- CHRISTINE GARWOOD - Contemporary Visual Artist

With more than 30 years experience in the art world as a freelance professional artist and art tutor, Christine continues to pass on her skills in a variety of art disciplines to many  students in North Wales where she has lived since 1989. Her work has been exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions and is in many private and public collections worldwide e.g. The Otter Gallery Collection, University of Chichester; Capital Bank; Minchinhampton Baptist Church; The Grosvenor Museum Contemporary Collection, Chester.

Artwork in publications include:'Textile Crafts'  by Constance Howard (Pitman) 'Printing and Embroidery'  by Mary Newland and Carol Walkin (Batsford) ;     'Embroidery' , 'Craft' , 'Art of England' and 'Coast and Country' magazines.       In 2009 artwork has been used as front covers on 'Roots' Christian publication and on 'Natur Cymru' magazine.

Previously based at The Old Bank Gallery in Rhos-on-Sea, Conwy, Christine and her husband Peter Garbutt have now moved their gallery to larger premises at  the historic Tabernacle Chapel in Llandudno, North Wales,where she runs workshops.These include drawing techniques,watercolour and acrylic painting,mixed media,silk painting and 'freestyle' machine embroidery techniques which she has developed.

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I enjoy working in a wide range of materials - interpretations of my ideas are either detailed and realistic or free semi - abstract paintings depending on the subject matter. Ideas are often inspired by natural forms seen in both landscapes and seascapes. Through a fascination with colour and an enduring love of texture, I often add an extra ''dimension'' to my paintings by using ''free'' machine stitched marks to create another layer of interest  that cannot be conveyed by painting alone. I call it ''''painting with thread'''' or ''''drawing with a needle'''' and I work on both fabric and paper.

Due to my Christian faith, my work has evolved to incorporate Biblical ideas relating to our human experience and to the elements around us - earth, air, fire and water.

 I am interested in the physical boundaries of the world as we see it now, linked to themes like creation and eternity and my ''vision'' of the spiritual realm - creating endless exciting possibilities of colour and form. Forms have boundaries, limits, but colour has a more etherial quality which endures beyond the actual images.

 Some of my paintings are about a ''seeing'' process that goes beyond the physical and represent my feelings and emotions of my love of Wales.''''Cri- dy- tir'''' - ''''The cry of the land'''' evokes a sence of belonging to the mysteries of the past, the struggles of the people and the need for the preservation of ''Cymraeg'' and the spiritual heritage of our land.

 (c) Christine Garwood. 2009.