Fran Skiles was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from West Virginia University with a BA degree in textile design.

She is a full time studio artist, working in Florida and West Virginia. In addition to her art practice she teaches and lectures throughout the United States giving workshops in paper and fabric collage.

In the 1990’s, before making collage paintings, Fran made art quilts and exhibited them Nationally and Internationally. The venues included Quilt National, best of show 97’, Visions, Quilt San Diego, British Craft Council’s “American Art Quilt Exhibition, Fiber Arts International and Art Quilts; America of the Millennium in Strasburg, France.