Liberté Egalité Fraternité

As the civilised world stands shoulder to shoulder with France and her people,  and as a mark of solidarity with a nation that I love,  I have renamed my 2013 painting  “We’ll Always Have Delaunay”, which currently hangs in France,  to ‘We’ll Always Have Paris’,  the painting’s original working title.

‘We’ll Always Have Paris’ – liberté égalité fraternité – November 13

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Recent modern art sales in the UK and USA.

Sales of paintings in the past few months include work sold to collectors in Los Angeles, London and Cornwall, all paintings from my 2014   ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ exhibition, once again a huge thank you to all who continue to support my art.

Here are some of the paintings sold.

Anarchy In The UK (2014) ~ 20in x 20in acrylic on wood panel ~ Chris Billington

Mittageisen (2014) ~ 36in X 24in mixed media on wood panel ~ Chris Billington

Pills (2014) ~ 12in X 12in acrylic on wood panel ~ Chris Billington

And I am truly delighted that Praying Hands is now hanging in Devo HQ in Akron, Ohio, USA

Praying Hands (2014) ~ 40in X 32in acrylic on canvas ~ Chris Billington

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“Three Spires Under Blue Skies” was painted as a result of my being approached by Truro City Council in October 2014 and asked to create the cover artwork for the 2015 Official Truro City Guide, thereby marking my move from Gweek back to Truro in the spring of the same year.   The majestic Truro Cathedral, with its famous three spires, was the obvious choice for the painting.

Distributed in outlets and retail premises across the city and to 60,000 homes in the city area it was a great honour to be approached for this publication, although the guide has been out for a few months now there are still a few copies around Truro.   The Guide is packed with information and ideas for all as the holiday season gets into full swing and last week I was contacted by a man on holiday from Leeds who having seen a copy tracked me down at my studio to buy a painting.

Three Spires Under Blue Skies ~ 2105 Official Truro Guide ~ Chris Billington

However, the main reason for this post is to highlight the current plight of Truro City Cathedral

Three Spires Under Blue Skies (2014) ~ 32in x 40in ~ acrylic on canvas ~ Chris Billington

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Apologies for the infrequent updates these past few months but I am in the process of setting up my new atelier art studio in France.

At the start of the year I took the decision to complement my studio and painting in Cornwall by adding a new dimension to my work with an atelier art studio in France.  I set out to find a special place and since the early part of the year I have made a few visits to France with the intention of finding a suitable property in the Poitou-Charentes region.

Aigre Church – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Start of the River Boutonne at Chef-Boutonne – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Being well placed and noted for it’s light, due to the temperate climate which is claimed to be the sunniest area of the country after Provence and Languedoc Roussillon this region is home to some of the most beautiful architecture in France, particularly in Poitiers itself, which complete with some well preserved medieval heritage is the capital of the Vienne Department and also of the region of Poitou-Charentes.  Including the magnificent Poitiers Cathedral – Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers – the building of which was started in the 12th Century by Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the Palace of Justice – le Palais de Justice de Poitiers – originally the home of the Counts of Poitou and the Dukes of Aquitaine.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

le Palais de justice de Poitiers – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

Given that I have a love of all things French and that I have a French agent, Michael Picoron, this is not a surprising step for me to take.  Being on the European mainland will make it easier for me to exhibit throughout France, and of course other European Countries, many of which I have exhibited in several times to date.   After much searching and covering hundreds of miles, criss-crossing the region all fuelled by gallons of fabulous French coffee I finally found the one that had the perfect space and ambience.

Fuelled by French coffee – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

My new atelier art studio will be situated in the grounds of an old eighteenth century country house, a property with beautiful stone outbuildings all set in a wonderful wooded garden and it will be a place where I can produce some compelling work.

This will be a complete contrast to my Truro City Artlab and clearly it will take some time to complete the acquisition and get the atelier up and running but I will update the news accordingly as the project develops further.

World within a world – in search of atelier art studio France – Chris Billington 2015.

In the meantime my painting and current projects are progressing well in my studio in Cornwall.

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In the UK we are a week away from a general election and I am mindful of my 2010 painting ‘Democracy’ which hangs in my studio here in Cornwall.

‘Democracy’ (2010) ~ Chris Billington

We are told that this is the most uncertain British election for many years and it is easy to see why, the electorate has little appetite for a political system that has spawned an elite that is completely detached from reality.

Long gone are the days when people got into politics for the good of the nation, conviction politicians have been replaced by self interested politicians across all of the parties who really do seem to be in it for themselves, and to a man or woman they all seem incapable of answering questions in a straight way or of telling the truth.

