How a Liverpool student turned local pubs into vibrant Art

A woman who has found a successful corner of the internet selling watercolour paintings of Liverpool pubs has shared her surprise and delight at the amount of people who have bought her art.

24-year-old Frances Dawson started her Things By Frances website when she began to paint buildings outside her accommodation on Duke Street.

Speaking to The Guide, Frances said:

“The first one I did was about this time last year, it was Petit Cafe, because I live quite close to it. I just kind of sat opposite it and sketched it and then gave it to the bar staff and then it was framed in the window. I decided to do the same thing for a couple more, so I drew one and then gave it to the Jacaranda, and the same with the Monro.

I did a few more of those and built up a portfolio and then started putting things on social media and I had a few requests, ‘can you do this one’ and ‘can you do this one’ and I thought, you know what I feel ready now that I’d like to offer commissions and stuff.”

Frances, who is originally from Birmingham, enjoyed art from a young age before going on to study classical music at the University of Liverpool.

She added:

“I was a super arty kid and I loved drawing in primary school and it was very much kind of my safe space. From Year 7 to my early twenties I became a full on theatre kid and music and violin took over and I wasn’t as interested (in art).

The past few years things have kind of changed because I’ve been going through health challenges and especially since 2023 when I had a relapse of my situation, I got really into crochet as a way to kind of calm down my brain and have something to focus on. I always feel like I want some purpose, even if I’m not very able to have a purpose when my energy is low.”

Frances, who also accepts commissions to paint house portraits, told The Guide of how Liverpool’s architecture helps keep her creativity thriving.

“Liverpool, I just find it super inspiring. What I like to say when I get asked about my art style is: I paint the way Liverpool makes me feel. I like to use really kind of vibrant, warm colours because Liverpool makes me feel inspired, whimsical, warm and at peace. I love the Georgian red brick and I’ve kind of developed a style with the colour palette of Liverpool, particularly.

In terms of (painting) other places, I’m completely open to it, and it’s something I’d love to explore, but if I’m drawing for me I kind of want to have some sort of connection to it I suppose.

“I’d love to try different things, maybe some foreign architecture as well, some places in Europe are beautiful. I have a few projects in mind that I’d like to do. The dream is to support myself with this, right now it’s like an odd bit here and there. I’m very grateful for how it’s going. I’d love to be an illustrator one day because I’ve always been very inspired and interested in children’s media. I like writing stories as well, I’ve written kind of a middle grade novel already.

I have other picture book ideas, so maybe something like that. Honestly, just continuing to do commissions and apply for galleries and stuff. I’ve been very lucky to have one of my pieces submitted to the Liverpool Art Fair this year in the Liver Building, which I feel very lucky for.”