Francis Cloake
Francis Cloake is a fine art photographer based in Byron Bay, Australia, working across portraiture and coastal photography.
Her practice explores people and place through two distinct approaches. In her portraiture, Francis is drawn to honest, unguarded moments that reveal the character and stories of her subjects. Her Surf series takes a more abstract approach, exploring colour, composition and the patterns created by people within the coastal landscape.
Working in both digital and analogue photography, Francis has exhibited in Australia and London. Her work has been recognised in numerous national photography and art prizes, including the National Photographic Portrait Prize, Olive Cotton Photographic Portrait Prize and Lethbridge Landscape Prize.
In 2026, her portrait Shirley (2022) was included in the National Portrait Gallery's retrospective exhibition celebrating the history of the Photographic Portrait Prize. The work was also featured in The Age, alongside discussion of her No Filter series, which explores women over 70 and their relationships with their bodies.
Her work can be found in galleries throughout Australia.
Selected Exhibitions & Awards
2026 — National Portrait Gallery, Photographic Portrait Prize retrospective exhibition, Canberra.
2024 — Tales of Life and Land, Group Exhibition, Pack Gallery, Byron Bay, NSW.
2023, 2022, 2021 — National Photographic Portrait Prize, Finalist, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.
2022 — Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Finalist, Brisbane, QLD.
2022 — Every Day Climate Crisis Visual Petition, Climarte Gallery, Melbourne, VIC.
2021 — Lethbridge Landscape Prize, Finalist, Brisbane, QLD.
2021, 2019 — Olive Cotton Photographic Portrait Prize, Finalist, Murwillumbah, NSW.
2018 — Group Exhibition, Pack Gallery, Bangalow, NSW.
1996 — Going Home, Solo Photographic Exhibition, South London, UK.
Selected Press
2026 — The Age
Off guard and on point: Australia's most unexpected portraits
Ray Edgar, August 2026
Francis's portrait Shirley (2022) was featured in an article exploring the National Portrait Gallery's retrospective exhibition, alongside discussion of her No Filter portrait series.
2022 — BBC News
The Women Photographing Australia's Climate Crisis
Francis contributed photographs documenting the Lismore floods and coastal erosion at Byron Bay's Main Beach to a visual petition highlighting the impacts of climate change in Australia.