Linda Francis grew up in Buckinghamshire. Art was not an option at her secondary school, and she trained to work with children, later going into office work. While her family was growing up, she made stained glass windows to commission from home. When the chance to study art finally arrived, she took A Level Art & Design as the first and last (!) adult to join her local secondary school. After attending a foundation course, she graduated in 2002 with a first class degree in Fine Art from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College.