In 1986, with the urging of his art collectors and friends, Fran decided that a wildlife art career would be the course he would take, and he retired from business and distribution management. Following this decision, he "arrived" on the wildlife art scene by winning the 1987 MARYLAND DUCK STAMP COMPETITION (recording the first perfect score in the 14 year history of the contest). He has since gone on to win the 1990 IDAHO, 1990 DELAWARE, 1994 VIRGINIA, 1995 WEST VIRGINIA, 1995 NORTH CAROLINA HUNTING & LICENSING STAMP, and the 1996-97 FIRST BLACK BEAR STAMP for MARYLAND. Fran has just been commissioned to do the FIRST NATIONAL DOVES UNLIMITED STAMP for the United States Doves Unlimited organization.

A longtime member of the SAA and WNAG, Fran has displayed his work numerous times at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in their "BIRDS IN ART" & "WILDLIFE, THE ARTIST'S VIEW" exhibitions and tours. He has been awarded three "AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE" with the prestigious Society Of Animal Artists along with their LEONARD MEISELMAN AWARD FOR REALISM. In addition Mr. Sweet has been the featured artist at many wildlife art exhibitions around the country, and his work has been auctioned at the famous CHRISTIES AUCTION HOUSE in LONDON. His work has been used for designs in the garment industry, and his art has helped grace the covers and texts of wildlife art books and conservation publications

A major article was written in WILDLIFE ART NEWS in 1993, and the country of Zimbabwe invited him over as their guest to produce a piece of art for that country's collection in 2000. Fran became a member of the Society of Animal Artists in 1990, was elected to the board of directors in 1998, and became president on January 3rd, 2001. "When I paint, my goal is to create something that will excite me. The natural world and its wildlife is a source of ideas and subjects which continually motivates me to create. When others get the same enjoyment from my work that I get from creating it, I've accomplished my goal."