The political elite is now populated by condescending politicians from the left such as Labour’s Emily Thornberry who sneer at the working class and the hypocrisy of Diane Abbott who wanted to ban private schools but sent her own son to one, and the ‘authentic’ David Cameron who summed up the Conservatives by scoring a massive own goal in mixing up the midlands club Aston Villa, of whom he is supposed to be a lifelong fan, with London’s West Ham. And somebody really should point out to Mr Cameron that rolling up shirt sleeves does not equate with passion.  What Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats did on tuition fees was unforgivable and of course almost the entire House of Commons was guilty of defrauding the British public whilst maintaining that they were keeping ‘within the spirit of the law’ during the members of parliament expenses scandal.

All three of the major parties have discredited politics with lies and false promises to the electorate over the past few years and their collective inability to answer the simplest of questions in a straight and honest way is astounding.  How on earth can the electorate trust any of them on any issue, or make a valid judgement on their policies when mostly they are not worth the paper they are written on.   To make matters worse a lot of the politicians of today have never done anything in life outside of politics, they are career politicians. It is little wonder that people are turning to UKIP, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the DUP, the Greens and a myriad of smaller parties and independent politicians across the country looking for answers.

What is clear is that Democracy in the UK  is seriously broken and there is very little chance that any voter will wake up on May 8th with a government that they actually voted for.

It is clear that our political system has to change, because whichever way you look at it ‘Democracy is a double cross’

‘Democracy’ (2010) – 76cm x 50cm – acrylic on canvas – Chris Billington

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‘Bristol Corinthian At Axbridge’, my first commissioned art of 2015 has recently been completed and is now hanging in it’s new home in Somerset.

I was approached by a client last year who was keen for me to paint Cheddar Reservoir for his new home, the only brief being the size and that it was to be in my trademark colourful style.

Not really familiar with the reservoir I took a trip up from Cornwall to see it at first hand.   I walked it’s circumference on a bright sunny winter morning taking a few photographs as I went.   It is a concrete structure  and has an almost perfect circular shape and was built in the 1930’s, the same period during which many of the UK’s wonderful Lido structures of which I have a real love.  Featuring two distinctive concrete water towers which sit opposite each other the reservoir is framed graciously by lush green hills around it’s flanks.

Interestingly it was the first British reservoir to permit sailing and is home to the Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club, which was formed in 1931.   Seeing the various class of dinghy dotted around the grounds of the Bristol Corinthian YC clubhouse with their masts pointing at various angles towards the winter sun my final ideas and title for the painting of Cheddar reservoir were formulated.

Using my characteristic principle of basic design and vibrant colour ‘Bristol Corinthian At Axbridge’ is at once an homage to the seduction of a strikingly simple yet functional construction and the sailing club that have made use of its waters for almost a century.

‘Bristol Corinthian At Axbridge’ (2015) – 32in x 30in – Chris Billington

Whilst the path and road around Cheddar Reservoir is not a Public Footpath, Bristol Water do permit access for people to walk the perimeter and also allow Fishing which is leased to the Cheddar Angling Club .

Cheddar Reservoir Leisure

Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club

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It would seem that I now have several things in common with eighteenth century artist William Hogarth.  One was my 2013 foray into sequential art, a method for which Hogarth is credited as being a pioneer with his engravings such as A Harlot’s Progress.   Somewhat in the same degree my four paintings of Schirmer’s ‘Daytime Cycle’ for the Juelich Museum is a common factor and as of last week I have now joined the ranks of ‘the painter and his pug’.

The Painter and his Pug 1745 by William Hogarth (1697-1764) ~ Tate Britain

William Hogarth (1697 – 1764) was a painter, printmaker, writer and engraver. Artistically he was particularly noted for his engravings and paintings of moral subjects, and also for his portraiture.  In addition he is regarded by many to have originated the use of purely pictorial and symbolic sequential language in the west with his sequential groups of engravings.    He was also known for his love of pugs, owning at least three during his lifetime and painting several during his career. The most famous one being ‘Trump’ which was immortalised in Hogarth’s 1745 self portrait ‘Painter and his Pug’, a painting that can be seen at Tate Britain.

One of the reasons why I have been fairly quiet with my website and social media recently is that last week I travelled up to London to collect a dog that needed rehoming which had just been placed with the wonderful folks at Battersea Dogs Home.

The Painter and his Pug ~ Chris Billington ~ Cornwall Artlab 2015

She is a mischievous but very well mannered 7 month old pug puppy and I have named her Coco.   Naturally she is taking up quite a bit of my time but already she has settled in to her new life in Cornwall and seems very at home in my Artlab, wanting to spend as much time as she can in my studio.   Coco is a super addition to the family and will make a fine studio companion too.   Here she can be seen still sporting her Battersea blue collar.

The Painter and his Pug ~ Chris Billington and Coco ~ Cornwall Artlab 2015

Many thanks to the staff at Battersea, in particular to Nikki and the vet Phil for their invaluable help and guidance.

For more information on the United Kingdom’s oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats – Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

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The year has started with a flourish indeed, with further New York art sales.

