First may I take this opportunity to wish all of my supporters, friends, and followers a very healthy, happy and prosperous 2011, and thank you for all of my customers from around the world for continuing to invest in my work, long may it light up your walls and your hearts with energy and colour.

As many of you know 2010 was a very busy year for me and filled with many extraordinary highlights, some of which are noted below…

I am now represented in Cornwall and the South West of England by two of the regions finest galleries, The Stoneman in Penzance and The Bristol Gallery. My first major exhibition at The Bristol Gallery last May was alongside Sir Peter Blake’s “Alphabet”, and work by the late Sandra Blow RA. My debut at The Stoneman was in The Summer Show with Damien Hirst and Sir Terry Frost RA among others. Since then I have participated in a number of exhibitions in both galleries.

I am grateful to all of the people who support me in Cornwall and the rest of the UK. Many clients who already own my paintings have added to their collections during the past year and I have welcomed a lot of new friends to my “wonderful world of colour”, some who bought their first paintings from my successful “Falmouth Working Boats” exhibition in Falmouth last August.

On the International scene and in addition to work already in the USA, Japan and Moscow, 2010 saw my work gaining recognition in Germany and Spain.

The main focus of my work for Germany has been my continuing dialogue with the great nineteenth century German landscape painter, Johann Wilhelm Schirmer. I was invited to participate in this epic interpretation and acknowledgement of his work by Prof. Dr. Frank Günther Zehnder. The exhibition was staged at the Internationale Kunstakademie Heimbach, in conjunction with the Julich Museum, during the summer and will be touring other regions of Germany in 2011 and 2012. The Julich Museum now have four of my paintings in their permanent collection, and I also have work in Cologne and Wolfsburg

My first work to be shown in Spain is currently on exhibition in Valencia and I am sure that this is the first of many Spanish shows to come.

Also 2010 saw more of my work going to New York, and the first painting to Paris.

Finally I am honoured and delighted that my support of local charities continues to raise much needed funds, including LARF, Marie Curie and Hospice South West’s Precious Lives Appeal.

During the Christmas and New Year period I have recently finished another large commission for New York and I have already started work for some major exhibitions in 2011… so it looks like another super busy year.

I have produced a Limited Edition Fine Art Print of “Cosmic Lights, Mousehole” to be given away in a free draw, strictly limited to an edition of 10, signed and numbered, they will be exclusively available to fans of my facebook page.

For a chance to win one you simply have to be a member of my page.

facebook.com/ChrisBillingtonArt

Ten lucky winners will be drawn on December 24th from all of the registered fans as at midnight 23rd December. The ten winners will be contacted via their facebook profiles and will have until midnight on December 26th to forward their delivery details to me, failure to do so will mean that I will redraw another winner in their place.  It’s as simple as that, and good luck !!!

This is a unique chance to win a strictly limited print taken from my 2010 Christmas painting.  The prints will be posted free to any destination worldwide and these may well be the first in an annual series.

Last night saw a good turnout, despite the bad weather, for the Private View of  The Stoneman Christmas Show.

On display is my 2010 Christmas painting, “Cosmic Lights, Mousehole”,  which is for sale at £2,500

Cosmic Lights, Mousehole (2010)  80 cm x 80 cm – acrylic on canvas

“Cosmic Lights, Mousehole” and work by Sir Terry Frost

In addition to my “Cosmic Lights, Mousehole”, and  work by other gallery artists,  a special feature of the show – and ideal for anyone looking to buy a reasonably priced Christmas gift – is a room hung floor to ceiling with works, in a wide range of styles and mediums, and all costing less than £500.

The Christmas Show will run until mid January

Stoneman Gallery
56 Chapel Street
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 4AE

Gallery opening times Monday – Saturday 10.30 – 5.00

www.stonemangraphics.co.uk

I am delighted to be exhibiting in Spain for the first time ever at the Colectiva Internacional de Navidad 2010 in Valencia.

Viva Valencia (2010) – 80cm x 80cm acrylic on canvas

Three of my paintings, commissioned especially for the show, will be featured  at the Colectiva Internacional where they will be exhibited alongside works from artists from Slovenia, Holland, Spain and America.

Fandangos In Space (2010) – 80cm x 80cm acrylic on canvas

The exhibition runs from December 3rd 2010 – January 31st 2011

Studio Bautista is located in Valencia in Calle del Mar, 25, ed. 4 pta. 3. 46003 Valencia (Spain)

Las Fallas (2010) – 80cm x 80cm acrylic on canvas

Studio Bautista is located in Valencia in Calle del Mar, 25, ed. 4 pta. 3. 46003 Valencia (Spain)

Wednesday through Saturday from 18 to 21 h. Visits outside of these times are by appointment by calling 636 973 823.

