Chris Watts Artist

About Chris Watts

Context

I’m an artist living and working in the UK Midlands.

Early in childhood I discovered that moments of heightened reality could occur spontaneously in everyday places and situations. These often coincided with particular conditions of light and shade when objects, views and moments in time took on increased significance.

Although initially surprised I also came to appreciate a flick of the head that could sometimes leave places feeling quite different and fresh to the senses.

At school in rural Somerset I enjoyed drawing and making things, the paintings of Gauguin and Cezanne, the letters of Vincent Van Gogh and French New Wave cinema.

In adolescence I found that drawing from life in a room, a field or a roadside layby, could bring relief from asthma in times of anxiety.

I began my art and design foundation studies with this experience but also believing that life's practicalities require outputs for others to buy. It was clear that this could become more troublesome for an artist than a designer.

Anticipating a life in design I was surprised and relieved when my tutors advised fine art instead.