I was born in Liverpool, England and qualified as a chartered architect in Manchester. Painting has been my lifelong passion alongside my career as an architect.
After my marriage in 1976 my wife and I emigrated to Vancouver, Canada. Here I was influenced by a number of creative sources which includes the first nation coastal artists like Bill Reid whom I met when working with the North Vancouver artists. Lawren Harris, one of the Canadian Group of Seven artists showed how clean lines and simple shapes can create that all important spark and emotion that makes a great painting communicate to its viewer. The newer Canadian artists like Toni Onley who carried on this fascinating portrail of landscape painting. We were all captivated by the dramatic landscape and spirit of British Columbia. The ever changing mountains, rivers and ocean created the special light and space which inspired us all and me in architecture and my paintings wherever I may be.
We returned to Cheshire, England in 1985, where we still live, and enjoy living close to the hills. We get great pleasure from hiking up and around mountains whenever we can to find that inspiration. We have two children, a daughter who lives in California with her husband and a son who lives nearby.
My landscapes, in watercolours and oils, are expressed in an open and clear way to create the simplicity and atmosphere I feel that celebrates that inspirational moment of light and contrast that is at the heart of my paintings. It is this communication of this special moment that I hope you can also see in my work.
My work hangs in private galleries across Canada and the UK.
Contact for further information
chrisobennett@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: 07788796681