November 2025 News
November 2025
Francesca’s Paints is turning 29!
The company was established on the 14th of November 1996 by me.
My passion for paint and colours started in Sydney, Australia, where I discovered the trade working for Porter’s Paints, the only manufacturer at the time, creating traditional and natural paint finishes. Peter Lewis, the founder and owner at the time, hired me because my thick Italian accent added authenticity, as traditional products like lime wash or stucco all had Italian origins—even though I had never mixed paint before. I found my love for colours and paint finishes and spent seven years with Porter’s Paints, opening several shops around Sydney before making the decision to return to Europe.
The original goal was not to start a new paint company. Upon arriving in England, I went looking for a job at Farrow & Ball just as they opened a shop on Fulham Road. While Paint Magic and Jocasta Innes were setting trends, limewash and eco paint finishes were novel concepts.
I did not want to just sell paint and colours—I wanted to make them. While walking home from another unsuccessful job interview, I realised the only solution was to launch my own business, and just like that, Francesca’s Paints was born.
While we continue to grow, tackling increasingly larger and more ambitious projects, some principles remain constant. I have always always placed a high value on the skill of colour mixing, knowing there are no shortcuts. We rely not on a machine, but purely on our expert eye for colour to achieve the perfect shade.
My 60th Birthday in India.
On the 9th of November I celebrated my 60th birthday surrounded by the sounds and colours of India.
“Being in India is a dream for me, I am creating memories for life. This trip is an incredibly deep and life-changing experience. The spirituality and energy of the Himalayas are so pure, strong and life-giving.”
These are some images of the breathtaking Koteshwar Temple, one of the most holy places in the Rudraprayag region. I climbed 3 km up the mountain, covering a steep incline with around 700 steps to reach it—absolutely worth the hike. Also pictured is the 500-year-old Palace in Vrindavan, which is completely painted in limewash. The palace is where I stayed and studied Vedanta Philosophy, and it is the home of the teacher Sri Venugopal Goswami, Bhakti Yoga Acharya.
The colours of India have an enormous effect on me; I created two of our most successful collections after returning from various visits to this beloved country. JJK and Himalayas have all come about in response to the colours of India. There is also Mughal Spring, Indian Summer, and Monsoon Rains—a collaboration with Aleta Online inspired by Mughal textiles.
Colour of the Month
The most popular colour this month is Tobacco, from the Pale Collection, with its bright clean and earthy warmth.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCESCA’S PAINTS!!! And thank you for your curiosity, kindness and appreciation.
Best
Francesca