‘Pinhead’ (2014) – 36in X 30in acrylic on canvas ~ ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ – Chris Billington – New York Art Sales

In what is becoming something of a most welcome trend I am delighted to be starting a new year once again with sales of my paintings in January.

Last year in very early January my first sold painting went to a WestCountry collector.   This was quickly followed by some work which went to New York and in 2013, also in January, I began the year with several New York art sales.

These latest four paintings to be sold were delivered to my most remarkable patron on Friday, and I am rather humbled that they take my New York art sales to close on 20 in the past five years.

‘Lust For Life’ (2014) – 12in X 12in acrylic on wood panel ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ – Chris Billington – New York Art Sales

They are all paintings which featured in my 2014 UK exhibition at The Gallery, Liverpool, ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ and, interestingly, three of the four works are of bands who hail from the USA.  Two of them being New York bands, Ramones and The Dictators, and the inimitable Iggy Pop who was born and raised in Michigan.

‘Next Big Thing’ (2014) – 12in X 12in acrylic on wood panel ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ – Chris Billington – New York Art Sales

The fourth painting is of  ‘Saints And Sinners’ by Scotland’s Johnny & The Self Abusers.    A band  who upon the release of this, their debut single,  had already gone on to form the excellent Simple Minds.

‘Saints and Sinners’ (2014) – 12in X 12in acrylic on wood panel ‘Punk – The Transatlantic Paintings’ – Chris Billington – New York Art Sales

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Happy New Year

The beginning of a New Year is always special because once again it is a time to reflect on the last 12 months of accomplishments.

2014 was an incredible year for me personally, starting with a move back to Truro from The Lizard Peninsula, and thankfully completed with minimal disruption to my painting.  A huge thank you to Shane of Just Magic Buildings for swiftly getting me up and running in my new compact city ArtLab, again built with precision to my particular design and to the same high standard as my previous studio in Gweek.

Art and Music

And as I look back at some of my highlights from 2014 it is music that is the obvious common thread running through my art in the past twelve months.   From the 45 paintings that went into my “Punk ~ The Transatlantic Paintings” which naturally took up most of my year up until they were exhibited at The Gallery, Liverpool in November, to the cover painting of Cornish band Clay’s soon to be released debut album.   All of which was interspersed with various side projects and commissioned paintings, along with a couple of pieces for charity, including a painting for actor Rony Bridges to help with his fundraising for the charity Starchild and the building of a new school in Uganda and also two small paintings for the St.Ives Rotary Club.

Pinhead (2014) ~ Punk The Transatlantic Paintings ~ Happy New Year 2015 from the studio of Chris Billington

A Million Milestone

This year I am also humbled to have hit a milestone of more than a million website hits in a year, 1,183,511 website hits up until today to be precise.   A huge thank you to all of the visitors to this site who made that million hits in one year possible and apologies for the infrequent updates to my content, I  really will do my best to keep my posts more up to date in the coming months.  Also apologies to those who follow me on the various social media platforms, to which the same thing applies, and thank you for all of your kind emails and messages.

Thank You

I would also like to thank all of the galleries, gallerists and museums for your faith in my work and your enormous support, with a special mention to Billy Wilson and his staff at The Gallery, Liverpool who took the time and energy to stage a wonderful exhibition for me in Liverpool in 2014.

Finally, and most importantly, I could not have done it without you, especially those of you who have purchased and supported my work during 2014, and over the previous years, thank you.

Outer Limits – Chris Billington (2014) ~ Happy New Year 2015 from the studio of Chris Billington

Anything is possible

As I prepare my studio for a new body of work in 2015 I am reminded that the new year stands before us, like a blank canvas, ready and waiting to be painted and remember that we can all paint our own worlds with our hopes and dreams.   Anything is possible.

May 2015 bring all of you the opportunity to realise the life that you want.   Paint your hopes big, paint your dreams bold, paint them in full colour and have an infinitely rewarding 2o15!

Happy New Year to you all.

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Nadelik ~ A Cornish Christmas

‘Nadelik’ is my Christmas card for 2014.  Each December my card is ever more widely anticipated amongst my friends and patrons across the UK and also in many parts of the world, which is very special for me.  This year is slightly different with a departure from my usual cosmic theme.

Following my move from The Lizard Peninsula back to Cornwall’s wonderful capital City of Truro earlier this year I was approached by the current Mayor, Loic Rich,  who asked me to produce the official Christmas card for his office.    The Mayor’s brief was for something Cornish, Christian and Celtic.

I set to work and  the resulting painting ‘Nadelik’, which was completed in November, was used on the 2014 Truro Mayoral Christmas card.  I also adopted the same image for my own personal cards and have been sending them out for the past few days.

Nadelik ~ A Cornish Christmas – Chris Billington 2014

Nadelik Lowen ha Bledhen Nowydh Da ~ Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I wish you all a most magical Christmas and a sparkling New Year.

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