Souza was born in Goa in 1924. He was a student of the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay from where he was expelled for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942. He was a founder member of the Progressive Artists Group, Bombay. He left for England in 1949 and then finally settled in New York in 1967.

Along with several solo exhibitions in London he was invited to exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and the Venice Biennale-1954; Guggenheim Foundation, New York-1967, where he was awarded the Guggenheim Award; 'Commonwealth Artists of Fame', London-1977; 'India : Myth and Reality - Aspects of Modern Indian Art', Museum of Modern Art, Oxford and Festival of India, Royal Academy of Art, London-1982; 'Modern Indian Painting', Hirschhorn Museum, Washington D.C.-1982. Retrospective exhibitions of his work were organized by Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi-1986 and 1996.

Souza's recognition as a writer came in 1955 with the publication of 'Nirvana of a Maggot' in the Encounter magazine edited by Stephen Spender. Subsequently a short autobiography 'Words and Line' was first published in 1959. He was awarded the John Moore Prize at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool-1957 and received the Italian Government Scholarship-1960.

Famous Painting of  F.N. Souza : Reclining Odalisque, Seated Nude, "Bust of a Lady", "Landscape with Primordial Figures", etc. 

Style of F.N. Souza : The subjects covered in the paintings of Francis Newton Souza comprise of still life, landscape, nudes, icons of Christianity, etc. One of the most recurring themes is that of the conflicts in a man-woman relationship. However, the figures have been deliberately distorted and reveal an uninhibited and realistic style. Souza was a rebel and non-conformist and these views reflect in his painting style also. At the same time, there is a visible influence of the folk art of Goa, the Renaissance paintings, landscapes of the 18th and 19th century Europe, etc.