Frances Joan Dibble QSM (née McIntosh; born 1962) is a painter, sculptor, writer and art critic based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. In 2007, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal.
Dibble was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States in 1962. [1] [2] She moved to New Zealand with her family when she was a teenager, moving to Palmerston North in 1975. [1] [2]
Dibble has a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Botany, a Master of Science (Hons) in Biochemistry from Massey University, [3] and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. [2]
Dibble's artistic practice encompasses, painting, and bronze-cast sculpting. [4] Her art draws on inspiration from the natural world, including plants, sea shells and aquatic life. [2] In 1985, Dibble established a small foundry with her husband, artist Paul Dibble. [5] The Dibbles started with casting small-scale pieces, with larger pieces being sent to larger art foundries. [5] In 2000, they opened a large foundry in an industrial part of Palmerston North, where they now cast all their works. [5] [6]
She has exhibited at Te Manawa and the Zimmerman Gallery in Palmerston North. [4] [1]
In 2007, Dibble was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to art, in particular sculpture. [7]