Patricia France was born in 1911 and passed away in 1995. After taking up painting aged in her 50s, Patricia France created a unique body of figurative painting.

France grew up in various locations in the North Island and had thought to pursue medicine at university. In 1928, after finishing her schooling at Auckland Diocesan School for Girls, France travelled with her mother and aunt to Europe where they visited art galleries, museums and chateaux in Italy, Sicily, France, Switzerland, Holland and Germany. She enrolled and studied in Paris at the recently established branch of the New York School of Interior Design.

In 1931 the trio returned to Auckland and for many years thereafter Patricia’s life was devoted sol...