancisKnight is inviting expressions of interest from artists with a strong interest in sustainable practice, material reuse, and collaborative making to participate in a new pilot project: Sustainable Public Art. 🌱

We are looking for an artist who:

Has an interest in or established sustainable and environmentally responsible practice
Enjoys collaborative working and interdisciplinary dialogue
Is excited by the creative potential of waste or salvaged materials
Has experience in public art, socially engaged practice, or site-responsive work
Can communicate ideas clearly through drawings, models, or prototypes
Can contribute to research, workshops, and development meetings
Location: To be confirmed
Project Duration: 6 months, starting October 2025
Fee: To be confirmed, in line with Artist Union Rates, including research, concept development, and workshop time

How to Apply

Please submit:

A short statement (max. 450 words) outlining your interest in the opportunity and relevant experience

Up to 6 images/examples of previous work or links to your website/online portfolio (including any material reuse or sustainable practice, if applicable)

A current CV or biography

Deadline: 9am Monday 19th May 2025.
Submit to: [email protected]

Shortlisted artists will be invited for a short informal conversation with the project team.

Link in bio⬆ https://francisknight.co.uk/opportunities/

28/03/2025

This week, our post comes from The Hague. We’ve taken some time out of the office and the UK to visit two artists we’ve been working with over the past 3 and half years. and .mollett are collaborating on a ceramic tiled commission for the Pumping Station, Chatham. Jose has a studio in The Hague while Nicole is a Kent based artist. Nicole has been working at Jose’s studio and together they will be hand painting 1000 tiles in total. Their artwork is rich in imagery, history, myth and rooted in research.

Our visit this week has brought us back to the ‘why’ we have chosen to do what we do. It has reminded us of our work as public art consultants and why it’s so inspirational to spend time with artists and talk about their process. This commission has taken a long time in development, but it has given both Nicole and Jose the space and time to develop their thinking.

Sometimes, the creative process gets lost in the commissioning. Timelines shorten or extend; people come and go over the lifetime of a project and we all flex and bend to accommodate the changes. But for the past few days we have rediscovered the passion that drives our business and that we should not forget the ‘why’

And today we joined them in the studio to see some tiles fresh from the kiln……..
Sound on 🔉 for the 2nd image, listen 🎧 as the tiles start to cool down.

31/01/2025

✨ Finding joy, daily rituals and comfort in January ✨

January is such a long cold month; it can be a quiet month for FrancisKnight, allowing us time to get our house in order, update our goals and review our plans for the year ahead. Important stuff for a small business. Time also to find little nuggets of joy in our day. Find out what we've been up to.... ⏩ link in bio Image description: collage of photos featuring three distinct sections:

Top section: A tranquil beach scene with a calm, pale blue sea extending toward the horizon under a cloudy sky.
Bottom left section: A collection of green sticky notes arranged on a tabletop, containing handwritten keywords and phrases such as "People," "Connection," "Artists," and "Curate Spaces".
Bottom right section: A workspace featuring an computer. In front of the computer, a content orange tabby cat naps on the desk, basking in sunlight.

20/12/2024

🎄 Merry Christmas from FrancisKnight! 🎄

As we wrap up for the festive season, we’re reflecting on two decades of incredible work delivering creative, meaningful public art projects that connect people and places. Celebrating 20 years has been a milestone for us, and it’s all thanks to the amazing artists, partners, and communities we’ve worked with along the way.

We’re excited to see what 2025 holds as we continue to bring public art to life and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Wishing you all a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎅🥂

Image Description:

The image shows a modern and minimalist design featuring a stylised Christmas tree made up of symmetrical heart-shaped leaves arranged in a pyramid formation. The tree is topped with a star and decorated with small dots resembling ornaments. Below the tree, the FrancisKnight logo is displayed prominently, with the text "Merry Christmas" in bold, elegant font underneath. The background is a deep teal colour, giving the design a festive and professional appearance that aligns with FrancisKnight’s branding.

13/12/2024

📢 Our Latest Newsletter is Out Now! 📰

✨ Celebrating 20 Years of FrancisKnight – Two decades of delivering over 60 public art projects and collaborating with incredible artists and communities.
✨ Survey Results – What we learned from 56 artists about shaping the future of public art.
✨ Creative Workshop – Walter Bailey's community engagement workshop at Bicknor Woods.
✨ New Art Unveiled – What We Left Behind at Monchelsea Park celebrates the past and connects it to the present.

🔗 Don’t miss out! Read all the latest updates and subscribe for more ➡️https://bit.ly/4iKEbBg

Image Description:

This graphic highlights the latest edition of the FrancisKnight Public Art Consultancy Newsletter, celebrating 20 years of creating meaningful public art. The top section reflects on FrancisKnight’s journey, showcasing key statistics, including partnerships with housing associations, developers, local authorities, and artists. Accompanying this is a feature image of Louise Francis and Laura Knight, underscoring their leadership and dedication.

The lower section spotlights three recent projects: the results of the Public Art Practitioners Survey, which gathered insights to shape future programmes; Walter Bailey’s Oak Gall Ink Workshop at Rosewood, blending art and community engagement; and the unveiling of Jason Mulligan’s sculptures, What We Left Behind, at Monchelsea Park. Together, these updates demonstrate FrancisKnight’s ongoing commitment to placemaking and public art.

05/12/2024

Walking back from our design team meeting this morning and passing by the and the public art by ‘Temporal Trace’ and Michael Landy’s ‘Lemon Meringue’.

28/11/2024

🐚🖌️Exciting Progress on The Pumping Station Public Art! 🐚🖌️

We’re thrilled to share that designs for The Pumping Station mural at Chatham Waterfront have been signed off! Artists Nicole Mollett and José Den Hartog are now crafting beautiful tile samples and preparing drawings for this striking ceramic mural.

This project, commissioned by Medway Development Company will celebrate Chatham’s maritime heritage, river ecology, and engineering history.

Want to hear more from the artists behind the project? Tune into our Talking Public Art podcast to discover Nicole and José’s thoughts on community engagement, their creative process, and a few unexpected stories! ➡️ https://francisknight.co.uk/the-rewards-of-community-engagement/ 🎧

Image Descriptions:

First Image: José den Hartog, intricately painting details on a ceramic tile. The design features a fish-tail and human figure hybrid, carefully rendered with fine brushstrokes. Various art tools and sketches are visible on the workspace.

Second Image: A close-up of a hand using a brush to add delicate texture to a ceramic tile. The design focuses on intricate, naturalistic patterns resembling foliage or coral-like forms.

Third Image: A tabletop workspace displaying several ceramic tiles in progress. The tiles feature designs inspired by natural elements such as seashells, marine life, and abstract patterns, all arranged on a green and beige background.

Fourth Image: A detailed view of completed ceramic tiles laid out together. The designs showcase flowing patterns resembling water currents interspersed with detailed seashell motifs.

Address

The Business Terrace, King Street
Maidstone
ME156AW

Telephone

07956 437242/07855 180004

Website

http://www.francisknight.co.uk/

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