Artist & Painter, a Journey...

Chris's Artistic Journey

Experience Chris's artistic journey through his oil paintings on canvas and board, each piece representing a unique passage of meaning and personal growth.

A different approach....

From outside to inside, discover the coastal and countryside-inspired art of Chris, an artist and painter who conceptualises each painting as a personal journey of exploration and fulfilment. ''Sometimes I might be inspired by a simple medicine dropper bottle, a quiet road by a river in the Cotswolds and occasionally it could be the sound of summer or the waves lapping at a beach shore. I paint what I feel.''

''On a beautiful summer's evening, I saw Ben, a neighbour's 25 year old hunter, quietly enjoying the new grass in his paddock beside the Red Barn. I tried to capture the heat and the intense quiet, nothing but the quiet munching of the grass from Ben and the gentle buzzing of the bees on the meadow grasses along the bank in front of me.''

''to imagine the space, to fill in the gaps....''

Chris is an artist and painter based in the coastal countryside of North Devon. He paints with oils, using canvas or board as his painting surfaces.

Chris conceptualises each painting as a journey, from the germination of an idea, to discovering the perfect subject. Working on the development and fulfilment of meaning throughout his compositions, each painting undergoes its own personal passage. Perhaps his notion of ‘journey’ encapsulates Chris’s own journey in life.

As a young boy Chris was in love with colour, which he translated from the ‘real’ to paper, board, or canvas. His creativity was also expressed through music, which has been an integral part of his life. In his band he played bass and sang, later going on to front his own swing band performing many jazz and contemporary standards in front of corporate clients including the NHS and BBC. He attended Art College in the 1980s at Reading College of Arts.

His next steps were to become a husband, a father, and a business owner; these further shaped Chris’s path to artistic fulfilment. It has been a winding, often rocky road, interspersed with false turns, mistakes, realisations, and interludes of enlightenment.

The viewer can almost guess these twists and turns when viewing the artwork, as they undoubtedly inform each outing into paint.

From his home studio in the historic and picturesque town of Malmesbury, on the edge of the Cotswolds and on numerous field trips to North and South Devon, Chris is never short of inspiration for his work.

Post Pandemic, Chris has moved from the Cotswolds to North Devon permanently, making his inspiration the life and spaces all around him.

''I love to paint subjects that allow the viewer to get involved, to imagine the space, to fill in the gaps of action and participation, and even to try to guess what might be behind a tree, a boat, or a building, that isn’t discernible from the creation on canvas.''

Chris continues:

‘'My approach to each representation is one of total mental and spiritual involvement; I try to be completely ‘present’ in the process. The peace and joy I experience in putting the work down on canvas, board or paper, whether in oils, pastels, or pencils, is what I strive to pass on to the observer.''

The artworks that Chris creates are a reflection of experience; of an impression of human interactivity with its surrounding space, be that land, sea, sky, work or home. His works encourage a contemplation from spiritual as well experiential, atmospheric, and participatory observations. They encourage the viewer to participate on the level they are prompted, at first blush, to engage on. In so doing, the paintings become very personal.

Jason O’Rourke PhD, DipPFS

Writer and Musician

Art is a Journey......

A few moments along the way........

Artistic Journey

Explore Chris's unique artistic journey through his oil paintings on canvas.

Painting in the Moment

I try to convey the feelings and excitement I experience in the moment through the immediacy of painting a subject there and then, on the spot. The 'arty' terms for this are 'alla prima': at first attempt (all in one go), and 'en plein air': in the open air.

With something like a sunset or a storm, the light can be fleeting, shadows changing, colours morphing, it might start tipping with rain or start blowing a hooley. So I always try to get a reference snap. That way I can get the basics down, and finish from the reference or, sometimes, in the studio if I have to.

In this painting 'Vauxhall On The Thames', my approach was completely different......

Chris's paintings truly capture the essence of his journey. Each piece tells a unique story, filled with emotion and depth. A true artist at heart.

Deb W

★★★★★

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