To contact call 961 465 541 or 636 973 823 or. Email: estudio@josebautista.net

In response to David Sandum’s “Call for artists” to donate postcard sized work for his Twitter art exhibition in Moss Norway here is my 7″ x 5″  contribution,  “WIN WIN Situation”

WIN WIN Situation (2010) – 7 inches x 5 inches acrylic on board

All proceeds from the sale of the works on display will go to help with purchasing children’s books for the public library,  which has just had it’s funding cut.

The exhibition was organised through David with his aim of bringing together many artists from around the world via the social network site Twitter for the benefit of local children in his home town of Moss in Norway. David has successfully achieved a high level of support and I am sure that the exhibition will raise a lot of money for those much needed books.

The exhibition will be on display at the Public Library in Moss, Norway and runs from December 1st – 30th.

BLACK AND WHITE

Lizard Light – Sir Terry Frost RA

The current exhibition at the Stoneman  Gallery is an interesting show of monochrome images including paintings , monoprints, prints and photographs from a wide range of national and international acclaimed artists. Including Anthony Frost, Rose Hilton, Terry Frost, G W Bot , Manuel Franquelo, Eve Arnold, Fay Godwin and Ian Mckeever..

monoprint 17 – Ian McKeever RA

The exhibition runs from 29 October – 26 November.

Stoneman Gallery
56 Chapel Street
Penzance
Cornwall
TR18 4AE

Gallery opening times Monday – Saturday 10.30 – 5.00

www.stonemangraphics.co.uk

The Hollywood Charity Auction, in aid of LARF (Lauren and Rosie’s Fund), was a huge success at The Office in Truro on Friday night.  Thousands of pounds were raised during the evening which was packed with events and music for the charity which is raising money to help young adults and teenagers struggling with cancer and other long-term illness.

During what was a fabulous evening I presented “Fireworks for Lauren” to Mandy Hoare which was especially commissioned for her family…..

A quick update of what is going on the studio.

It has been a very busy few months with trips to Germany and Paris etc. however there is much activity in my studio with plenty going on.

I am quite excited that Gyllyngvase (xi) is well underway and it is a continuation of the slight change in style to the series that was evident in Gyllyngvase (x).  I have also started  work on 2 further paintings for Germany.

Also  my Christmas card painting is in it’s early stages,  and as a special gift I am giving away a free limited edition signed and numbered print to 10 lucky subscribers of my facebook page.  These can be won in a draw that will be made from all members of the page at a date between now and January 1st 2011.  This print will be in a strict limited edition of 10 and hopefully will become highly colllectable

And….  this just may be the last day I paint in only my shorts until next spring, apparently the weather is due to get colder …

Whilst I was away in Germany last weekend I am most pleased that the Marie Curie Cancer Care “Diamonds Are Forever” Charity Ball,  held at The Atlantic Hotel in Newquay on Saturday Oct 2nd, was a huge success.

“Wonderland ” (2010)

I am particularly delighted that my painting “Wonderland”,  which was donated for the Grand Auction,  apparently was the Star Prize and it raised a considerable sum of money which I am sure will be put to good use by Marie Curie……

Chris Billington & Angela Coote from Marie Curie with “Wonderland”

A special thank you to all who bid on my painting for your incredible generosity to help raise these much needed funds.

I have just returned from a trip to the Eifel region of  Germany, where I went to see my work exhibited alongside works by Johann Wilhelm Schirmer.  I am proud to say that four of my paintings, which have recently been acquired by the Julich Museum for their permanent collection,  were on display in Heimbach.

During my visit I spent a day at  Julich where I was privileged to be given a private guided tour of the museum and the citadel by Bernhard Dautzenberg.  Here I had the chance to spend some time with the museum’s  Schirmer collection  and reflect on the history of the magnificent building itself.

Chris Billington – Bernhard Dautzenberg – JW Schirmer Collection – Julich Museum

At Heimbach I had a very rewarding and valuable meeting with the Director of the most exceptional Kunstakademie Heimbach, Professor Dr. Frank Gunter Zehnder and Marcell Perse, the Curator of the Julich Museum.  I was also reunited with my good friend, and co-collaborator, German artist, Maf Räderscheidt.

Chris Billington – Prof. Dr. Zehnder – Heimbach –  Dialogue  JW Schirmer Exhibition

In addition to an already amazing few days I was also introduced to the master German Printer Martin Katelhon.   We had a few hours together at his studio in Cologne where we discussed the possibility of working on a project for 2011.  I am especially excited about this, Martin is highly regarded internationally and has worked with many great artists, including Yoko Ono and Sigmar Polke.