OXFORD – After teaching music for more than 33 years, Francis Wilcox decided he wanted to seriously pursue one of his other long-time interests: painting. Now with 30 paintings in his collection, Wilcox will display his work in an exhibition at the New Hartford Public Library.

Wilcox grew up on a dairy farm in Oxford. He graduated from Oxford Academy and Central School before going on to obtain his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam and his master’s degree from the University of Lowell. His interest in painting began in college. Wilcox explained that while he always enjoyed painting, it was difficult to find time for it while he was teaching.