Chris Ross Williamson
After training as a graphic designer and working in several respectable positions within the design and advertising sector, Chris now paints full time – creating his characterful pieces in his quiet studio in Corton, Suffolk, with panoramic views of the sea.
Often described as quirky and whimsical, Chris’ playful work usually involves an atmospheric land or seascape, populated with his characters – the gaunt and dry-humoured ‘Garfield Eldritch’ and his faithful Jack Russell pal ‘Barton Darcy’.
He paints on panel using a large palette of oil colours, sometimes mixing metallics (silver, copper or gold) into the paint. “I find it makes things shimmer – particularly the sea, and it shows quite well after varnishing”. The British east coast landscape and vernacular architecture feature heavily as a backdrop, and virtually all of Chris’ work is accompanied by a humorous ‘dittie’ – a four line poem about the world as Barton Darcy the Jack Russell sees it, evolved from the annotations of Chris’ initial sketches.
“I like to give people a grin, if I can.”